# The Iliad, Book 23: The Funeral Games for Patroclus

Ἰλιάς · Homer · The Ransom of Hector

The funeral of Patroclus. His ghost visits Achilles. The Greeks hold games in his honor.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/iliad/23. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/iliad/23.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/iliad/<line id>.m4a.

**1** ὣς οἳ μὲν στενάχοντο κατὰ πτόλιν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ  
So they lamented through the city; but the Achaeans,

**2** ἐπεὶ δὴ νῆάς τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκοντο,  
when they had reached the ships and the Hellespont,

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

**4** Μυρμιδόνας δʼ οὐκ εἴα ἀποσκίδνασθαι Ἀχιλλεύς,  
but Achilles would not let the Myrmidons scatter.

**5** ἀλλʼ ὅ γε οἷς ἑτάροισι φιλοπτολέμοισι μετηύδα·  
Instead he addressed his war-loving companions:

**6** Μυρμιδόνες ταχύπωλοι ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι  
"Myrmidons, swift with horses, my trusty companions,

**7** μὴ δή πω ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι λυώμεθα μώνυχας ἵππους,  
let us not yet loose our single-hoofed horses from the chariots,

**8** ἀλλʼ αὐτοῖς ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν ἆσσον ἰόντες  
but with the horses and chariots themselves let us draw near

**9** Πάτροκλον κλαίωμεν· ὃ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.  
and mourn Patroclus; for that is the honor due the dead.

**10** αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο,  
But when we have taken our fill of bitter lament,

**11** ἵππους λυσάμενοι δορπήσομεν ἐνθάδε πάντες.  
we shall loose the horses and all take supper here."

**12** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ᾤμωξαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δʼ Ἀχιλλεύς.  
So he spoke, and they wailed together, Achilles leading.

**13** οἳ δὲ τρὶς περὶ νεκρὸν ἐΰτριχας ἤλασαν ἵππους  
Three times around the corpse they drove their lovely-maned horses,

**14** μυρόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφι Θέτις γόου ἵμερον ὦρσε.  
weeping; and among them Thetis stirred desire for lament.

**15** δεύοντο ψάμαθοι, δεύοντο δὲ τεύχεα φωτῶν  
The sands were wet, and wet were the warriors' arms

**16** δάκρυσι· τοῖον γὰρ πόθεον μήστωρα φόβοιο.  
with tears; so deeply they missed that master of rout.

**17** τοῖσι δὲ Πηλεΐδης ἁδινοῦ ἐξῆρχε γόοιο  
The son of Peleus led them in the piercing dirge,

**18** χεῖρας ἐπʼ ἀνδροφόνους θέμενος στήθεσσιν ἑταίρου·  
laying his man-slaying hands upon his companion's chest

**19** χαῖρέ μοι ὦ Πάτροκλε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι·  
"Farewell, Patroclus, even in the house of Hades.

**20** πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστην  
All that I promised you before I now fulfill:

**21** Ἕκτορα δεῦρʼ ἐρύσας δώσειν κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι,  
I shall drag Hector here and give him raw for dogs to tear,

**22** δώδεκα δὲ προπάροιθε πυρῆς ἀποδειροτομήσειν  
and before your pyre cut the throats of twelve glorious Trojan youths,
> Cutting the throat: ἀποδειροτομέω is brutally precise: it means to cut through the neck or throat. The infinitive depends on Achilles' earlier promise and names the act he intends for the captives.

**23** Τρώων ἀγλαὰ τέκνα σέθεν κταμένοιο χολωθείς.  
in wrath at your death.

**24** ἦ ῥα καὶ Ἕκτορα δῖον ἀεικέα μήδετο ἔργα  
So he spoke, and devised shameful treatment for godlike Hector:

**25** πρηνέα πὰρ λεχέεσσι Μενοιτιάδαο τανύσσας  
he stretched him face down in the dust beside the bier

**26** ἐν κονίῃς· οἳ δʼ ἔντεʼ ἀφωπλίζοντο ἕκαστος  
of Menoetius' son. Each man stripped off his armor,

**27** χάλκεα μαρμαίροντα, λύον δʼ ὑψηχέας ἵππους,  
the gleaming bronze, and loosed the high-necked horses,

**28** κὰδ δʼ ἷζον παρὰ νηῒ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο  
and by the ship of the fleet-footed son of Aeacus

**29** μυρίοι· αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι τάφον μενοεικέα δαίνυ.  
they sat in thousands; and he gave them a funeral feast to satisfy the heart.

**30** πολλοὶ μὲν βόες ἀργοὶ ὀρέχθεον ἀμφὶ σιδήρῳ  
Many white cattle bellowed around the iron

**31** σφαζόμενοι, πολλοὶ δʼ ὄϊες καὶ μηκάδες αἶγες·  
as they were slaughtered, and many sheep and bleating goats;

**32** πολλοὶ δʼ ἀργιόδοντες ὕες θαλέθοντες ἀλοιφῇ  
and many white-tusked swine, rich with fat,

**33** εὑόμενοι τανύοντο διὰ φλογὸς Ἡφαίστοιο·  
were singed and stretched across the flame of Hephaestus,
> Hephaestus' flame: Fire is named through Hephaestus, its divine craftsman. The phrase turns the cooking flame into the god's own element without saying that Hephaestus personally attends the feast.

**34** πάντῃ δʼ ἀμφὶ νέκυν κοτυλήρυτον ἔρρεεν αἷμα.  
everywhere around the corpse, blood ran deep enough to fill cups.
> Flowing by the cupful: κοτυλήρυτος is built from κοτύλη, a cup or measure, and ῥέω, "flow." It pictures the blood running in quantities that could be measured by the cup.

**35** αὐτὰρ τόν γε ἄνακτα ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα  
But the Achaean kings led the lord, the fleet son of Peleus,

**36** εἰς Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον ἄγον βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν  
to godlike Agamemnon,

**37** σπουδῇ παρπεπιθόντες ἑταίρου χωόμενον κῆρ.  
persuading him only with effort, for his heart raged over his companion.

**38** οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος ἷξον ἰόντες,  
When they came on their way to Agamemnon's shelter,

**39** αὐτίκα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσαν  
at once they ordered the clear-voiced heralds

**40** ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν, εἰ πεπίθοιεν  
to set a great tripod over the fire, in hope they might persuade
> Hope in the optative: The optative πεπίθοιεν after εἰ presents a hoped-for but uncertain result: perhaps they might persuade Achilles. His refusal in the next lines proves the uncertainty justified.

**41** Πηλεΐδην λούσασθαι ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα.  
the son of Peleus to wash away the bloody gore.

**42** αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἠρνεῖτο στερεῶς, ἐπὶ δʼ ὅρκον ὄμοσσεν·  
But he refused steadfastly and swore an oath besides:

**43** οὐ μὰ Ζῆνʼ, ὅς τίς τε θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος,  
"No, by Zeus, who is highest and best of the gods,

**44** οὐ θέμις ἐστὶ λοετρὰ καρήατος ἆσσον ἱκέσθαι  
it is not right for washing-water to come near my head

**45** πρίν γʼ ἐνὶ Πάτροκλον θέμεναι πυρὶ σῆμά τε χεῦαι  
before I place Patroclus in the fire, heap up his mound,

**46** κείρασθαί τε κόμην, ἐπεὶ οὔ μʼ ἔτι δεύτερον ὧδε  
and cut my hair; for never again will grief like this

**47** ἵξετʼ ἄχος κραδίην ὄφρα ζωοῖσι μετείω.  
reach my heart while I remain among the living.

**48** ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μὲν στυγερῇ πειθώμεθα δαιτί·  
Yet now let us submit to the hateful feast;

**49** ἠῶθεν δʼ ὄτρυνον ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον  
but at dawn, Agamemnon, lord of men, command them

**50** ὕλην τʼ ἀξέμεναι παρά τε σχεῖν ὅσσʼ ἐπιεικὲς  
to bring wood and provide all that is fitting

**51** νεκρὸν ἔχοντα νέεσθαι ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα,  
for one who has died to go beneath the misty dark,
> Beneath the misty dark: ζόφος is the gloom of the west and, by extension, the darkness below. Achilles describes burial as the dead man's journey under that misty realm.

**52** ὄφρʼ ἤτοι τοῦτον μὲν ἐπιφλέγῃ ἀκάματον πῦρ  
so that tireless fire may burn him quickly

**53** θᾶσσον ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν, λαοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα τράπωνται.  
from our sight, and the people turn to their work."

**54** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο.  
So he spoke, and they listened closely and obeyed him.

**55** ἐσσυμένως δʼ ἄρα δόρπον ἐφοπλίσσαντες ἕκαστοι  
Each man swiftly made his supper ready,

**56** δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.  
they feasted, and no heart lacked its share of the fair-shared feast.

**57** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,  
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,

**58** οἳ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν κλισίην δὲ ἕκαστος,  
the others went each to his shelter to lie down,

**59** Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης  
but the son of Peleus lay on the shore of the loud-roaring sea,

**60** κεῖτο βαρὺ στενάχων πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν  
groaning heavily among his many Myrmidons,

**61** ἐν καθαρῷ, ὅθι κύματʼ ἐπʼ ἠϊόνος κλύζεσκον·  
in an open place where waves washed over the strand.

**62** εὖτε τὸν ὕπνος ἔμαρπτε λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦ  
When sleep seized him, easing the cares of his heart,

**63** νήδυμος ἀμφιχυθείς· μάλα γὰρ κάμε φαίδιμα γυῖα  
sweet sleep poured around him; for his splendid limbs were utterly weary
> Sweet, deep sleep: νήδυμος is a Homeric adjective for sleep, suggesting something sweet or deeply soothing. Here it briefly loosens grief's pressure on Achilles' heart.

**64** Ἕκτορʼ ἐπαΐσσων προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν·  
from chasing Hector toward windy Ilion,

**65** ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο  
the shade of poor Patroclus came to him,
> The shade: After death ψυχή is the departed life or shade, able to appear in a dream but lacking the embodied mind and substance of the living man. Achilles cannot grasp it at line 100.

**66** πάντʼ αὐτῷ μέγεθός τε καὶ ὄμματα κάλʼ ἐϊκυῖα  
like him in every way—in stature and lovely eyes,

**67** καὶ φωνήν, καὶ τοῖα περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο·  
and voice—and such clothes were wrapped about his body.

**68** στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·  
He stood above his head and spoke these words to him:

**69** εὕδεις, αὐτὰρ ἐμεῖο λελασμένος ἔπλευ Ἀχιλλεῦ.  
"You sleep, Achilles, and have become forgetful of me.

**70** οὐ μέν μευ ζώοντος ἀκήδεις, ἀλλὰ θανόντος·  
You did not neglect me while I lived, but now you do in death.

**71** θάπτέ με ὅττι τάχιστα πύλας Ἀΐδαο περήσω.  
Bury me with all speed, that I may pass the gates of Hades.
> Present imperative: θάπτε is a present imperative: Patroclus presses Achilles to begin and carry through the burial without delay. The following ὅττι τάχιστα sharpens the urgency.

**72** τῆλέ με εἴργουσι ψυχαὶ εἴδωλα καμόντων,  
Far off the shades, phantoms of the worn-out dead, keep me,

**73** οὐδέ μέ πω μίσγεσθαι ὑπὲρ ποταμοῖο ἐῶσιν,  
nor do they yet allow me to mingle beyond the river,

**74** ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἀλάλημαι ἀνʼ εὐρυπυλὲς Ἄϊδος δῶ.  
but so I wander beside the wide-gated house of Hades.

**75** καί μοι δὸς τὴν χεῖρʼ· ὀλοφύρομαι, οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ αὖτις  
Give me your hand; I grieve, for never again

**76** νίσομαι ἐξ Ἀΐδαο, ἐπήν με πυρὸς λελάχητε.  
shall I return from Hades once you have given me my share of fire.
> A share of fire: λαγχάνω means to receive an allotted share. Patroclus speaks of cremation as the portion of fire ritually assigned to him.

**77** οὐ μὲν γὰρ ζωοί γε φίλων ἀπάνευθεν ἑταίρων  
For never again alive, apart from our dear companions,

**78** βουλὰς ἑζόμενοι βουλεύσομεν, ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν κὴρ  
shall we sit and take counsel; but a hateful doom

**79** ἀμφέχανε στυγερή, ἥ περ λάχε γιγνόμενόν περ·  
has opened wide around me, the doom allotted me at birth.

**80** καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ μοῖρα, θεοῖς ἐπιείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,  
And your own fate too, Achilles, peer of the gods,

**81** τείχει ὕπο Τρώων εὐηφενέων ἀπολέσθαι.  
is to die beneath the wall of the prosperous Trojans.

**82** ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐφήσομαι αἴ κε πίθηαι·  
One more thing I shall tell and charge you, if you will obey:
> Open future condition: αἴ κε with the subjunctive πίθηαι sets an open future condition: "if you will obey." Patroclus asks rather than assumes that Achilles will grant the request.

**83** μὴ ἐμὰ σῶν ἀπάνευθε τιθήμεναι ὀστέʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,  
do not set my bones apart from yours, Achilles,

**84** ἀλλʼ ὁμοῦ ὡς ἐτράφημεν ἐν ὑμετέροισι δόμοισιν,  
but together, as we were reared in your house,

**85** εὖτέ με τυτθὸν ἐόντα Μενοίτιος ἐξ Ὀπόεντος  
when Menoetius brought me, still a little child, from Opoeis

**86** ἤγαγεν ὑμέτερόνδʼ ἀνδροκτασίης ὕπο λυγρῆς,  
to your home because of a grievous killing,

**87** ἤματι τῷ ὅτε παῖδα κατέκτανον Ἀμφιδάμαντος  
on the day when I killed Amphidamas' son,

**88** νήπιος οὐκ ἐθέλων ἀμφʼ ἀστραγάλοισι χολωθείς·  
foolishly and unwillingly, angered over knucklebones.

**89** ἔνθά με δεξάμενος ἐν δώμασιν ἱππότα Πηλεὺς  
Then Peleus the horseman received me in his halls,

**90** ἔτραφέ τʼ ἐνδυκέως καὶ σὸν θεράποντʼ ὀνόμηνεν·  
reared me with care, and named me your attendant.
> Companion-attendant: θεράπων is more than a servant here: Patroclus is Achilles' close attendant and companion in war. The role joins household service, loyalty, and battlefield partnership.

**91** ὣς δὲ καὶ ὀστέα νῶϊν ὁμὴ σορὸς ἀμφικαλύπτοι  
So may one urn enfold the bones of us both,
> The two of us: νῶϊν is a first-person dual pronoun, referring to exactly two people: Patroclus and Achilles. The dual makes their desired union in one urn grammatically explicit.

**92** χρύσεος ἀμφιφορεύς, τόν τοι πόρε πότνια μήτηρ.  
the golden two-handled jar your queenly mother gave you."

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

**94** τίπτέ μοι ἠθείη κεφαλὴ δεῦρʼ εἰλήλουθας  
"Why, dear heart, have you come here
> Dear heart: Literally "familiar head," ἠθείη κεφαλή is an affectionate form of address. Achilles speaks to the shade with the intimacy owed his closest companion.

**95** καί μοι ταῦτα ἕκαστʼ ἐπιτέλλεαι; αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοι  
and laid each of these commands upon me? I shall indeed

**96** πάντα μάλʼ ἐκτελέω καὶ πείσομαι ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.  
fulfill them all and obey as you command.

**97** ἀλλά μοι ἆσσον στῆθι· μίνυνθά περ ἀμφιβαλόντε  
But stand nearer; for a little while let us embrace

**98** ἀλλήλους ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο.  
one another and take our fill of bitter lament."

**99** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ὠρέξατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν  
So speaking, he reached out with loving hands,

**100** οὐδʼ ἔλαβε· ψυχὴ δὲ κατὰ χθονὸς ἠΰτε καπνὸς  
but grasped nothing; the shade went down beneath the earth like smoke,

**101** ᾤχετο τετριγυῖα· ταφὼν δʼ ἀνόρουσεν Ἀχιλλεὺς  
shrilling as it vanished. Achilles sprang up in amazement,

**102** χερσί τε συμπλατάγησεν, ἔπος δʼ ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπεν·  
clapped his hands together, and spoke a sorrowful word:

**103** ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι  
"Ah, then even in the house of Hades there remains

**104** ψυχὴ καὶ εἴδωλον, ἀτὰρ φρένες οὐκ ἔνι πάμπαν·  
a shade and phantom, though there is no mind in it at all.
> Mind within the breast: φρένες are the inner faculties of thought and feeling, imagined bodily within the chest. Achilles concludes that the phantom preserves appearance but lacks the living person's full mind.

**105** παννυχίη γάρ μοι Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο  
All night the shade of poor Patroclus

**106** ψυχὴ ἐφεστήκει γοόωσά τε μυρομένη τε,  
stood over me, mourning and weeping,

**107** καί μοι ἕκαστʼ ἐπέτελλεν, ἔϊκτο δὲ θέσκελον αὐτῷ.  
and charged me with each thing; it looked wondrously like him."

**108** ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο·  
So he spoke, and stirred in them all a longing for lament.

**109** μυρομένοισι δὲ τοῖσι φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠὼς  
As they mourned, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared

**110** ἀμφὶ νέκυν ἐλεεινόν. ἀτὰρ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων  
around the pitiful corpse. But the lord Agamemnon

**111** οὐρῆάς τʼ ὄτρυνε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀξέμεν ὕλην  
urged mules and men to bring wood

**112** πάντοθεν ἐκ κλισιῶν· ἐπὶ δʼ ἀνὴρ ἐσθλὸς ὀρώρει  
from every part of camp; a noble man rose to oversee them:

**113** Μηριόνης θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.  
Meriones, attendant of high-hearted Idomeneus.
> A warrior-attendant: θεράπων is more than a household servant: in heroic society it can name a trusted companion and subordinate warrior. Meriones serves Idomeneus in this close military sense.

**114** οἳ δʼ ἴσαν ὑλοτόμους πελέκεας ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες  
They went with woodcutters' axes in their hands

**115** σειράς τʼ εὐπλέκτους· πρὸ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐρῆες κίον αὐτῶν.  
and well-plaited ropes; before them went the mules.

**116** πολλὰ δʼ ἄναντα κάταντα πάραντά τε δόχμιά τʼ ἦλθον·  
Far uphill and downhill, along slopes and across, they went.
> Ground in every direction: The four compact adverbs trace the party uphill, downhill, along the slope, and across it. Their accumulation makes the rough journey audible and physical.

**117** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κνημοὺς προσέβαν πολυπίδακος Ἴδης,  
But when they reached the slopes of many-springed Ida,
> Many-springed Ida: πολυπίδακος pictures Mount Ida as rich in springs. The epithet suits the wooded mountain that supplies the funeral timber.

**118** αὐτίκʼ ἄρα δρῦς ὑψικόμους ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ  
at once with long-edged bronze they began to cut

**119** τάμνον ἐπειγόμενοι· ταὶ δὲ μεγάλα κτυπέουσαι  
high-crowned oaks in haste; with a mighty crash they

**120** πῖπτον· τὰς μὲν ἔπειτα διαπλήσσοντες Ἀχαιοὶ  
fell. Then the Achaeans split them apart

**121** ἔκδεον ἡμιόνων· ταὶ δὲ χθόνα ποσσὶ δατεῦντο  
and bound them to the mules, whose feet tore up the earth

**122** ἐλδόμεναι πεδίοιο διὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνά.  
as they strained for the plain through the dense brushwood.

**123** πάντες δʼ ὑλοτόμοι φιτροὺς φέρον· ὡς γὰρ ἀνώγει  
All the woodcutters carried logs, for so he had ordered,

**124** Μηριόνης θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.  
Meriones, attendant of high-hearted Idomeneus.

**125** κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς βάλλον ἐπισχερώ, ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς  
They cast them down in rows upon the shore, where Achilles

**126** φράσσατο Πατρόκλῳ μέγα ἠρίον ἠδὲ οἷ αὐτῷ.  
had planned a great burial mound for Patroclus and himself.

**127** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πάντῃ παρακάββαλον ἄσπετον ὕλην  
When they had cast down the boundless timber on every side,

**128** ἥατʼ ἄρʼ αὖθι μένοντες ἀολλέες. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς  
they sat there together and waited. Then Achilles

**129** αὐτίκα Μυρμιδόνεσσι φιλοπτολέμοισι κέλευσε  
at once ordered the battle-loving Myrmidons

**130** χαλκὸν ζώννυσθαι, ζεῦξαι δʼ ὑπʼ ὄχεσφιν ἕκαστον  
to gird on bronze and each to yoke his horses beneath the cars.

**131** ἵππους· οἳ δʼ ὄρνυντο καὶ ἐν τεύχεσσιν ἔδυνον,  
They rose and put on their armor,

**132** ἂν δʼ ἔβαν ἐν δίφροισι παραιβάται ἡνίοχοί τε,  
and fighters and charioteers mounted the chariots.

**133** πρόσθε μὲν ἱππῆες, μετὰ δὲ νέφος εἵπετο πεζῶν  
The horsemen went before; behind them followed a cloud of footmen,

**134** μυρίοι· ἐν δὲ μέσοισι φέρον Πάτροκλον ἑταῖροι.  
countless; in their midst his comrades carried Patroclus.

**135** θριξὶ δὲ πάντα νέκυν καταείνυσαν, ἃς ἐπέβαλλον  
They covered the whole corpse with locks of hair, which they cast on it

**136** κειρόμενοι· ὄπιθεν δὲ κάρη ἔχε δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς  
as they cut them; behind, godlike Achilles held the dead man's head

**137** ἀχνύμενος· ἕταρον γὰρ ἀμύμονα πέμπʼ Ἄϊδος δέ.  
in grief, for he was sending a blameless companion to Hades.

**138** οἳ δʼ ὅτε χῶρον ἵκανον ὅθί σφισι πέφραδʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς  
When they reached the place Achilles had shown them,

**139** κάτθεσαν, αἶψα δέ οἱ μενοεικέα νήεον ὕλην.  
they laid him down and swiftly heaped up sturdy timber for him.

**140** ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·  
There swift-footed godlike Achilles formed another plan:

**141** στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς ξανθὴν ἀπεκείρατο χαίτην,  
standing apart from the pyre, he cut off his golden hair,

**142** τήν ῥα Σπερχειῷ ποταμῷ τρέφε τηλεθόωσαν·  
which he had grown luxuriant for the river Spercheius.

**143** ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἰδὼν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον·  
Grieving, he looked over the wine-dark sea and said:

**144** Σπερχείʼ ἄλλως σοί γε πατὴρ ἠρήσατο Πηλεὺς  
"Spercheius, in vain my father Peleus prayed to you

**145** κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν  
that when I returned there to my dear native land

**146** σοί τε κόμην κερέειν ῥέξειν θʼ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην,  
I would cut my hair for you and offer a sacred hecatomb,

**147** πεντήκοντα δʼ ἔνορχα παρʼ αὐτόθι μῆλʼ ἱερεύσειν  
and sacrifice there beside your springs fifty uncastrated sheep,

**148** ἐς πηγάς, ὅθι τοι τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.  
where you have a sacred precinct and fragrant altar.

**149** ὣς ἠρᾶθʼ ὃ γέρων, σὺ δέ οἱ νόον οὐκ ἐτέλεσσας.  
So the old man prayed, but you did not fulfill his purpose.

**150** νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὐ νέομαί γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν  
Now since I shall not return to my dear native land,

**151** Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ κόμην ὀπάσαιμι φέρεσθαι.  
let me give the lock to the hero Patroclus to carry."
> An optative resolve: ὀπάσαιμι is an aorist optative: Achilles turns from the failed vow to what he now chooses to do. In context it carries the force of a solemn first-person proposal, 'let me give.'

**152** ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ κόμην ἑτάροιο φίλοιο  
So speaking, he placed the hair in the hands of his dear companion,

**153** θῆκεν, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο.  
and stirred in them all a longing for lament.

**154** καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο  
The sunlight would have sunk upon them as they mourned
> A past contrary-to-fact: The particle κʼ marks what would have happened, while the εἰ μή clause on the next line supplies the interruption: the sun would have set if Achilles had not spoken.

**155** εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αἶψʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι εἶπε παραστάς·  
if Achilles had not quickly stood by Agamemnon and said:

**156** Ἀτρεΐδη, σοὶ γάρ τε μάλιστά γε λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν  
"Son of Atreus, the Achaean host will heed

**157** πείσονται μύθοισι, γόοιο μὲν ἔστι καὶ ἆσαι,  
your words above all. There is a fullness even of lament.

**158** νῦν δʼ ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς σκέδασον καὶ δεῖπνον ἄνωχθι  
Now scatter the people from the pyre and order them to prepare their meal.

**159** ὅπλεσθαι· τάδε δʼ ἀμφὶ πονησόμεθʼ οἷσι μάλιστα  
Those of us whom this chiefly concerns will labor over it,

**160** κήδεός ἐστι νέκυς· παρὰ δʼ οἵ τʼ ἀγοὶ ἄμμι μενόντων.  
we who care for the corpse; and let the leaders remain beside us."

**161** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,  
When Agamemnon, lord of men, heard this,

**162** αὐτίκα λαὸν μὲν σκέδασεν κατὰ νῆας ἐΐσας,  
he at once scattered the host among the balanced ships.

**163** κηδεμόνες δὲ παρʼ αὖθι μένον καὶ νήεον ὕλην,  
The mourners stayed there beside the corpse and heaped up timber,

**164** ποίησαν δὲ πυρὴν ἑκατόμπεδον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,  
and made the pyre a hundred feet across in either direction,
> A hundred-foot pyre: ἑκατόμπεδον is a compound meaning 'a hundred feet.' Homer gives the pyre monumental dimensions in both directions.

**165** ἐν δὲ πυρῇ ὑπάτῃ νεκρὸν θέσαν ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.  
and on the pyre's highest part they laid the corpse, grieving at heart.

**166** πολλὰ δὲ ἴφια μῆλα καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς  
Many sturdy sheep and shambling, spiral-horned cattle
> Cattle in motion and form: The paired epithets picture the cattle both walking and shaped: εἰλίποδας suggests their rolling or shambling gait, while ἕλικας points to their curved horns.

**167** πρόσθε πυρῆς ἔδερόν τε καὶ ἄμφεπον· ἐκ δʼ ἄρα πάντων  
they flayed and dressed before the pyre; and from them all

**168** δημὸν ἑλὼν ἐκάλυψε νέκυν μεγάθυμος Ἀχιλλεὺς  
great-hearted Achilles took the fat and covered the corpse

**169** ἐς πόδας ἐκ κεφαλῆς, περὶ δὲ δρατὰ σώματα νήει.  
from head to foot, and heaped the flayed carcasses around it.

**170** ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει μέλιτος καὶ ἀλείφατος ἀμφιφορῆας  
He placed two-handled jars of honey and oil

**171** πρὸς λέχεα κλίνων· πίσυρας δʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππους  
leaning against the bier; and four high-necked horses

**172** ἐσσυμένως ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ μεγάλα στεναχίζων.  
he swiftly cast upon the pyre, groaning deeply.

**173** ἐννέα τῷ γε ἄνακτι τραπεζῆες κύνες ἦσαν,  
The lord had nine dogs that fed beneath his table,

**174** καὶ μὲν τῶν ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ δύο δειροτομήσας,  
and of these he cut the throats of two and cast them on the pyre,
> Killed by throat-cutting: δειροτομήσας is explicit: Achilles kills the two dogs by cutting their throats before placing them on the pyre.

**175** δώδεκα δὲ Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺς  
twelve noble sons of great-hearted Trojans

**176** χαλκῷ δηϊόων· κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ μήδετο ἔργα·  
he slew with bronze, devising evil works in his heart.

**177** ἐν δὲ πυρὸς μένος ἧκε σιδήρεον ὄφρα νέμοιτο.  
He loosed the iron force of fire upon it, so that it might feed.
> The iron force of fire: Homer calls the fire's μένος, its driving force, 'iron.' The transferred material epithet makes the blaze feel hard, relentless, and destructive.

**178** ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα, φίλον δʼ ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον·  
Then he groaned aloud and called his dear companion by name:

**179** χαῖρέ μοι ὦ Πάτροκλε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι·  
"Farewell, Patroclus, even in the house of Hades.

**180** πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστην,  
All that I promised you before I now fulfill:

**181** δώδεκα μὲν Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺς  
twelve noble sons of great-hearted Trojans

**182** τοὺς ἅμα σοὶ πάντας πῦρ ἐσθίει· Ἕκτορα δʼ οὔ τι  
fire devours them all with you; but Hector I shall not

**183** δώσω Πριαμίδην πυρὶ δαπτέμεν, ἀλλὰ κύνεσσιν.  
give to fire to consume, Priam's son, but to the dogs."

**184** ὣς φάτʼ ἀπειλήσας· τὸν δʼ οὐ κύνες ἀμφεπένοντο,  
So he spoke in threat; but the dogs did not set upon Hector.

**185** ἀλλὰ κύνας μὲν ἄλαλκε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη  
Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, kept the dogs from him

**186** ἤματα καὶ νύκτας, ῥοδόεντι δὲ χρῖεν ἐλαίῳ  
by day and night, and anointed him with rose-scented oil,

**187** ἀμβροσίῳ, ἵνα μή μιν ἀποδρύφοι ἑλκυστάζων.  
ambrosial, so that Achilles would not tear him as he dragged him.

**188** τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ κυάνεον νέφος ἤγαγε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων  
And Phoebus Apollo brought a dark cloud over him

**189** οὐρανόθεν πεδίον δέ, κάλυψε δὲ χῶρον ἅπαντα  
from heaven down to the plain, and covered all the ground

**190** ὅσσον ἐπεῖχε νέκυς, μὴ πρὶν μένος ἠελίοιο  
the corpse occupied, lest the sun's force first

**191** σκήλειʼ ἀμφὶ περὶ χρόα ἴνεσιν ἠδὲ μέλεσσιν.  
shrivel the skin around his sinews and limbs.

**192** οὐδὲ πυρὴ Πατρόκλου ἐκαίετο τεθνηῶτος·  
But the pyre of dead Patroclus did not burn.

**193** ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἀλλʼ ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·  
There swift-footed godlike Achilles formed another plan:

**194** στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς δοιοῖς ἠρᾶτʼ ἀνέμοισι  
standing apart from the pyre, he prayed to both winds,
> The dual for two winds: δοιοῖς is a dative dual form, marking exactly two winds. The next line names the pair as Boreas and Zephyrus.

**195** Βορέῃ καὶ Ζεφύρῳ, καὶ ὑπίσχετο ἱερὰ καλά·  
Boreas and Zephyrus, and promised splendid offerings.

**196** πολλὰ δὲ καὶ σπένδων χρυσέῳ δέπαϊ λιτάνευεν  
Pouring many libations from a golden cup, he implored them

**197** ἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα πυρὶ φλεγεθοίατο νεκροί,  
to come, so that the dead might swiftly burn in the fire
> Optative after a prayer: φλεγεθοίατο is a present optative in the purpose clause after Achilles' prayer. It expresses his desired result: that the bodies might burn.

**198** ὕλη τε σεύαιτο καήμεναι. ὦκα δὲ Ἶρις  
and the wood hurry to catch. Swift Iris

**199** ἀράων ἀΐουσα μετάγγελος ἦλθʼ ἀνέμοισιν.  
heard his prayers and went as messenger to the winds.

**200** οἳ μὲν ἄρα Ζεφύροιο δυσαέος ἀθρόοι ἔνδον  
They were gathered inside the house of blustering Zephyrus

**201** εἰλαπίνην δαίνυντο· θέουσα δὲ Ἶρις ἐπέστη  
and feasting; Iris ran up and stood

**202** βηλῷ ἔπι λιθέῳ· τοὶ δʼ ὡς ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι  
upon the stone threshold. When they saw her with their eyes,

**203** πάντες ἀνήϊξαν, κάλεόν τέ μιν εἰς ἓ ἕκαστος·  
all sprang up, and each called her to himself.

**204** ἣ δʼ αὖθʼ ἕζεσθαι μὲν ἀνήνατο, εἶπε δὲ μῦθον·  
But she refused to sit among them and spoke:

**205** οὐχ ἕδος· εἶμι γὰρ αὖτις ἐπʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥέεθρα  
"There is no time to sit: I am going back to the streams of Oceanus,

**206** Αἰθιόπων ἐς γαῖαν, ὅθι ῥέζουσʼ ἑκατόμβας  
to the Ethiopians' land, where they offer hecatombs

**207** ἀθανάτοις, ἵνα δὴ καὶ ἐγὼ μεταδαίσομαι ἱρῶν.  
to the immortals, so that I too may share the sacred feast.

**208** ἀλλʼ Ἀχιλεὺς Βορέην ἠδὲ Ζέφυρον κελαδεινὸν  
But Achilles prays that Boreas and loud-blowing Zephyrus

**209** ἐλθεῖν ἀρᾶται, καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἱερὰ καλά,  
will come, and he promises splendid offerings,

**210** ὄφρα πυρὴν ὄρσητε καήμεναι, ᾗ ἔνι κεῖται  
so that you may rouse the pyre to burn, in which lies

**211** Πάτροκλος, τὸν πάντες ἀναστενάχουσιν Ἀχαιοί.  
Patroclus, whom all the Achaeans mourn."

**212** ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπεβήσετο, τοὶ δʼ ὀρέοντο  
So she spoke and went away; and the two winds rose
> The two winds rise: The pronoun points back to Boreas and Zephyrus, who now act together. Their paired movement continues through the dual forms that describe their arrival at Troy and descent upon the pyre.

**213** ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ νέφεα κλονέοντε πάροιθεν.  
with a wondrous roar, driving the clouds before them.

**214** αἶψα δὲ πόντον ἵκανον ἀήμεναι, ὦρτο δὲ κῦμα  
Swiftly they reached the sea, blowing, and the wave rose

**215** πνοιῇ ὕπο λιγυρῇ· Τροίην δʼ ἐρίβωλον ἱκέσθην,  
beneath their shrill breath; they came to fertile Troy,

**216** ἐν δὲ πυρῇ πεσέτην, μέγα δʼ ἴαχε θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ.  
and fell upon the pyre; the heaven-kindled fire roared loud.
> Heaven-kindled fire: θεσπιδαής describes a fire of marvelous or divine burning force. The winds do not merely stir embers: under their blast the pyre becomes a roaring, extraordinary blaze.

**217** παννύχιοι δʼ ἄρα τοί γε πυρῆς ἄμυδις φλόγʼ ἔβαλλον  
All night together they beat the pyre's flame,

**218** φυσῶντες λιγέως· ὃ δὲ πάννυχος ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς  
blowing keenly; and all night swift Achilles

**219** χρυσέου ἐκ κρητῆρος ἑλὼν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον  
took a two-handled cup from a golden mixing bowl,

**220** οἶνον ἀφυσσόμενος χαμάδις χέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν  
drew wine and poured it on the ground, drenching the earth,

**221** ψυχὴν κικλήσκων Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο.  
and called upon the shade of poor Patroclus.

**222** ὡς δὲ πατὴρ οὗ παιδὸς ὀδύρεται ὀστέα καίων  
As a father mourns, burning the bones of his son,
> The funeral simile begins: ὡς opens a comparison whose answering ὥς comes at line 224. The father and bridegroom son belong to the simile; Achilles and Patroclus remain the actors in the surrounding narrative.

**223** νυμφίου, ὅς τε θανὼν δειλοὺς ἀκάχησε τοκῆας,  
a bridegroom whose death has stricken his wretched parents,

**224** ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς ἑτάροιο ὀδύρετο ὀστέα καίων,  
so Achilles mourned as he burned his companion's bones,

**225** ἑρπύζων παρὰ πυρκαϊὴν ἁδινὰ στεναχίζων.  
creeping beside the pyre and groaning without cease.

**226** ἦμος δʼ ἑωσφόρος εἶσι φόως ἐρέων ἐπὶ γαῖαν,  
When the morning star goes forth to herald light over the earth,

**227** ὅν τε μέτα κροκόπεπλος ὑπεὶρ ἅλα κίδναται ἠώς,  
after which saffron-robed Dawn spreads over the sea,

**228** τῆμος πυρκαϊὴ ἐμαραίνετο, παύσατο δὲ φλόξ.  
then the pyre was dying down, and its flame ceased.

**229** οἳ δʼ ἄνεμοι πάλιν αὖτις ἔβαν οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι  
The winds turned back again and went home

**230** Θρηΐκιον κατὰ πόντον· ὃ δʼ ἔστενεν οἴδματι θύων.  
over the Thracian sea, and it groaned, swelling with waves.
> Swelling with waves: οἶδμα is a swelling or surge of the sea, while θύω conveys violent rushing. The winds' departure leaves the Thracian waters heaving behind them.

**231** Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς ἑτέρωσε λιασθεὶς  
The son of Peleus withdrew to one side from the pyre,

**232** κλίνθη κεκμηώς, ἐπὶ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ὄρουσεν·  
lay down exhausted, and sweet sleep rushed upon him.

**233** οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀτρεΐωνα ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο·  
Those who were gathered around the son of Atreus came together;

**234** τῶν μιν ἐπερχομένων ὅμαδος καὶ δοῦπος ἔγειρεν,  
the din and pounding of their approach woke him.

**235** ἕζετο δʼ ὀρθωθεὶς καί σφεας πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·  
He sat upright and spoke a word to them:

**236** Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,  
"Son of Atreus, and you other princes of all the Achaeans,
> All the Achaeans: Παναχαιοί adds παν-, "all," to the Achaean name. Achilles addresses the leading men as representatives of the whole expeditionary host.

**237** πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσατʼ αἴθοπι οἴνῳ  
first quench the pyre everywhere with gleaming wine,

**238** πᾶσαν, ὁπόσσον ἐπέσχε πυρὸς μένος· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα  
all of it, as far as the fire's fury had reached; and then

**239** ὀστέα Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο λέγωμεν  
let us gather the bones of Patroclus, son of Menoetius,
> Let us gather: λέγωμεν is a first-person plural subjunctive used as an exhortation: "let us gather." Here λέγω has its older concrete sense of picking out and collecting, not speaking.

**240** εὖ διαγιγνώσκοντες· ἀριφραδέα δὲ τέτυκται·  
distinguishing them with care; they are easy to recognize.

**241** ἐν μέσσῃ γὰρ ἔκειτο πυρῇ, τοὶ δʼ ἄλλοι ἄνευθεν  
For he lay in the middle of the pyre, while the others

**242** ἐσχατιῇ καίοντʼ ἐπιμὶξ ἵπποι τε καὶ ἄνδρες.  
burned mingled at its outer edge, horses and men.

**243** καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν χρυσέῃ φιάλῃ καὶ δίπλακι δημῷ  
Let us place them in a golden jar within a double layer of fat,

**244** θείομεν, εἰς ὅ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼν Ἄϊδι κεύθωμαι.  
until I myself am hidden in Hades.
> Until with the subjunctive: εἰς ὅ κεν introduces an indefinite future limit and therefore takes the subjunctive κεύθωμαι: the bones are to remain so until Achilles too is hidden in Hades.

**245** τύμβον δʼ οὐ μάλα πολλὸν ἐγὼ πονέεσθαι ἄνωγα,  
I command you not to labor now at a very great mound,

**246** ἀλλʼ ἐπιεικέα τοῖον· ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀχαιοὶ  
but one of fitting size; afterward you Achaeans

**247** εὐρύν θʼ ὑψηλόν τε τιθήμεναι, οἵ κεν ἐμεῖο  
who remain after me beside the many-benched ships

**248** δεύτεροι ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι λίπησθε.  
may make it broad and high."

**249** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἐπίθοντο ποδώκεϊ Πηλεΐωνι.  
So he spoke, and they obeyed the fleet son of Peleus.

**250** πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσαν αἴθοπι οἴνῳ  
First they quenched the pyre with gleaming wine,

**251** ὅσσον ἐπὶ φλὸξ ἦλθε, βαθεῖα δὲ κάππεσε τέφρη·  
as far as the flame had reached, and the deep ash sank down.

**252** κλαίοντες δʼ ἑτάροιο ἐνηέος ὀστέα λευκὰ  
Weeping, they gathered the white bones of their gentle companion

**253** ἄλλεγον ἐς χρυσέην φιάλην καὶ δίπλακα δημόν,  
into a golden jar within a double layer of fat,

**254** ἐν κλισίῃσι δὲ θέντες ἑανῷ λιτὶ κάλυψαν·  
set it in the shelter, and covered it with soft linen.

**255** τορνώσαντο δὲ σῆμα θεμείλιά τε προβάλοντο  
They traced the mound's circle and laid its foundations
> Tracing a circle: τορνόομαι derives from τόρνος, a tool or process for drawing a circle. The mourners mark out the burial mound with deliberate geometric order around the pyre.

**256** ἀμφὶ πυρήν· εἶθαρ δὲ χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν,  
around the pyre, then at once poured heaped earth above it.

**257** χεύαντες δὲ τὸ σῆμα πάλιν κίον. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς  
When they had heaped the mound, they started back; but Achilles

**258** αὐτοῦ λαὸν ἔρυκε καὶ ἵζανεν εὐρὺν ἀγῶνα,  
held the people there and seated them in a broad assembly ground.

**259** νηῶν δʼ ἔκφερʼ ἄεθλα λέβητάς τε τρίποδάς τε  
From the ships he brought prizes—cauldrons and tripods,

**260** ἵππους θʼ ἡμιόνους τε βοῶν τʼ ἴφθιμα κάρηνα,  
horses and mules, the strong heads of cattle,

**261** ἠδὲ γυναῖκας ἐϋζώνους πολιόν τε σίδηρον.  
well-girdled women and gray iron,
> Gray iron: πολιός describes the dull gray color of worked iron. Iron is still valuable enough here to stand alongside livestock, vessels, horses, and skilled captives as a prize.

**262** ἱππεῦσιν μὲν πρῶτα ποδώκεσιν ἀγλάʼ ἄεθλα  
and first for the swift chariot drivers he set splendid prizes:

**263** θῆκε γυναῖκα ἄγεσθαι ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυῖαν  
a blameless woman skilled in handiwork to take away,

**264** καὶ τρίποδʼ ὠτώεντα δυωκαιεικοσίμετρον  
and an eared tripod holding twenty-two measures

**265** τῷ πρώτῳ· ἀτὰρ αὖ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἵππον ἔθηκεν  
for the first man; for the second he set a mare,

**266** ἑξέτεʼ ἀδμήτην βρέφος ἡμίονον κυέουσαν·  
six years old, unbroken, carrying a mule foal;
> Unbroken: ἀδμής literally means "untamed" or "unsubdued." Of the mare it means she has not been broken to harness, which adds to her value as breeding stock.

**267** αὐτὰρ τῷ τριτάτῳ ἄπυρον κατέθηκε λέβητα  
for the third he set down an unused cauldron,

**268** καλὸν τέσσαρα μέτρα κεχανδότα λευκὸν ἔτʼ αὔτως·  
beautiful, holding four measures, still bright as new;

**269** τῷ δὲ τετάρτῳ θῆκε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,  
for the fourth he set two talents of gold,

**270** πέμπτῳ δʼ ἀμφίθετον φιάλην ἀπύρωτον ἔθηκε.  
and for the fifth an untouched two-handled bowl.

**271** στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·  
He stood upright and spoke a word among the Argives:

**272** Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ  
"Son of Atreus, and you other well-greaved Achaeans,

**273** ἱππῆας τάδʼ ἄεθλα δεδεγμένα κεῖτʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι.  
these prizes lie waiting in the arena for the chariot drivers.

**274** εἰ μὲν νῦν ἐπὶ ἄλλῳ ἀεθλεύοιμεν Ἀχαιοὶ  
If we Achaeans were now holding games for another,

**275** ἦ τʼ ἂν ἐγὼ τὰ πρῶτα λαβὼν κλισίην δὲ φεροίμην.  
I would take the first prize and carry it to my shelter.

**276** ἴστε γὰρ ὅσσον ἐμοὶ ἀρετῇ περιβάλλετον ἵπποι·  
For you know how far my horses surpass all others in excellence:

**277** ἀθάνατοί τε γάρ εἰσι, Ποσειδάων δὲ πόρʼ αὐτοὺς  
they are immortal, and Poseidon gave them

**278** πατρὶ ἐμῷ Πηλῆϊ, ὃ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμοὶ ἐγγυάλιξεν.  
to my father Peleus, who in turn entrusted them to me.

**279** ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ μενέω καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι·  
But I shall remain apart, I and my single-hoofed horses,

**280** τοίου γὰρ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσαν ἡνιόχοιο  
for they have lost the noble glory of so kind a driver,
> A driver's noble glory: κλέος is the fame or glory carried in remembered speech. Achilles' immortal horses mourn because Patroclus, their gentle driver, embodied a glory they have now lost.

**281** ἠπίου, ὅς σφωϊν μάλα πολλάκις ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον  
who so often poured smooth oil over both their manes

**282** χαιτάων κατέχευε λοέσσας ὕδατι λευκῷ.  
after washing them in clear water.

**283** τὸν τώ γʼ ἑσταότες πενθείετον, οὔδεϊ δέ σφι  
The two stand mourning him, and on the ground

**284** χαῖται ἐρηρέδαται, τὼ δʼ ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.  
their manes trail; there they stand, grieving at heart.

**285** ἄλλοι δὲ στέλλεσθε κατὰ στρατόν, ὅς τις Ἀχαιῶν  
But you others, make ready throughout the camp, whoever among the Achaeans

**286** ἵπποισίν τε πέποιθε καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν.  
trusts in his horses and his close-fitted chariot."

**287** ὣς φάτο Πηλεΐδης, ταχέες δʼ ἱππῆες ἄγερθεν.  
So the son of Peleus spoke, and the swift chariot drivers gathered.

**288** ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Εὔμηλος  
First by far rose Eumelus, lord of men,

**289** Ἀδμήτου φίλος υἱός, ὃς ἱπποσύνῃ ἐκέκαστο·  
the dear son of Admetus, who excelled in horsemanship;

**290** τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης,  
and after him arose mighty Diomedes, son of Tydeus;

**291** ἵππους δὲ Τρῳοὺς ὕπαγε ζυγόν, οὕς ποτʼ ἀπηύρα  
he brought Trojan horses beneath the yoke, those he once took

**292** Αἰνείαν, ἀτὰρ αὐτὸν ὑπεξεσάωσεν Ἀπόλλων.  
from Aeneas, though Apollo rescued the man himself.

**293** τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ὦρτο ξανθὸς Μενέλαος  
After him rose the son of Atreus, golden-haired Menelaus,

**294** διογενής, ὑπὸ δὲ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ὠκέας ἵππους  
Zeus-sprung, and beneath the yoke he led his swift horses,

**295** Αἴθην τὴν Ἀγαμεμνονέην τὸν ἑόν τε Πόδαργον·  
Agamemnon's mare Aethe and his own Podargus.

**296** τὴν Ἀγαμέμνονι δῶκʼ Ἀγχισιάδης Ἐχέπωλος  
Echepolus, son of Anchises, had given her to Agamemnon

**297** δῶρʼ, ἵνα μή οἱ ἕποιθʼ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν,  
as a gift, so he need not follow him to windy Ilion,

**298** ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ τέρποιτο μένων· μέγα γάρ οἱ ἔδωκε  
but might stay there and take his ease; for Zeus had given him

**299** Ζεὺς ἄφενος, ναῖεν δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Σικυῶνι·  
great wealth, and he lived in broad-dancing Sicyon.

**300** τὴν ὅ γʼ ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἦγε μέγα δρόμου ἰσχανόωσαν.  
This mare he led beneath the yoke, yearning greatly for the race.

**301** Ἀντίλοχος δὲ τέταρτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθʼ ἵππους,  
Antilochus was fourth to harness his lovely-maned horses,

**302** Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς ὑπερθύμοιο ἄνακτος  
the splendid son of Nestor, the high-hearted lord,

**303** τοῦ Νηληϊάδαο· Πυλοιγενέες δέ οἱ ἵπποι  
son of Neleus; his horses were bred in Pylos,
> Bred in Pylos: Πυλοιγενής combines Pylos with the root of γίγνομαι, "be born." The horses' local breeding matters because Nestor immediately compares their limited speed with his son's skill.

**304** ὠκύποδες φέρον ἅρμα· πατὴρ δέ οἱ ἄγχι παραστὰς  
swift-footed, and drew his chariot. His father stood near

**305** μυθεῖτʼ εἰς ἀγαθὰ φρονέων νοέοντι καὶ αὐτῷ·  
and counseled him for his good, though he himself already understood:

**306** Ἀντίλοχʼ ἤτοι μέν σε νέον περ ἐόντʼ ἐφίλησαν  
"Antilochus, though you are young, Zeus and Poseidon
> Though you are young: The participle ἐόντα agrees with Antilochus, while περ gives it concessive force: "though you are young." Nestor grants the apparent disadvantage before praising his son's divine training.

**307** Ζεύς τε Ποσειδάων τε, καὶ ἱπποσύνας ἐδίδαξαν  
have loved you and taught you every kind

**308** παντοίας· τὼ καί σε διδασκέμεν οὔ τι μάλα χρεώ·  
of horsemanship; so there is little need to teach you.

**309** οἶσθα γὰρ εὖ περὶ τέρμαθʼ ἑλισσέμεν· ἀλλά τοι ἵπποι  
You know well how to wheel around the turning posts; but your horses
> The turning posts: τέρματα are the markers around which the chariots must wheel before racing back. A close, controlled turn can offset a team's lack of straight-line speed.

**310** βάρδιστοι θείειν· τώ τʼ οἴω λοίγιʼ ἔσεσθαι.  
are slowest at running, and so I think this will go badly.

**311** τῶν δʼ ἵπποι μὲν ἔασιν ἀφάρτεροι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοὶ  
The others' horses are swifter, yet the men themselves

**312** πλείονα ἴσασιν σέθεν αὐτοῦ μητίσασθαι.  
know no more than you do of devising a plan.

**313** ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ σὺ φίλος μῆτιν ἐμβάλλεο θυμῷ  
Come then, dear son, put every kind of cunning

**314** παντοίην, ἵνα μή σε παρεκπροφύγῃσιν ἄεθλα.  
into your heart, so that the prizes do not escape you.

**315** μήτι τοι δρυτόμος μέγʼ ἀμείνων ἠὲ βίηφι·  
By cunning a woodcutter is far better than by strength;
> Metis: cunning intelligence: μῆτις is practical, adaptive intelligence rather than abstract wisdom. Nestor makes it the governing principle of woodcutting, steering, and chariot driving alike.

**316** μήτι δʼ αὖτε κυβερνήτης ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ  
by cunning too a helmsman on the wine-dark sea

**317** νῆα θοὴν ἰθύνει ἐρεχθομένην ἀνέμοισι·  
guides a swift ship battered by the winds;

**318** μήτι δʼ ἡνίοχος περιγίγνεται ἡνιόχοιο.  
and by cunning one charioteer surpasses another.
> Surpassing with the genitive: περιγίγνομαι takes a genitive of the person surpassed, here ἡνιόχοιο. The construction means that one driver "gets the better of" another.

**319** ἀλλʼ ὃς μέν θʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν οἷσι πεποιθὼς  
But the man who trusts in his horses and his chariot

**320** ἀφραδέως ἐπὶ πολλὸν ἑλίσσεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,  
wheels recklessly far out, now this way, now that;

**321** ἵπποι δὲ πλανόωνται ἀνὰ δρόμον, οὐδὲ κατίσχει·  
his horses wander over the course, and he does not hold them in.

**322** ὃς δέ κε κέρδεα εἰδῇ ἐλαύνων ἥσσονας ἵππους,  
But the man who knows his advantage, though driving weaker horses,

**323** αἰεὶ τέρμʼ ὁρόων στρέφει ἐγγύθεν, οὐδέ ἑ λήθει  
keeps his eye on the post and turns close, never forgetting

**324** ὅππως τὸ πρῶτον τανύσῃ βοέοισιν ἱμᾶσιν,  
how from the start to keep the oxhide reins drawn taut,

**325** ἀλλʼ ἔχει ἀσφαλέως καὶ τὸν προὔχοντα δοκεύει.  
but holds them steady and watches the man ahead.

**326** σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλʼ ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει.  
I shall tell you a sign, plain to see, and it will not escape you.
> A sign and a monument: σῆμα is a visible sign or marker and can also mean a grave monument. Nestor's uncertainty at line 331 turns that double sense into part of the landscape.

**327** ἕστηκε ξύλον αὖον ὅσον τʼ ὄργυιʼ ὑπὲρ αἴης  
A dry stump stands about a fathom above the ground,

**328** ἢ δρυὸς ἢ πεύκης· τὸ μὲν οὐ καταπύθεται ὄμβρῳ,  
whether oak or pine; rain does not rot it,

**329** λᾶε δὲ τοῦ ἑκάτερθεν ἐρηρέδαται δύο λευκὼ  
and two white stones are fixed against it, one on either side,
> Dual agreement: λευκώ is dual, agreeing with the exactly two stones. The special number form makes the paired markers on either side of the stump precise.

**330** ἐν ξυνοχῇσιν ὁδοῦ, λεῖος δʼ ἱππόδρομος ἀμφὶς  
at the joining of the road, and the chariot track is smooth around it.

**331** ἤ τευ σῆμα βροτοῖο πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,  
Perhaps it is the monument of some mortal long dead,

**332** ἢ τό γε νύσσα τέτυκτο ἐπὶ προτέρων ἀνθρώπων,  
or perhaps men of earlier days made it a turning post;
> The chariot's turn marker: νύσσα is the fixed marker a racing chariot rounds. It is distinct from the finishing line: skill lies in passing it closely without striking it.

**333** καὶ νῦν τέρματʼ ἔθηκε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.  
and now swift-footed godlike Achilles has made it the turn.
> Swift-footed godlike Achilles: This full epithet combines ποδάρκης, "swift-footed," with δῖος, "godlike." Even while Achilles does not race, the formula preserves his defining speed.

**334** τῷ σὺ μάλʼ ἐγχρίμψας ἐλάαν σχεδὸν ἅρμα καὶ ἵππους,  
Drive your horses and chariot very close beside it,

**335** αὐτὸς δὲ κλινθῆναι ἐϋπλέκτῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ  
and lean yourself gently to the left of the pair

**336** ἦκʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ τοῖιν· ἀτὰρ τὸν δεξιὸν ἵππον  
in your well-woven chariot; but urge the right-hand horse

**337** κένσαι ὁμοκλήσας, εἶξαί τέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν.  
with a shout and a prick, and let the reins yield in your hands.

**338** ἐν νύσσῃ δέ τοι ἵππος ἀριστερὸς ἐγχριμφθήτω,  
At the post let your left-hand horse press close,
> Third-person imperative: ἐγχριμφθήτω is a third-person imperative: "let it press close." Nestor directs the command grammatically to the left-hand horse through Antilochus.

**339** ὡς ἄν τοι πλήμνη γε δοάσσεται ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι  
so that the nave of your fashioned wheel seems almost to graze it;

**340** κύκλου ποιητοῖο· λίθου δʼ ἀλέασθαι ἐπαυρεῖν,  
but take care not to strike the stone,

**341** μή πως ἵππους τε τρώσῃς κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξῃς·  
lest you wound the horses and shatter the chariot.

**342** χάρμα δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοισιν, ἐλεγχείη δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ  
That would be joy for the others and shame for you;

**343** ἔσσεται· ἀλλὰ φίλος φρονέων πεφυλαγμένος εἶναι.  
so, dear son, be watchful and keep your judgment.

**344** εἰ γάρ κʼ ἐν νύσσῃ γε παρεξελάσῃσθα διώκων,  
For if you pass them at the post while pursuing,
> Future condition: εἰ with κε and the subjunctive παρεξελάσῃσθα sets a prospective condition: if Antilochus gets past at the turn, the result in the next lines will follow.

**345** οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅς κέ σʼ ἕλῃσι μετάλμενος οὐδὲ παρέλθῃ,  
there is no man who could catch you by a burst or pass you,

**346** οὐδʼ εἴ κεν μετόπισθεν Ἀρίονα δῖον ἐλαύνοι  
not even if he drove behind you divine Arion,

**347** Ἀδρήστου ταχὺν ἵππον, ὃς ἐκ θεόφιν γένος ἦεν,  
the swift horse of Adrastus, whose stock was from the gods,

**348** ἢ τοὺς Λαομέδοντος, οἳ ἐνθάδε γʼ ἔτραφεν ἐσθλοί.  
or Laomedon's horses, the finest bred in this land."

**349** ὣς εἰπὼν Νέστωρ Νηλήϊος ἂψ ἐνὶ χώρῃ  
So Nestor, son of Neleus, spoke and sat again in his place,

**350** ἕζετʼ, ἐπεὶ ᾧ παιδὶ ἑκάστου πείρατʼ ἔειπε.  
when he had told his son the sum of every point.

**351** Μηριόνης δʼ ἄρα πέμπτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθʼ ἵππους.  
Meriones was fifth to harness his lovely-maned horses.

**352** ἂν δʼ ἔβαν ἐς δίφρους, ἐν δὲ κλήρους ἐβάλοντο·  
They mounted their chariots and cast their lots within a helmet;

**353** πάλλʼ Ἀχιλεύς, ἐκ δὲ κλῆρος θόρε Νεστορίδαο  
Achilles shook it, and out leapt the lot of Nestor's son,

**354** Ἀντιλόχου· μετὰ τὸν δʼ ἔλαχε κρείων Εὔμηλος·  
Antilochus; after him the lord Eumelus drew his place;

**355** τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης δουρὶ κλειτὸς Μενέλαος,  
after him came the son of Atreus, Menelaus famed with the spear;

**356** τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Μηριόνης λάχʼ ἐλαυνέμεν· ὕστατος αὖτε  
after him Meriones drew his place to drive; and last

**357** Τυδεΐδης ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἐὼν λάχʼ ἐλαυνέμεν ἵππους.  
the son of Tydeus, though far the best, drew the place to drive his horses.

**358** στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί, σήμηνε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς  
They stood in order, and Achilles showed them the turning post

**359** τηλόθεν ἐν λείῳ πεδίῳ· παρὰ δὲ σκοπὸν εἷσεν  
far away on the level plain; beside it he stationed as watcher

**360** ἀντίθεον Φοίνικα ὀπάονα πατρὸς ἑοῖο,  
godlike Phoenix, his father's companion,

**361** ὡς μεμνέῳτο δρόμους καὶ ἀληθείην ἀποείποι.  
to remember the runs and report the truth.

**362** οἳ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἐφʼ ἵπποιιν μάστιγας ἄειραν,  
All together they raised their whips over the horses,

**363** πέπληγόν θʼ ἱμᾶσιν, ὁμόκλησάν τʼ ἐπέεσσιν  
struck them with the reins, and shouted words

**364** ἐσσυμένως· οἳ δʼ ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο  
urgently; swiftly they covered the plain

**365** νόσφι νεῶν ταχέως· ὑπὸ δὲ στέρνοισι κονίη  
away from the ships, and beneath their chests the dust

**366** ἵστατʼ ἀειρομένη ὥς τε νέφος ἠὲ θύελλα,  
rose and stood like a cloud or a whirlwind,
> Two-part comparison: ὥς introduces the comparison and ἠέ offers its second image: the lifted dust is like either a cloud or a whirlwind. Both images make the racers vanish into moving air.

**367** χαῖται δʼ ἐρρώοντο μετὰ πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.  
and the manes streamed in the breaths of wind.

**368** ἅρματα δʼ ἄλλοτε μὲν χθονὶ πίλνατο πουλυβοτείρῃ,  
The chariots now drew near the earth that feeds many,

**369** ἄλλοτε δʼ ἀΐξασκε μετήορα· τοὶ δʼ ἐλατῆρες  
now leapt high into the air; the drivers

**370** ἕστασαν ἐν δίφροισι, πάτασσε δὲ θυμὸς ἑκάστου  
stood in their chariots, and each man's heart pounded

**371** νίκης ἱεμένων· κέκλοντο δὲ οἷσιν ἕκαστος  
in his longing for victory; each called to his own

**372** ἵπποις, οἳ δʼ ἐπέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.  
horses, and they flew in dust across the plain.

**373** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον ὠκέες ἵπποι  
But when the swift horses were completing the last stretch

**374** ἂψ ἐφʼ ἁλὸς πολιῆς, τότε δὴ ἀρετή γε ἑκάστου  
back toward the gray sea, then each team's excellence

**375** φαίνετʼ, ἄφαρ δʼ ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος· ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτα  
showed, and at once the race drew taut for the horses. Swiftly then

**376** αἳ Φηρητιάδαο ποδώκεες ἔκφερον ἵπποι.  
the fleet mares of Pheres' grandson surged ahead.

**377** τὰς δὲ μετʼ ἐξέφερον Διομήδεος ἄρσενες ἵπποι  
After them came the stallions of Diomedes,

**378** Τρώϊοι, οὐδέ τι πολλὸν ἄνευθʼ ἔσαν, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐγγύς·  
the Trojan horses, not far behind but very close;

**379** αἰεὶ γὰρ δίφρου ἐπιβησομένοισιν ἐΐκτην,  
for they always seemed about to mount the chariot,

**380** πνοιῇ δʼ Εὐμήλοιο μετάφρενον εὐρέε τʼ ὤμω  
and with their breath they warmed Eumelus' back and broad shoulders,

**381** θέρμετʼ· ἐπʼ αὐτῷ γὰρ κεφαλὰς καταθέντε πετέσθην.  
for they laid their heads above him as they flew.

**382** καί νύ κεν ἢ παρέλασσʼ ἢ ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν,  
And now he would have passed or made the race a dead heat,

**383** εἰ μὴ Τυδέος υἷϊ κοτέσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,  
had not Phoebus Apollo grown angry at Tydeus' son

**384** ὅς ῥά οἱ ἐκ χειρῶν ἔβαλεν μάστιγα φαεινήν.  
and struck the shining whip from his hands.

**385** τοῖο δʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν χύτο δάκρυα χωομένοιο,  
Tears poured from his eyes in anger,

**386** οὕνεκα τὰς μὲν ὅρα ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἰούσας,  
because he saw the mares running faster still,

**387** οἳ δέ οἱ ἐβλάφθησαν ἄνευ κέντροιο θέοντες.  
while his own horses were hindered, racing without the goad.

**388** οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθηναίην ἐλεφηράμενος λάθʼ Ἀπόλλων  
But Apollo did not escape Athena's notice in his deceit

**389** Τυδεΐδην, μάλα δʼ ὦκα μετέσσυτο ποιμένα λαῶν,  
against Tydeus' son; swiftly she rushed after the shepherd of the people,

**390** δῶκε δέ οἱ μάστιγα, μένος δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐνῆκεν·  
gave him the whip, and put strength into his horses.

**391** ἣ δὲ μετʼ Ἀδμήτου υἱὸν κοτέουσʼ ἐβεβήκει,  
Then in anger she went after the son of Admetus,

**392** ἵππειον δέ οἱ ἦξε θεὰ ζυγόν· αἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι  
and the goddess broke his horses' yoke; his mares

**393** ἀμφὶς ὁδοῦ δραμέτην, ῥυμὸς δʼ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἐλύσθη.  
ran apart on either side of the road, and the pole fell to the ground.

**394** αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο παρὰ τροχὸν ἐξεκυλίσθη,  
but he rolled from the chariot beside the wheel

**395** ἀγκῶνάς τε περιδρύφθη στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε,  
and scraped his elbows, mouth, and nostrils;

**396** θρυλίχθη δὲ μέτωπον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι· τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε  
his forehead was bruised above the brows; and his two eyes

**397** δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.  
filled with tears, and his strong voice was checked.

**398** Τυδεΐδης δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους,  
But the son of Tydeus turned aside and held his single-hoofed horses,

**399** πολλὸν τῶν ἄλλων ἐξάλμενος· ἐν γὰρ Ἀθήνη  
leaping far ahead of the others; for Athena

**400** ἵπποις ἧκε μένος καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκε.  
put strength into his horses and laid glory upon the man himself.

**401** τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εἶχε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.  
After him came the son of Atreus, golden-haired Menelaus.

**402** Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο πατρὸς ἑοῖο·  
Antilochus called out to his father's horses:

**403** ἔμβητον καὶ σφῶϊ· τιταίνετον ὅττι τάχιστα.  
"Press on, you two, and strain with all your speed.
> Commands to two horses: ἔμβητον is a dual imperative and σφῶϊ a dual pronoun: Antilochus addresses exactly the paired horses. English "you two" makes the number explicit.

**404** ἤτοι μὲν κείνοισιν ἐριζέμεν οὔ τι κελεύω  
I do not command you to contend with those horses,

**405** Τυδεΐδεω ἵπποισι δαΐφρονος, οἷσιν Ἀθήνη  
the horses of warlike Tydeus' son, to whom Athena

**406** νῦν ὤρεξε τάχος καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκεν·  
has now granted speed and laid glory upon their driver.

**407** ἵππους δʼ Ἀτρεΐδαο κιχάνετε, μὴ δὲ λίπησθον,  
But catch the horses of Atreus' son, and do not be left behind,

**408** καρπαλίμως, μὴ σφῶϊν ἐλεγχείην καταχεύῃ  
quickly, lest Aethe pour shame over you both,

**409** Αἴθη θῆλυς ἐοῦσα· τί ἢ λείπεσθε φέριστοι;  
though she is a mare. Why are you falling behind, my fine pair?

**410** ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·  
For this I tell you, and it shall surely be fulfilled:
> Future perfect threat: The future of εἰμί with the perfect participle τετελεσμένον forms a future perfect: Antilochus' warning "shall have been fulfilled" if the horses fail him.

**411** οὐ σφῶϊν κομιδὴ παρὰ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶν  
you shall have no care from Nestor, shepherd of the people,

**412** ἔσσεται, αὐτίκα δʼ ὔμμε κατακτενεῖ ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,  
but at once he will kill you with sharp bronze

**413** αἴ κʼ ἀποκηδήσαντε φερώμεθα χεῖρον ἄεθλον.  
if through your heedlessness we carry off a poorer prize.
> Prospective condition: αἴ κε takes the subjunctive φερώμεθα for a possible future outcome. The dual participle ἀποκηδήσαντε assigns the imagined heedlessness to both horses.

**414** ἀλλʼ ἐφομαρτεῖτον καὶ σπεύδετον ὅττι τάχιστα·  
Come, follow close and hurry with all your speed;

**415** ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς τεχνήσομαι ἠδὲ νοήσω  
and I myself shall devise and plan this:

**416** στεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ παραδύμεναι, οὐδέ με λήσει.  
to slip past him where the road is narrow, and I shall not miss it."

**417** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν  
So he spoke, and they, fearing their lord's rebuke,

**418** μᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην ὀλίγον χρόνον· αἶψα δʼ ἔπειτα  
ran harder for a little while; and soon thereafter

**419** στεῖνος ὁδοῦ κοίλης ἴδεν Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμης.  
Antilochus, steadfast in battle, saw a narrowing of the road.
> Steadfast in battle: μενεχάρμης combines the idea of standing fast with χάρμη, "battle." Applied during the race, the martial epithet colors Antilochus' daring maneuver as a kind of combat.

**420** ῥωχμὸς ἔην γαίης, ᾗ χειμέριον ἀλὲν ὕδωρ  
There was a cleft in the earth where winter water, pent up,
> Pent-up winter water: χειμέριον marks water from winter storms, and ἀλέν describes it gathered or confined. Its force has burst the road and created the dangerous narrow passage.

**421** ἐξέρρηξεν ὁδοῖο, βάθυνε δὲ χῶρον ἅπαντα·  
had broken through the road and hollowed the whole place.

**422** τῇ ῥʼ εἶχεν Μενέλαος ἁματροχιὰς ἀλεείνων.  
Menelaus held his course there, avoiding a clash of wheels.
> Wheel meeting wheel: ἁματροχιά denotes chariots running wheel against wheel or in the same wheel track. Menelaus approaches the bottleneck cautiously to prevent a collision.

**423** Ἀντίλοχος δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους  
But Antilochus turned aside and held his single-hoofed horses

**424** ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, ὀλίγον δὲ παρακλίνας ἐδίωκεν.  
off the road, driving a little to one side.

**425** Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἔδεισε καὶ Ἀντιλόχῳ ἐγεγώνει·  
The son of Atreus grew afraid and shouted to Antilochus:

**426** Ἀντίλοχʼ ἀφραδέως ἱππάζεαι, ἀλλʼ ἄνεχʼ ἵππους·  
"Antilochus, you are driving recklessly; hold in your horses!
> A sharp imperative: ἄνεχε is a present imperative telling Antilochus to check and keep holding his horses back. Menelaus' clipped command matches the immediate danger.

**427** στεινωπὸς γὰρ ὁδός, τάχα δʼ εὐρυτέρη παρελάσσαι·  
The road is narrow; soon it will be wider for passing.

**428** μή πως ἀμφοτέρους δηλήσεαι ἅρματι κύρσας.  
Take care you do not strike my chariot and injure us both."
> Fear with the future: μή πως introduces the feared outcome and the future δηλήσεαι looks ahead to the harm Antilochus may cause. ἀμφοτέρους stresses that a collision would injure both drivers.

**429** ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἔλαυνε  
So he spoke, but Antilochus drove still harder,

**430** κέντρῳ ἐπισπέρχων ὡς οὐκ ἀΐοντι ἐοικώς.  
urging them with the goad as though he had not heard.

**431** ὅσσα δὲ δίσκου οὖρα κατωμαδίοιο πέλονται,  
As far as the cast of a discus swung from the shoulder,

**432** ὅν τʼ αἰζηὸς ἀφῆκεν ἀνὴρ πειρώμενος ἥβης,  
thrown by a young man testing his strength,

**433** τόσσον ἐπιδραμέτην· αἳ δʼ ἠρώησαν ὀπίσσω  
so far the pair ran on; then the mares of Atreus' son

**434** Ἀτρεΐδεω· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἑκὼν μεθέηκεν ἐλαύνειν  
fell back, for he willingly eased his driving,

**435** μή πως συγκύρσειαν ὁδῷ ἔνι μώνυχες ἵπποι,  
lest the single-hoofed horses collide upon the road,

**436** δίφρους τʼ ἀνστρέψειαν ἐϋπλεκέας, κατὰ δʼ αὐτοὶ  
overturn the well-woven chariots, and themselves

**437** ἐν κονίῃσι πέσοιεν ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης.  
fall in the dust as they pressed in pursuit of victory.

**438** τὸν καὶ νεικείων προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·  
Golden-haired Menelaus rebuked him as he spoke:
> Golden-haired Menelaus: ξανθός is Menelaus' standing color epithet, describing fair or golden hair. It remains attached to him even in this angry protest.

**439** Ἀντίλοχʼ οὔ τις σεῖο βροτῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·  
"Antilochus, no other mortal is more destructive than you.

**440** ἔρρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ σʼ ἔτυμόν γε φάμεν πεπνῦσθαι Ἀχαιοί.  
Go to ruin! We Achaeans were wrong to call you prudent.

**441** ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν οὐδʼ ὧς ἄτερ ὅρκου οἴσῃ ἄεθλον.  
Yet even so, you shall not carry the prize without an oath."

**442** ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο φώνησέν τε·  
So speaking, he called aloud and cried to his horses:

**443** μή μοι ἐρύκεσθον μὴ δʼ ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.  
"Do not hold back or stand grieving at heart.

**444** φθήσονται τούτοισι πόδες καὶ γοῦνα καμόντα  
The feet and knees of those horses will grow weary

**445** ἢ ὑμῖν· ἄμφω γὰρ ἀτέμβονται νεότητος.  
before yours; for both are bereft of youth."

**446** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν  
So he spoke, and they, fearing their lord's rebuke,

**447** μᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην, τάχα δέ σφισιν ἄγχι γένοντο.  
ran harder, and soon drew close to them.

**448** Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσορόωντο  
The Argives sitting in the assembly watched

**449** ἵππους· τοὶ δὲ πέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.  
the horses as they flew in dust across the plain.

**450** πρῶτος δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἐφράσαθʼ ἵππους·  
Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, first made out the horses,

**451** ἧστο γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἀγῶνος ὑπέρτατος ἐν περιωπῇ·  
for he sat outside the assembly, highest at the lookout.

**452** τοῖο δʼ ἄνευθεν ἐόντος ὁμοκλητῆρος ἀκούσας  
Though the shouter was far away, he heard him

**453** ἔγνω, φράσσατο δʼ ἵππον ἀριπρεπέα προὔχοντα,  
and knew him; he made out the conspicuous leading horse,

**454** ὃς τὸ μὲν ἄλλο τόσον φοῖνιξ ἦν, ἐν δὲ μετώπῳ  
chestnut over all the rest, but on its forehead
> A chestnut horse: φοῖνιξ names a deep reddish or chestnut color. The horse's dark red body makes the white circular blaze on its forehead especially visible at a distance.

**455** λευκὸν σῆμα τέτυκτο περίτροχον ἠΰτε μήνη.  
was a round white mark, like the moon.

**456** στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·  
He stood upright and spoke a word among the Argives:

**457** ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες  
Friends, leaders and rulers of the Argives,

**458** οἶος ἐγὼν ἵππους αὐγάζομαι ἦε καὶ ὑμεῖς;  
Am I alone making out the horses, or do you see them too?

**459** ἄλλοι μοι δοκέουσι παροίτεροι ἔμμεναι ἵπποι,  
They seem to me to be different horses in front,

**460** ἄλλος δʼ ἡνίοχος ἰνδάλλεται· αἳ δέ που αὐτοῦ  
and another driver appears; the mares must somewhere

**461** ἔβλαβεν ἐν πεδίῳ, αἳ κεῖσέ γε φέρτεραι ἦσαν·  
have come to grief on the plain, though they were stronger on the way out.

**462** ἤτοι γὰρ τὰς πρῶτα ἴδον περὶ τέρμα βαλούσας,  
For I saw them first as they rounded the turning post,

**463** νῦν δʼ οὔ πῃ δύναμαι ἰδέειν· πάντῃ δέ μοι ὄσσε  
but now I cannot see them anywhere, though my two eyes

**464** Τρωϊκὸν ἂμ πεδίον παπταίνετον εἰσορόωντι·  
range over all the Trojan plain as I look.
> Two eyes in the dual: παπταίνετον is a dual verb whose subject, the two eyes, stands on the preceding line. Idomeneus' eyes range together over the plain, emphasizing the eyesight Ajax is about to contest.

**465** ἦε τὸν ἡνίοχον φύγον ἡνία, οὐδὲ δυνάσθη  
Perhaps the reins escaped the driver, and he could not

**466** εὖ σχεθέειν περὶ τέρμα καὶ οὐκ ἐτύχησεν ἑλίξας·  
hold them well around the post and failed in making the turn.

**467** ἔνθά μιν ἐκπεσέειν ὀΐω σύν θʼ ἅρματα ἆξαι,  
I think he was thrown out there and his chariot smashed,

**468** αἳ δʼ ἐξηρώησαν, ἐπεὶ μένος ἔλλαβε θυμόν.  
while the mares bolted when fury seized their hearts.

**469** ἀλλὰ ἴδεσθε καὶ ὔμμες ἀνασταδόν· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε  
Come, stand up and look yourselves, for I

**470** εὖ διαγιγνώσκω· δοκέει δέ μοι ἔμμεναι ἀνὴρ  
cannot make him out well; yet the man seems to me

**471** Αἰτωλὸς γενεήν, μετὰ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἀνάσσει  
Aetolian by birth, and he rules among the Argives—

**472** Τυδέος ἱπποδάμου υἱὸς κρατερὸς Διομήδης.  
mighty Diomedes, son of horse-taming Tydeus."

**473** τὸν δʼ αἰσχρῶς ἐνένιπεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας·  
Then swift Ajax, son of Oileus, rebuked him shamefully:

**474** Ἰδομενεῦ τί πάρος λαβρεύεαι; αἳ δέ τʼ ἄνευθεν  
"Idomeneus, why do you babble before there is need? Far off

**475** ἵπποι ἀερσίποδες πολέος πεδίοιο δίενται.  
the high-stepping horses still race over the broad plain.

**476** οὔτε νεώτατός ἐσσι μετʼ Ἀργείοισι τοσοῦτον,  
You are not so much the youngest among the Argives,

**477** οὔτέ τοι ὀξύτατον κεφαλῆς ἐκδέρκεται ὄσσε·  
nor does the sharpest eye look out from your head;

**478** ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ μύθοις λαβρεύεαι· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ  
yet you are always babbling in speeches, though you have no need

**479** λαβραγόρην ἔμεναι· πάρα γὰρ καὶ ἀμείνονες ἄλλοι.  
to be a loud talker, for better men are here.

**480** ἵπποι δʼ αὐταὶ ἔασι παροίτεραι, αἳ τὸ πάρος περ,  
The same mares are in front that were before,

**481** Εὐμήλου, ἐν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχων εὔληρα βέβηκε.  
Eumelus' mares, and he himself stands within holding the reins."

**482** τὸν δὲ χολωσάμενος Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Angered, the leader of the Cretans spoke against him:

**483** Αἶαν νεῖκος ἄριστε κακοφραδὲς ἄλλά τε πάντα  
"Ajax, best at abuse, wrong-headed, in everything else
> Best at abuse: The vocative phrase is pointedly sarcastic: Idomeneus calls Ajax "best" not in battle but in νεῖκος, quarrelsome abuse. The insult answers Ajax in his own aggressive register.

**484** δεύεαι Ἀργείων, ὅτι τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής.  
you fall short of the Argives, because your mind is harsh.

**485** δεῦρό νυν ἢ τρίποδος περιδώμεθον ἠὲ λέβητος,  
Come now, let the two of us wager a tripod or a cauldron,

**486** ἴστορα δʼ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα θείομεν ἄμφω,  
and let us both appoint Agamemnon, son of Atreus, as judge

**487** ὁππότεραι πρόσθʼ ἵπποι, ἵνα γνώῃς ἀποτίνων.  
of which mares are in front, so you may learn by paying."

**488** ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας  
So he spoke, and swift Ajax, son of Oileus, sprang up at once,

**489** χωόμενος χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείψασθαι ἐπέεσσι·  
angry, to answer him with harsh words.

**490** καί νύ κε δὴ προτέρω ἔτʼ ἔρις γένετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν,  
And now the quarrel between the two would have gone still further,

**491** εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ φάτο μῦθον·  
had not Achilles himself risen and spoken a word:

**492** μηκέτι νῦν χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείβεσθον ἐπέεσσιν  
"No longer answer one another with harsh words,

**493** Αἶαν Ἰδομενεῦ τε κακοῖς, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε.  
Ajax and Idomeneus, with insults; it is not fitting.

**494** καὶ δʼ ἄλλῳ νεμεσᾶτον ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.  
You yourselves would resent another man who acted so.

**495** ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσοράασθε  
Instead, sit in the assembly and watch

**496** ἵππους· οἳ δὲ τάχʼ αὐτοὶ ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης  
the horses; soon they will come here themselves, pressing for victory.

**497** ἐνθάδʼ ἐλεύσονται· τότε δὲ γνώσεσθε ἕκαστος  
Then each of you will know

**498** ἵππους Ἀργείων, οἳ δεύτεροι οἵ τε πάροιθεν.  
which Argive horses are second and which are first."

**499** ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἦλθε διώκων,  
So he spoke, and the son of Tydeus came very near in pursuit,

**500** μάστι δʼ αἰὲν ἔλαυνε κατωμαδόν· οἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι  
always driving the whip down from his shoulder; his horses

**501** ὑψόσʼ ἀειρέσθην ῥίμφα πρήσσοντε κέλευθον.  
reared high as the pair sped swiftly on their way.
> A racing pair in the dual: The finite verb ἀειρέσθην and participle πρήσσοντε are dual forms: Homer treats the two harnessed horses as a single racing pair.

**502** αἰεὶ δʼ ἡνίοχον κονίης ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον,  
All the while splashes of dust struck the driver,

**503** ἅρματα δὲ χρυσῷ πεπυκασμένα κασσιτέρῳ τε  
and the chariot, overlaid with gold and tin,
> Perfect passive participle: πεπυκασμένα is a perfect middle-passive participle agreeing with ἅρματα: the chariot stands in the finished state of having been closely overlaid with metal.

**504** ἵπποις ὠκυπόδεσσιν ἐπέτρεχον· οὐδέ τι πολλὴ  
ran close behind the swift-footed horses; scarcely any

**505** γίγνετʼ ἐπισσώτρων ἁρματροχιὴ κατόπισθεν  
track of the wheel rims arose behind them

**506** ἐν λεπτῇ κονίῃ· τὼ δὲ σπεύδοντε πετέσθην.  
in the fine dust, so fast the two flew onward.

**507** στῆ δὲ μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι, πολὺς δʼ ἀνεκήκιεν ἱδρὼς  
He stopped in the midst of the gathering, and sweat poured thick

**508** ἵππων ἔκ τε λόφων καὶ ἀπὸ στέρνοιο χαμᾶζε.  
from the horses' manes and chests down to the ground.

**509** αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντος,  
Diomedes himself leapt down from the shining chariot,
> Diomedes is the carried subject: αὐτός resumes the winner who has just driven in, Diomedes. The same Greek line occurs elsewhere with Hector as its carried subject, but here the surrounding action fixes Diomedes.

**510** κλῖνε δʼ ἄρα μάστιγα ποτὶ ζυγόν· οὐδὲ μάτησεν  
and leaned his whip against the yoke. Nor did

**511** ἴφθιμος Σθένελος, ἀλλʼ ἐσσυμένως λάβʼ ἄεθλον,  
mighty Sthenelus delay, but briskly took the prize

**512** δῶκε δʼ ἄγειν ἑτάροισιν ὑπερθύμοισι γυναῖκα  
and gave the woman to his high-hearted comrades to lead away,

**513** καὶ τρίποδʼ ὠτώεντα φέρειν· ὃ δʼ ἔλυεν ὑφʼ ἵππους.  
and the handled tripod to carry; while he unyoked the horses.

**514** τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀντίλοχος Νηλήϊος ἤλασεν ἵππους  
Next Antilochus, the son of Neleus, drove his horses in

**515** κέρδεσιν, οὔ τι τάχει γε, παραφθάμενος Μενέλαον·  
after passing Menelaus by cunning, not by speed;
> Winning by cunning: κέρδεσιν is the dative plural of κέρδος, advantage or cunning. It points back to Antilochus' deliberate maneuver at the narrow road, not to greater speed in his team.

**516** ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς Μενέλαος ἔχʼ ἐγγύθεν ὠκέας ἵππους.  
yet even so Menelaus held his swift horses close behind.

**517** ὅσσον δὲ τροχοῦ ἵππος ἀφίσταται, ὅς ῥα ἄνακτα  
As far as a horse stands from the wheel when he

**518** ἕλκῃσιν πεδίοιο τιταινόμενος σὺν ὄχεσφι·  
draws his master over the plain, straining with the chariot:

**519** τοῦ μέν τε ψαύουσιν ἐπισσώτρου τρίχες ἄκραι  
the tips of the horse's tail hairs brush the wheel rim

**520** οὐραῖαι· ὃ δέ τʼ ἄγχι μάλα τρέχει, οὐδέ τι πολλὴ  
as he runs very close, with scarcely any

**521** χώρη μεσσηγὺς πολέος πεδίοιο θέοντος·  
space between while he races over the broad plain —

**522** τόσσον δὴ Μενέλαος ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο  
by just so much Menelaus trailed blameless Antilochus.

**523** λείπετʼ· ἀτὰρ τὰ πρῶτα καὶ ἐς δίσκουρα λέλειπτο,  
At first he had fallen behind by a discus throw,

**524** ἀλλά μιν αἶψα κίχανεν· ὀφέλλετο γὰρ μένος ἠῢ  
but swiftly he caught him, for the good strength kept swelling

**525** ἵππου τῆς Ἀγαμεμνονέης καλλίτριχος Αἴθης·  
in Agamemnon's lovely-maned mare, Aethe.

**526** εἰ δέ κʼ ἔτι προτέρω γένετο δρόμος ἀμφοτέροισι,  
Had the course been stretched still farther for both men,
> A past counterfactual: The conditional imagines a course that was not in fact longer. The corresponding result follows on the next line: Menelaus would have passed Antilochus outright.

**527** τώ κέν μιν παρέλασσʼ οὐδʼ ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν.  
he would have passed him and left no room for dispute.

**528** αὐτὰρ Μηριόνης θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος  
But Meriones, the good companion of Idomeneus,

**529** λείπετʼ ἀγακλῆος Μενελάου δουρὸς ἐρωήν·  
fell a spear's cast behind glorious Menelaus,

**530** βάρδιστοι μὲν γάρ οἱ ἔσαν καλλίτριχες ἵπποι,  
for his lovely-maned horses were the slowest,

**531** ἤκιστος δʼ ἦν αὐτὸς ἐλαυνέμεν ἅρμʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι.  
and he himself was the least skilled at driving a chariot in a race.

**532** υἱὸς δʼ Ἀδμήτοιο πανύστατος ἤλυθεν ἄλλων  
Last of all the others came the son of Admetus,

**533** ἕλκων ἅρματα καλὰ ἐλαύνων πρόσσοθεν ἵππους.  
dragging his fine chariot and driving his horses on ahead.

**534** τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτειρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,  
Seeing him, swift-footed godlike Achilles took pity,

**535** στὰς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Ἀργείοις ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευε·  
and standing among the Argives he spoke winged words:

**536** λοῖσθος ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐλαύνει μώνυχας ἵππους·  
"The best man is driving his single-hoofed horses in last.

**537** ἀλλʼ ἄγε δή οἱ δῶμεν ἀέθλιον ὡς ἐπιεικὲς  
Come then, let us give him a prize, as is fitting,

**538** δεύτερʼ· ἀτὰρ τὰ πρῶτα φερέσθω Τυδέος υἱός.  
the second; but let the son of Tydeus carry off the first."

**539** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ὡς ἐκέλευε.  
So he spoke, and they all approved as he had urged.

**540** καί νύ κέ οἱ πόρεν ἵππον, ἐπῄνησαν γὰρ Ἀχαιοί,  
And now he would have given him the mare, for the Achaeans had approved,
> An action narrowly prevented: κέ with the past verb presents what would now have happened: Achilles was on the point of awarding Eumelus the mare. The εἰ μή clause on the next line supplies the interruption.

**541** εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ Ἀντίλοχος μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς  
had Antilochus, son of great-hearted Nestor, not

**542** Πηλεΐδην Ἀχιλῆα δίκῃ ἠμείψατʼ ἀναστάς·  
risen and answered Peleus' son Achilles to assert his right:
> A claim of right: δίκη here is the right or justice of Antilochus' case. He rises not merely to object but to claim that the announced award would wrongfully strip him of the prize he won.

**543** ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ μάλα τοι κεχολώσομαι αἴ κε τελέσσῃς  
"Achilles, I shall be deeply angered with you if you carry out

**544** τοῦτο ἔπος· μέλλεις γὰρ ἀφαιρήσεσθαι ἄεθλον  
this word, for you mean to take away my prize,

**545** τὰ φρονέων ὅτι οἱ βλάβεν ἅρματα καὶ ταχέʼ ἵππω  
thinking of how his chariot and swift horses were harmed,

**546** αὐτός τʼ ἐσθλὸς ἐών· ἀλλʼ ὤφελεν ἀθανάτοισιν  
though he himself is a good man. But he ought to have prayed to the immortals;
> What he ought to have done: ὤφελεν with the infinitive εὔχεσθαι on the next line expresses an unfulfilled obligation: Eumelus ought to have prayed, but did not.

**547** εὔχεσθαι· τό κεν οὔ τι πανύστατος ἦλθε διώκων.  
then he would not have come pursuing in the very last place.

**548** εἰ δέ μιν οἰκτίρεις καί τοι φίλος ἔπλετο θυμῷ  
If you pity him and he has been dear to your heart,

**549** ἔστί τοι ἐν κλισίῃ χρυσὸς πολύς, ἔστι δὲ χαλκὸς  
you have abundant gold in your hut, and bronze as well,

**550** καὶ πρόβατʼ, εἰσὶ δέ τοι δμῳαὶ καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι·  
and flocks; you have bondwomen and single-hoofed horses.

**551** τῶν οἱ ἔπειτʼ ἀνελὼν δόμεναι καὶ μεῖζον ἄεθλον  
Take something from these and give him an even greater prize

**552** ἠὲ καὶ αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα σʼ αἰνήσωσιν Ἀχαιοί.  
at once, here and now, so that the Achaeans may praise you.

**553** τὴν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐ δώσω· περὶ δʼ αὐτῆς πειρηθήτω  
But I will not give up the mare; let any man make trial over her
> A third-person command: πειρηθήτω is a third-person singular aorist imperative: Antilochus challenges any willing man to make the attempt for the mare.

**554** ἀνδρῶν ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν ἐμοὶ χείρεσσι μάχεσθαι.  
who is willing to fight me hand to hand."

**555** ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς  
So he spoke, and swift-footed godlike Achilles smiled,

**556** χαίρων Ἀντιλόχῳ, ὅτι οἱ φίλος ἦεν ἑταῖρος·  
delighting in Antilochus, because he was his dear companion;

**557** καί μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
And answering him, he addressed him with winged words:

**558** Ἀντίλοχʼ, εἰ μὲν δή με κελεύεις οἴκοθεν ἄλλο  
"Antilochus, if you bid me add another gift from my own stores

**559** Εὐμήλῳ ἐπιδοῦναι, ἐγὼ δέ κε καὶ τὸ τελέσσω.  
for Eumelus, then I shall do that as well.

**560** δώσω οἱ θώρηκα, τὸν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων  
I shall give him the breastplate I stripped from Asteropaeus,

**561** χάλκεον, ᾧ πέρι χεῦμα φαεινοῦ κασσιτέροιο  
of bronze, around which a band of shining tin
> A poured metal band: χεῦμα is something poured or cast. Here it denotes the bright tin band worked around the bronze breastplate.

**562** ἀμφιδεδίνηται· πολέος δέ οἱ ἄξιος ἔσται.  
runs circling; it will be worth much to him."

**563** ἦ ῥα, καὶ Αὐτομέδοντι φίλῳ ἐκέλευσεν ἑταίρῳ  
So he spoke, and told his dear companion Automedon

**564** οἰσέμεναι κλισίηθεν· ὃ δʼ ᾤχετο καί οἱ ἔνεικεν,  
to fetch it from the hut; he went and brought it to him,

**565** Εὐμήλῳ δʼ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει· ὃ δὲ δέξατο χαίρων.  
and placed it in Eumelus' hands; he received it gladly.

**566** τοῖσι δὲ καὶ Μενέλαος ἀνίστατο θυμὸν ἀχεύων  
Then Menelaus too rose among them, grieving at heart

**567** Ἀντιλόχῳ ἄμοτον κεχολωμένος· ἐν δʼ ἄρα κῆρυξ  
and relentlessly angry with Antilochus. A herald
> Anger without respite: ἄμοτον means unceasingly or relentlessly. It gives Menelaus' anger a sustained force as he rises to challenge the result.

**568** χειρὶ σκῆπτρον ἔθηκε, σιωπῆσαί τε κέλευσεν  
placed the scepter in his hand and called upon

**569** Ἀργείους· ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα μετηύδα ἰσόθεος φώς·  
the Argives to be silent; then the godlike man addressed them:

**570** Ἀντίλοχε πρόσθεν πεπνυμένε ποῖον ἔρεξας.  
"Antilochus, once so wise, what have you done?

**571** ᾔσχυνας μὲν ἐμὴν ἀρετήν, βλάψας δέ μοι ἵππους  
You have shamed my prowess and hindered my horses

**572** τοὺς σοὺς πρόσθε βαλών, οἵ τοι πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν.  
by throwing your own before them, though yours were far worse.

**573** ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες  
Come then, leaders and rulers of the Argives,

**574** ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέροισι δικάσσατε, μὴ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀρωγῇ,  
judge openly between us both, and show no favor,
> A public command to judge: δικάσσατε is a second-person plural aorist imperative. Menelaus calls on the assembled leaders to deliver a decisive judgment between the two contestants.

**575** μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·  
lest some bronze-clad Achaean ever say:

**576** Ἀντίλοχον ψεύδεσσι βιησάμενος Μενέλαος  
‘Menelaus overpowered Antilochus by falsehood

**577** οἴχεται ἵππον ἄγων, ὅτι οἱ πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν  
and goes off leading the mare, because his horses were far worse,

**578** ἵπποι, αὐτὸς δὲ κρείσσων ἀρετῇ τε βίῃ τε.  
though he himself is stronger in prowess and might.’

**579** εἰ δʼ ἄγʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς δικάσω, καί μʼ οὔ τινά φημι  
Come, I shall judge the matter myself; and I say that no

**580** ἄλλον ἐπιπλήξειν Δαναῶν· ἰθεῖα γὰρ ἔσται.  
other Danaan will rebuke me, for the judgment will be straight.

**581** Ἀντίλοχʼ εἰ δʼ ἄγε δεῦρο διοτρεφές, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,  
Come here, Antilochus, Zeus-nurtured, as is right and customary:

**582** στὰς ἵππων προπάροιθε καὶ ἅρματος, αὐτὰρ ἱμάσθλην  
stand before your horses and chariot, and take in your hands

**583** χερσὶν ἔχε ῥαδινήν, ᾗ περ τὸ πρόσθεν ἔλαυνες,  
the slender whip with which you drove before;

**584** ἵππων ἁψάμενος γαιήοχον ἐννοσίγαιον  
touch the horses and swear by the earth-holding Earth-shaker

**585** ὄμνυθι μὴ μὲν ἑκὼν τὸ ἐμὸν δόλῳ ἅρμα πεδῆσαι.  
that you did not willingly block my chariot by guile."

**586** τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίλοχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then wise Antilochus answered him face to face:

**587** ἄνσχεο νῦν· πολλὸν γὰρ ἔγωγε νεώτερός εἰμι  
"Bear with me now, for I am far younger

**588** σεῖο ἄναξ Μενέλαε, σὺ δὲ πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων.  
than you, lord Menelaus, while you are older and better.

**589** οἶσθʼ οἷαι νέου ἀνδρὸς ὑπερβασίαι τελέθουσι·  
You know what the transgressions of a young man are:

**590** κραιπνότερος μὲν γάρ τε νόος, λεπτὴ δέ τε μῆτις.  
his impulse is swifter, but his counsel is slight.
> Quick impulse, slight counsel: Antilochus contrasts νόος, the mind or impulse that rushes ahead, with μῆτις, considered counsel or cunning. Youth supplies speed of thought but too little judgment.

**591** τώ τοι ἐπιτλήτω κραδίη· ἵππον δέ τοι αὐτὸς  
Therefore let your heart endure; I myself shall give you

**592** δώσω, τὴν ἀρόμην. εἰ καί νύ κεν οἴκοθεν ἄλλο  
the mare I won. And if you should ask some other thing

**593** μεῖζον ἐπαιτήσειας, ἄφαρ κέ τοι αὐτίκα δοῦναι  
from my own stores, something greater, I would choose to give it

**594** βουλοίμην ἢ σοί γε διοτρεφὲς ἤματα πάντα  
to you at once rather than fall from your heart, Zeus-nurtured, forever
> Optative preference: βουλοίμην is a present optative expressing Antilochus' preference within the hypothetical situation: he would rather surrender a greater possession than lose Menelaus' favor.

**595** ἐκ θυμοῦ πεσέειν καὶ δαίμοσιν εἶναι ἀλιτρός.  
and stand as a sinner before the gods."

**596** ἦ ῥα καὶ ἵππον ἄγων μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς  
So the son of great-hearted Nestor led the mare

**597** ἐν χείρεσσι τίθει Μενελάου· τοῖο δὲ θυμὸς  
and placed her in Menelaus' hands; and his heart

**598** ἰάνθη ὡς εἴ τε περὶ σταχύεσσιν ἐέρση  
was softened, as dew lies thick upon the ears

**599** ληΐου ἀλδήσκοντος, ὅτε φρίσσουσιν ἄρουραι·  
of a ripening crop, when the fields bristle with grain;

**600** ὣς ἄρα σοὶ Μενέλαε μετὰ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.  
so, Menelaus, was the heart within you softened.

**601** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
And speaking to him, he addressed him with winged words:

**602** Ἀντίλοχε νῦν μέν τοι ἐγὼν ὑποείξομαι αὐτὸς  
"Antilochus, angry though I am, I shall now yield to you myself,

**603** χωόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι παρήορος οὐδʼ ἀεσίφρων  
since before this you were never wayward or reckless;
> Wayward and reckless: παρήορος literally suggests something outside the proper trace, hence wayward; ἀεσίφρων is rash or reckless in mind. Menelaus says that neither trait had marked Antilochus before today.

**604** ἦσθα πάρος· νῦν αὖτε νόον νίκησε νεοίη.  
but now your youth has overcome your judgment.

**605** δεύτερον αὖτʼ ἀλέασθαι ἀμείνονας ἠπεροπεύειν.  
Another time, avoid trying to outwit your betters.

**606** οὐ γάρ κέν με τάχʼ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ παρέπεισεν Ἀχαιῶν.  
No other man among the Achaeans could soon have persuaded me.

**607** ἀλλὰ σὺ γὰρ δὴ πολλὰ πάθες καὶ πολλὰ μόγησας  
But you have suffered much and labored much,

**608** σός τε πατὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ ἀδελφεὸς εἵνεκʼ ἐμεῖο·  
and so have your good father and your brother, for my sake.

**609** τώ τοι λισσομένῳ ἐπιπείσομαι, ἠδὲ καὶ ἵππον  
Therefore I shall yield to your entreaty, and I shall even give you

**610** δώσω ἐμήν περ ἐοῦσαν, ἵνα γνώωσι καὶ οἵδε  
the mare, though she is mine, so that these men too may know

**611** ὡς ἐμὸς οὔ ποτε θυμὸς ὑπερφίαλος καὶ ἀπηνής.  
that my heart is never overbearing or harsh."
> Overbearing and harsh: ὑπερφίαλος describes arrogant excess, while ἀπηνής is hard or unyielding. By returning the mare, Menelaus makes his public conduct disprove both charges.

**612** ἦ ῥα, καὶ Ἀντιλόχοιο Νοήμονι δῶκεν ἑταίρῳ  
So he spoke, and gave the mare to Noemon, Antilochus' companion,

**613** ἵππον ἄγειν· ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα λέβηθʼ ἕλε παμφανόωντα.  
to lead away; then he took the shining cauldron.

**614** Μηριόνης δʼ ἀνάειρε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα  
Meriones lifted up the two talents of gold

**615** τέτρατος, ὡς ἔλασεν. πέμπτον δʼ ὑπελείπετʼ ἄεθλον,  
as fourth, the place in which he drove; but the fifth prize remained,

**616** ἀμφίθετος φιάλη· τὴν Νέστορι δῶκεν Ἀχιλλεὺς  
a two-handled bowl. Achilles gave it to Nestor,
> A two-handled bowl: ἀμφίθετος describes the bowl as fitted on both sides, referring to its pair of handles. It is the unclaimed fifth prize from the chariot race.

**617** Ἀργείων ἀνʼ ἀγῶνα φέρων, καὶ ἔειπε παραστάς·  
carrying it through the gathering of Argives, and stood beside him and said:

**618** τῆ νῦν, καὶ σοὶ τοῦτο γέρον κειμήλιον ἔστω  
"Here, old man; let this now be an heirloom for you,
> An heirloom laid away: κειμήλιον is a treasured possession kept in reserve or laid away. Achilles makes the vessel a lasting memorial rather than an ordinary contest prize.

**619** Πατρόκλοιο τάφου μνῆμʼ ἔμμεναι· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ αὐτὸν  
a memorial of Patroclus' burial, for never again will you

**620** ὄψῃ ἐν Ἀργείοισι· δίδωμι δέ τοι τόδʼ ἄεθλον  
see him among the Argives. I give you this prize

**621** αὔτως· οὐ γὰρ πύξ γε μαχήσεαι, οὐδὲ παλαίσεις,  
without a contest, for you will not fight with fists or wrestle,

**622** οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀκοντιστὺν ἐσδύσεαι, οὐδὲ πόδεσσι  
nor enter the spear-casting, nor race

**623** θεύσεαι· ἤδη γὰρ χαλεπὸν κατὰ γῆρας ἐπείγει.  
on foot, for harsh old age already presses hard upon you."

**624** ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει· ὃ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων,  
So saying, he placed it in his hands; and Nestor received it gladly,

**625** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
And speaking to him, he addressed him with winged words:

**626** ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα τέκος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·  
"Yes indeed, my child, all this you have spoken according to due measure,

**627** οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμπεδα γυῖα φίλος πόδες, οὐδέ τι χεῖρες  
for my limbs and dear feet are firm no longer, and my hands

**628** ὤμων ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐπαΐσσονται ἐλαφραί.  
no longer dart lightly from either shoulder.

**629** εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη  
If only I were young as once, and my strength were firm,
> A wish for lost youth: εἴθε introduces a wish, and the optatives ἡβώοιμι and εἴη show that Nestor's youth and strength belong to an unattainable past.

**630** ὡς ὁπότε κρείοντʼ Ἀμαρυγκέα θάπτον Ἐπειοὶ  
as when the Epeians buried lord Amarynceus

**631** Βουπρασίῳ, παῖδες δʼ ἔθεσαν βασιλῆος ἄεθλα·  
at Buprasium, and the king's sons set out the prizes.

**632** ἔνθʼ οὔ τίς μοι ὁμοῖος ἀνὴρ γένετʼ, οὔτʼ ἄρʼ Ἐπειῶν  
There no man proved my equal, neither among the Epeians

**633** οὔτʼ αὐτῶν Πυλίων οὔτʼ Αἰτωλῶν μεγαθύμων.  
nor among the Pylians themselves nor the great-hearted Aetolians.

**634** πὺξ μὲν ἐνίκησα Κλυτομήδεα Ἤνοπος υἱόν,  
With my fists I beat Clytomedes, son of Enops;

**635** Ἀγκαῖον δὲ πάλῃ Πλευρώνιον, ὅς μοι ἀνέστη·  
at wrestling, Ancaeus of Pleuron, who rose against me;

**636** Ἴφικλον δὲ πόδεσσι παρέδραμον ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα,  
and on foot I outran Iphiclus, good though he was;

**637** δουρὶ δʼ ὑπειρέβαλον Φυλῆά τε καὶ Πολύδωρον.  
with the spear I outthrew both Phyleus and Polydorus.

**638** οἴοισίν μʼ ἵπποισι παρήλασαν Ἀκτορίωνε  
Only with their horses did the twin sons of Actor pass me,

**639** πλήθει πρόσθε βαλόντες ἀγασσάμενοι περὶ νίκης,  
pressing ahead through weight of numbers and fiercely eager for victory,

**640** οὕνεκα δὴ τὰ μέγιστα παρʼ αὐτόθι λείπετʼ ἄεθλα.  
because the greatest prizes had been left there for that event.

**641** οἳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔσαν δίδυμοι· ὃ μὲν ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευεν,  
They were twins: one kept firmly to the reins,
> The paired charioteers: The plural δίδυμοι identifies the brothers as twins, while the following balanced clauses divide the work of their shared chariot between them.

**642** ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευʼ, ὃ δʼ ἄρα μάστιγι κέλευεν.  
firmly he held the reins, while the other urged them with the whip.

**643** ὥς ποτʼ ἔον· νῦν αὖτε νεώτεροι ἀντιοώντων  
Such was I once; but now let younger men undertake

**644** ἔργων τοιούτων· ἐμὲ δὲ χρὴ γήραϊ λυγρῷ  
such deeds. I must submit to grievous old age,

**645** πείθεσθαι, τότε δʼ αὖτε μετέπρεπον ἡρώεσσιν.  
though then I stood preeminent among heroes.

**646** ἀλλʼ ἴθι καὶ σὸν ἑταῖρον ἀέθλοισι κτερέϊζε.  
But go now and honor your companion with funeral contests.

**647** τοῦτο δʼ ἐγὼ πρόφρων δέχομαι, χαίρει δέ μοι ἦτορ,  
I accept this gladly, and my heart rejoices

**648** ὥς μευ ἀεὶ μέμνησαι ἐνηέος, οὐδέ σε λήθω,  
that you always remember my kindness and I do not escape your notice,
> A perfect of continuing memory: μέμνησαι is perfect in form but present in force: Achilles has remembered Nestor and continues to hold him in mind.

**649** τιμῆς ἧς τέ μʼ ἔοικε τετιμῆσθαι μετʼ Ἀχαιοῖς.  
nor the honor with which it is fitting that I be honored among the Achaeans.

**650** σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τῶνδʼ ἀντὶ χάριν μενοεικέα δοῖεν.  
May the gods grant you heart-gladdening favor in return for this."
> An optative blessing: δοῖεν is an aorist optative expressing Nestor's wish that the gods repay Achilles with welcome favor.

**651** ὣς φάτο, Πηλεΐδης δὲ πολὺν καθʼ ὅμιλον Ἀχαιῶν  
So he spoke, and Peleus' son went through the great throng of Achaeans

**652** ᾤχετʼ, ἐπεὶ πάντʼ αἶνον ἐπέκλυε Νηλεΐδαο.  
after he had heard the whole praise of Neleus' son.

**653** αὐτὰρ ὃ πυγμαχίης ἀλεγεινῆς θῆκεν ἄεθλα·  
Then he set out prizes for painful boxing:

**654** ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κατέδησʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι  
he led in and tethered a strong work-mule in the gathering,

**655** ἑξέτεʼ ἀδμήτην, ἥ τʼ ἀλγίστη δαμάσασθαι·  
six years old and unbroken, the hardest age to tame;
> Six years old and unbroken: ἑξέτεα gives the mule's age, while ἀδμήτην means not yet broken or brought under the yoke. Her maturity makes her both valuable and especially hard to train.

**656** τῷ δʼ ἄρα νικηθέντι τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον.  
and for the man defeated he set a two-handled cup.

**657** στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·  
He stood upright and spoke a word among the Argives:

**658** Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ  
"Son of Atreus, and you other well-greaved Achaeans,

**659** ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,  
we call upon the two best men to contend for these prizes,
> Exactly two boxers: ἄνδρε is dual and δύω makes the number explicit. The grammar narrows the open challenge to a single matched pair of boxers.

**660** πὺξ μάλʼ ἀνασχομένω πεπληγέμεν· ᾧ δέ κʼ Ἀπόλλων  
to raise their fists high and strike. Whichever man Apollo

**661** δώῃ καμμονίην, γνώωσι δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,  
grants endurance, and all the Achaeans recognize,
> Endurance under blows: καμμονίη is steadfast endurance, the power to hold out under punishment. Achilles presents it as Apollo's gift to the eventual winner.

**662** ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κλισίην δὲ νεέσθω·  
let him lead the strong work-mule back to his hut;

**663** αὐτὰρ ὃ νικηθεὶς δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον.  
but the defeated man shall carry off the two-handled cup."

**664** ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε  
So he spoke, and at once a good and mighty man arose,

**665** εἰδὼς πυγμαχίης υἱὸς Πανοπῆος Ἐπειός,  
skilled in boxing, Epeius, son of Panopeus.

**666** ἅψατο δʼ ἡμιόνου ταλαεργοῦ φώνησέν τε·  
He laid hold of the strong work-mule and called aloud:

**667** ἆσσον ἴτω ὅς τις δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον·  
"Let whoever will carry off the two-handled cup come near.

**668** ἡμίονον δʼ οὔ φημί τινʼ ἀξέμεν ἄλλον Ἀχαιῶν  
I say that no other Achaean will lead away the mule

**669** πυγμῇ νικήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ εὔχομαι εἶναι ἄριστος.  
after beating me with his fists, for I claim to be the best.

**670** ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὅττι μάχης ἐπιδεύομαι; οὐδʼ ἄρα πως ἦν  
Is it not enough that I fall short in battle? There is no way

**671** ἐν πάντεσσʼ ἔργοισι δαήμονα φῶτα γενέσθαι.  
for one man to become skilled in every kind of work.

**672** ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·  
For thus I tell you, and this shall be brought to pass:

**673** ἀντικρὺ χρόα τε ῥήξω σύν τʼ ὀστέʼ ἀράξω.  
I shall split his flesh open and smash his bones together.

**674** κηδεμόνες δέ οἱ ἐνθάδʼ ἀολλέες αὖθι μενόντων,  
Let his friends and caretakers wait here together,
> Friends charged with his care: κηδεμόνες are those responsible for another's care. Epeius grimly recasts the challenger's companions as the men who will have to carry him away.

**675** οἵ κέ μιν ἐξοίσουσιν ἐμῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶ δαμέντα.  
so they may carry him out when he is broken beneath my hands."

**676** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.  
So he spoke, and they all fell hushed in silence;

**677** Εὐρύαλος δέ οἱ οἶος ἀνίστατο ἰσόθεος φὼς  
and only Euryalus rose against him, a godlike man,

**678** Μηκιστῆος υἱὸς Ταλαϊονίδαο ἄνακτος,  
son of lord Mecisteus, the son of Talaus,

**679** ὅς ποτε Θήβας δʼ ἦλθε δεδουπότος Οἰδιπόδαο  
who once came to Thebes when Oedipus had fallen,

**680** ἐς τάφον· ἔνθα δὲ πάντας ἐνίκα Καδμείωνας.  
to his funeral; there he defeated all the Cadmeans.

**681** τὸν μὲν Τυδεΐδης δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἀμφεπονεῖτο  
Diomedes, famed with the spear, attended Euryalus,

**682** θαρσύνων ἔπεσιν, μέγα δʼ αὐτῷ βούλετο νίκην.  
encouraging him with words and greatly desiring victory for him.

**683** ζῶμα δέ οἱ πρῶτον παρακάββαλεν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα  
First he cast a belt about him, and then

**684** δῶκεν ἱμάντας ἐϋτμήτους βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο.  
gave him well-cut straps of a range-fed ox.

**685** τὼ δὲ ζωσαμένω βήτην ἐς μέσσον ἀγῶνα,  
The two girded themselves and went into the midst of the gathering,

**686** ἄντα δʼ ἀνασχομένω χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν ἅμʼ ἄμφω  
and facing each other they raised their strong hands, both at once,

**687** σύν ῥʼ ἔπεσον, σὺν δέ σφι βαρεῖαι χεῖρες ἔμιχθεν.  
and fell together; their heavy hands crossed and mingled.

**688** δεινὸς δὲ χρόμαδος γενύων γένετʼ, ἔρρεε δʼ ἱδρὼς  
A terrible crashing rose from their jaws, and sweat ran

**689** πάντοθεν ἐκ μελέων· ἐπὶ δʼ ὄρνυτο δῖος Ἐπειός,  
from every limb. Then godlike Epeius sprang in

**690** κόψε δὲ παπτήναντα παρήϊον· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν  
and struck Euryalus on the cheek as he looked about; no longer

**691** ἑστήκειν· αὐτοῦ γὰρ ὑπήριπε φαίδιμα γυῖα.  
could he stand, for his splendid limbs collapsed beneath him.

**692** ὡς δʼ ὅθʼ ὑπὸ φρικὸς Βορέω ἀναπάλλεται ἰχθὺς  
As when a fish leaps beneath the shuddering breath of Boreas

**693** θίνʼ ἐν φυκιόεντι, μέλαν δέ ἑ κῦμα κάλυψεν,  
beside a weed-strewn shore, and the dark wave covers it,

**694** ὣς πληγεὶς ἀνέπαλτʼ· αὐτὰρ μεγάθυμος Ἐπειὸς  
so he sprang up when struck; but great-hearted Epeius

**695** χερσὶ λαβὼν ὤρθωσε· φίλοι δʼ ἀμφέσταν ἑταῖροι,  
caught him in his hands and raised him. His dear companions gathered round

**696** οἵ μιν ἄγον διʼ ἀγῶνος ἐφελκομένοισι πόδεσσιν  
and led him through the gathering with his feet dragging,

**697** αἷμα παχὺ πτύοντα κάρη βάλλονθʼ ἑτέρωσε·  
spitting thick blood, his head lolling to one side.

**698** κὰδ δʼ ἀλλοφρονέοντα μετὰ σφίσιν εἷσαν ἄγοντες,  
They led him away senseless and set him down among them,

**699** αὐτοὶ δʼ οἰχόμενοι κόμισαν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον.  
then went themselves and carried off the two-handled cup.

**700** Πηλεΐδης δʼ αἶψʼ ἄλλα κατὰ τρίτα θῆκεν ἄεθλα  
Peleus' son quickly set out other prizes for the third contest,

**701** δεικνύμενος Δαναοῖσι παλαισμοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς,  
showing the Danaans the prizes for painful wrestling:

**702** τῷ μὲν νικήσαντι μέγαν τρίποδʼ ἐμπυριβήτην,  
for the winner, a great tripod made to stand over the fire,

**703** τὸν δὲ δυωδεκάβοιον ἐνὶ σφίσι τῖον Ἀχαιοί·  
which the Achaeans among them valued at twelve oxen;

**704** ἀνδρὶ δὲ νικηθέντι γυναῖκʼ ἐς μέσσον ἔθηκε,  
and for the man defeated he placed a woman in their midst,

**705** πολλὰ δʼ ἐπίστατο ἔργα, τίον δέ ἑ τεσσαράβοιον.  
skilled in many tasks, and they valued her at four oxen.

**706** στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·  
He stood upright and spoke a word among the Argives:

**707** ὄρνυσθʼ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθον.  
"Rise, you two who will make trial of this contest."
> A command to two: πειρήσεσθον is second-person dual, addressing exactly the two men who will try the wrestling contest.

**708** ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,  
So he spoke, and then great Ajax, son of Telamon, arose,

**709** ἂν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις ἀνίστατο κέρδεα εἰδώς.  
and Odysseus of many wiles stood up, skilled in cunning.

**710** ζωσαμένω δʼ ἄρα τώ γε βάτην ἐς μέσσον ἀγῶνα,  
The two girded themselves and went into the midst of the gathering,

**711** ἀγκὰς δʼ ἀλλήλων λαβέτην χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν  
and locked their arms about each other with their strong hands,

**712** ὡς ὅτʼ ἀμείβοντες, τούς τε κλυτὸς ἤραρε τέκτων  
like rafters that a famed craftsman fits together

**713** δώματος ὑψηλοῖο βίας ἀνέμων ἀλεείνων.  
for a high house, to ward off the force of winds,

**714** τετρίγει δʼ ἄρα νῶτα θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν  
and their backs cracked beneath the force of their bold hands

**715** ἑλκόμενα στερεῶς· κατὰ δὲ νότιος ῥέεν ἱδρώς,  
as they were dragged hard; wet sweat streamed down,

**716** πυκναὶ δὲ σμώδιγγες ἀνὰ πλευράς τε καὶ ὤμους  
and thick welts, red with blood, sprang up

**717** αἵματι φοινικόεσσαι ἀνέδραμον· οἳ δὲ μάλʼ αἰεὶ  
over their ribs and shoulders. Still the two kept straining

**718** νίκης ἱέσθην τρίποδος πέρι ποιητοῖο·  
for victory and the well-wrought tripod.

**719** οὔτʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δύνατο σφῆλαι οὔδει τε πελάσσαι,  
Odysseus could neither trip Ajax nor bring him to the ground,

**720** οὔτʼ Αἴας δύνατο, κρατερὴ δʼ ἔχεν ἲς Ὀδυσῆος.  
nor could Ajax do so, for the mighty strength of Odysseus held firm.

**721** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἀνίαζον ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,  
But when at last they began to weary the well-greaved Achaeans,

**722** δὴ τότε μιν προσέειπε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·  
then great Ajax, son of Telamon, addressed Odysseus:

**723** διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ  
"Odysseus, son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, of many devices,

**724** ἤ μʼ ἀνάειρʼ, ἢ ἐγὼ σέ· τὰ δʼ αὖ Διὶ πάντα μελήσει.  
either lift me, or I shall lift you; all this will rest with Zeus."

**725** ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνάειρε· δόλου δʼ οὐ λήθετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·  
So saying, he lifted him; but Odysseus did not forget his cunning.

**726** κόψʼ ὄπιθεν κώληπα τυχών, ὑπέλυσε δὲ γυῖα,  
He struck the hollow behind Ajax's knee, loosed his limbs beneath him,
> The hollow behind the knee: κώληψ is the hollow or tendon area at the back of the knee. Odysseus attacks this vulnerable joint to break the larger man's stance.

**727** κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλʼ ἐξοπίσω· ἐπὶ δὲ στήθεσσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς  
and threw him backward; Odysseus came down upon his chest,

**728** κάππεσε· λαοὶ δʼ αὖ θηεῦντό τε θάμβησάν τε.  
and he fell down; the people looked on in wonder and amazement.

**729** δεύτερος αὖτʼ ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
Then in turn much-enduring godlike Odysseus lifted Ajax,

**730** κίνησεν δʼ ἄρα τυτθὸν ἀπὸ χθονός, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἄειρεν,  
and shifted him a little from the ground, but did not lift him clear;

**731** ἐν δὲ γόνυ γνάμψεν· ἐπὶ δὲ χθονὶ κάππεσον ἄμφω  
his knee bent beneath him, and both fell to the ground

**732** πλησίοι ἀλλήλοισι, μιάνθησαν δὲ κονίῃ.  
close beside each other, and were stained with dust.

**733** καί νύ κε τὸ τρίτον αὖτις ἀναΐξαντʼ ἐπάλαιον,  
And now they would have sprung up and wrestled a third time,

**734** εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ κατέρυκε·  
had Achilles himself not risen and held them back:

**735** μηκέτʼ ἐρείδεσθον, μὴ δὲ τρίβεσθε κακοῖσι·  
"Strain against each other no longer, and do not wear yourselves down with pain.

**736** νίκη δʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν· ἀέθλια δʼ ἶσʼ ἀνελόντες  
Victory belongs to both; take equal prizes

**737** ἔρχεσθʼ, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλοι ἀεθλεύωσιν Ἀχαιοί.  
and go, so that the other Achaeans too may compete."

**738** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο,  
So he spoke, and they listened closely and obeyed him.

**739** καί ῥʼ ἀπομορξαμένω κονίην δύσαντο χιτῶνας.  
Then, wiping off the dust, the two put on their tunics.

**740** Πηλεΐδης δʼ αἶψʼ ἄλλα τίθει ταχυτῆτος ἄεθλα  
At once the son of Peleus set out other prizes for speed:

**741** ἀργύρεον κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἓξ δʼ ἄρα μέτρα  
a wrought silver mixing bowl; six measures

**742** χάνδανεν, αὐτὰρ κάλλει ἐνίκα πᾶσαν ἐπʼ αἶαν  
it held, and in beauty it surpassed all others across the earth

**743** πολλόν, ἐπεὶ Σιδόνες πολυδαίδαλοι εὖ ἤσκησαν,  
by far, for the skilled craftsmen of Sidon had fashioned it well.

**744** Φοίνικες δʼ ἄγον ἄνδρες ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον,  
Phoenician men carried it over the misty sea,

**745** στῆσαν δʼ ἐν λιμένεσσι, Θόαντι δὲ δῶρον ἔδωκαν·  
put in at the harbors, and gave it as a gift to Thoas;

**746** υἷος δὲ Πριάμοιο Λυκάονος ὦνον ἔδωκε  
and as the price for Priam's son Lycaon

**747** Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ Ἰησονίδης Εὔνηος.  
Euneus, son of Jason, gave it to the hero Patroclus.

**748** καὶ τὸν Ἀχιλλεὺς θῆκεν ἄεθλον οὗ ἑτάροιο,  
Achilles now set it as a prize in honor of his companion,

**749** ὅς τις ἐλαφρότατος ποσσὶ κραιπνοῖσι πέλοιτο·  
for whoever proved lightest upon his swift feet;

**750** δευτέρῳ αὖ βοῦν θῆκε μέγαν καὶ πίονα δημῷ,  
for the second he set a great ox, rich with fat,

**751** ἡμιτάλαντον δὲ χρυσοῦ λοισθήϊʼ ἔθηκε.  
and for the last he set half a talent of gold.

**752** στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·  
He stood upright and spoke a word among the Argives:

**753** ὄρνυσθʼ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθε.  
"Rise, you who will make trial of this contest."
> Athlos: the contest: ἆθλος is the contest or feat undertaken for a prize, while ἄεθλον can also name the prize itself. Here Achilles summons runners to attempt the event.

**754** ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας,  
So he spoke, and swift Ajax, son of Oileus, sprang up at once,

**755** ἂν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις, ἔπειτα δὲ Νέστορος υἱὸς  
and Odysseus of many wiles rose, and then Nestor's son,

**756** Ἀντίλοχος· ὃ γὰρ αὖτε νέους ποσὶ πάντας ἐνίκα.  
Antilochus, for he surpassed all the young men in speed of foot.

**757** στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί· σήμηνε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀχιλλεύς.  
They stood in order, and Achilles showed them the finish.

**758** τοῖσι δʼ ἀπὸ νύσσης τέτατο δρόμος· ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτα  
Their course stretched from the starting line; swiftly then

**759** ἔκφερʼ Ὀϊλιάδης· ἐπὶ δʼ ὄρνυτο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς  
the son of Oileus drew ahead, and godlike Odysseus sprang after him,

**760** ἄγχι μάλʼ, ὡς ὅτε τίς τε γυναικὸς ἐϋζώνοιο  
very close, as the loom-rod to the breast of a well-girdled woman

**761** στήθεός ἐστι κανών, ὅν τʼ εὖ μάλα χερσὶ τανύσσῃ  
when she draws it carefully with her hands,

**762** πηνίον ἐξέλκουσα παρὲκ μίτον, ἀγχόθι δʼ ἴσχει  
pulling the spool along the warp and holding it close

**763** στήθεος· ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς θέεν ἐγγύθεν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν  
to her breast; so Odysseus ran close behind,

**764** ἴχνια τύπτε πόδεσσι πάρος κόνιν ἀμφιχυθῆναι·  
and his feet struck Ajax's tracks before the dust could spread over them.

**765** κὰδ δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεφαλῆς χέʼ ἀϋτμένα δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς  
Godlike Odysseus poured his breath down over Ajax's head

**766** αἰεὶ ῥίμφα θέων· ἴαχον δʼ ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοὶ  
as he ran swiftly on; all the Achaeans shouted

**767** νίκης ἱεμένῳ, μάλα δὲ σπεύδοντι κέλευον.  
for him as he strove for victory, urging his great effort.

**768** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον, αὐτίκʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς  
But when they were completing the last stretch, Odysseus at once

**769** εὔχετʼ Ἀθηναίῃ γλαυκώπιδι ὃν κατὰ θυμόν·  
prayed in his heart to bright-eyed Athena:
> An inward prayer: The phrase means that Odysseus prays within his own heart rather than calling aloud. His direct words follow, but Athena hears a prayer voiced inwardly.

**770** κλῦθι θεά, ἀγαθή μοι ἐπίρροθος ἐλθὲ ποδοῖιν.  
"Hear me, goddess; come as a kindly helper to my feet."

**771** ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος· τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,  
So he spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athena heard him,

**772** γυῖα δʼ ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρά, πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.  
and made his limbs light, his feet and, above them, his hands.

**773** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλον ἐπαΐξασθαι ἄεθλον,  
But when they were just about to dart upon the prize,

**774** ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ὄλισθε θέων, βλάψεν γὰρ Ἀθήνη,  
then Ajax slipped as he ran, for Athena tripped him,

**775** τῇ ῥα βοῶν κέχυτʼ ὄνθος ἀποκταμένων ἐριμύκων,  
where dung from the loud-bellowing slaughtered cattle lay poured out,
> Cattle dung at the slaughter place: ὄνθος is dung, here spilled where the funeral cattle were slaughtered. Homer makes Ajax's fall physical and humiliating rather than softening it into a generic stumble.

**776** οὓς ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ πέφνεν πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·  
the cattle swift-footed Achilles had killed for Patroclus.

**777** ἐν δʼ ὄνθου βοέου πλῆτο στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε·  
His mouth and nostrils filled with cow dung;

**778** κρητῆρʼ αὖτʼ ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
much-enduring godlike Odysseus lifted up the mixing bowl,

**779** ὡς ἦλθε φθάμενος· ὃ δὲ βοῦν ἕλε φαίδιμος Αἴας.  
for he came in first; and glorious Ajax took the ox.

**780** στῆ δὲ κέρας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο  
He stood holding the horn of the field-ranging ox in his hands,

**781** ὄνθον ἀποπτύων, μετὰ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·  
spitting out dung, and spoke among the Argives:

**782** ὢ πόποι ἦ μʼ ἔβλαψε θεὰ πόδας, ἣ τὸ πάρος περ  
"Ah, the goddess tripped my feet—she who before now
> The goddess identified by context: The feminine relative pronoun ἥ carries Athena forward without naming her again. Ajax identifies her through her habitual protection of Odysseus in the next line.

**783** μήτηρ ὣς Ὀδυσῆϊ παρίσταται ἠδʼ ἐπαρήγει.  
stands beside Odysseus like a mother and comes to his aid."

**784** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν.  
So he spoke, and they all laughed sweetly at him.

**785** Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἄρα δὴ λοισθήϊον ἔκφερʼ ἄεθλον  
Antilochus carried off the last prize,

**786** μειδιόων, καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·  
smiling, and spoke a word among the Argives:

**787** εἰδόσιν ὔμμʼ ἐρέω πᾶσιν φίλοι, ὡς ἔτι καὶ νῦν  
"Friends, I shall tell you all what you already know: even now

**788** ἀθάνατοι τιμῶσι παλαιοτέρους ἀνθρώπους.  
the immortals honor men who are older.

**789** Αἴας μὲν γὰρ ἐμεῖʼ ὀλίγον προγενέστερός ἐστιν,  
Ajax is only a little older than I am,

**790** οὗτος δὲ προτέρης γενεῆς προτέρων τʼ ἀνθρώπων·  
but this man belongs to an earlier generation and earlier men.

**791** ὠμογέροντα δέ μίν φασʼ ἔμμεναι· ἀργαλέον δὲ  
They call him a hardy old man; yet it is difficult
> A hardy old man: ὠμογέρων describes an old man whose vigor is still fresh or robust. Antilochus jokes about Odysseus' generation while conceding that age has not made him slow.

**792** ποσσὶν ἐριδήσασθαι Ἀχαιοῖς, εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεῖ.  
for the Achaeans to contend with him on foot, unless it is Achilles."

**793** ὣς φάτο, κύδηνεν δὲ ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα.  
So he spoke and gave glory to the fleet son of Peleus.

**794** τὸν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·  
Achilles answered him with words:

**795** Ἀντίλοχʼ οὐ μέν τοι μέλεος εἰρήσεται αἶνος,  
"Antilochus, your praise shall not be spoken in vain;

**796** ἀλλά τοι ἡμιτάλαντον ἐγὼ χρυσοῦ ἐπιθήσω.  
I shall add half a talent of gold for you."

**797** ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὃ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων.  
So speaking, he placed it in his hands, and Antilochus received it gladly.

**798** αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος  
Then the son of Peleus laid down a long-shadowed spear

**799** θῆκʼ ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων, κατὰ δʼ ἀσπίδα καὶ τρυφάλειαν  
as he carried it into the arena, and laid down a shield and helmet,

**800** τεύχεα Σαρπήδοντος, ἅ μιν Πάτροκλος ἀπηύρα.  
the arms of Sarpedon that Patroclus had stripped from him.

**801** στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·  
He stood upright and spoke a word among the Argives: "

**802** ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,  
We call upon the two best men to contend for these prizes,

**803** τεύχεα ἑσσαμένω ταμεσίχροα χαλκὸν ἑλόντε  
the two of them clad in armor and taking flesh-cutting bronze,
> Two contestants in the dual: ἑσσαμένω is a dual participle: exactly two men are to put on the armor. The following dual forms continue to bind Ajax and Diomedes as a matched pair.

**804** ἀλλήλων προπάροιθεν ὁμίλου πειρηθῆναι.  
to make trial of each other before the gathered host.

**805** ὁππότερός κε φθῇσιν ὀρεξάμενος χρόα καλόν,  
Whichever first reaches out and strikes the other's fair flesh
> Whichever gets there first: ὁππότερος with κε and the subjunctive φθῇσιν sets an open contest between two alternatives. The winner is whichever of the pair first succeeds in drawing blood.

**806** ψαύσῃ δʼ ἐνδίνων διά τʼ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα,  
and pierces through the armor to the inward parts and black blood,

**807** τῷ μὲν ἐγὼ δώσω τόδε φάσγανον ἀργυρόηλον  
to him I shall give this lovely silver-studded sword,

**808** καλὸν Θρηΐκιον, τὸ μὲν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων·  
a fine Thracian blade that I stripped from Asteropaeus;

**809** τεύχεα δʼ ἀμφότεροι ξυνήϊα ταῦτα φερέσθων·  
but let both carry away these arms as shared property,

**810** καί σφιν δαῖτʼ ἀγαθὴν παραθήσομεν ἐν κλισίῃσιν.  
and we shall set a good feast before them in the shelters."

**811** ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,  
So he spoke, and then great Ajax, son of Telamon, arose,

**812** ἂν δʼ ἄρα Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο, κρατερὸς Διομήδης.  
and mighty Diomedes, son of Tydeus, rose.

**813** οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν,  
Now when they had armed on each side of the throng,

**814** ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρω συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι  
both came together into the middle, eager to fight,

**815** δεινὸν δερκομένω· θάμβος δʼ ἔχε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.  
looking terribly; amazement held all the Achaeans.

**816** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,  
But when they had come near as they advanced against each other,

**817** τρὶς μὲν ἐπήϊξαν, τρὶς δὲ σχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν.  
three times they sprang, and three times they rushed together at close quarters.

**818** ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ἔπειτα κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην  
Then Ajax stabbed at the shield balanced evenly on every side,

**819** νύξʼ, οὐδὲ χρόʼ ἵκανεν· ἔρυτο γὰρ ἔνδοθι θώρηξ·  
but did not reach the flesh, for the breastplate within held him off.

**820** Τυδεΐδης δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα ὑπὲρ σάκεος μεγάλοιο  
Then the son of Tydeus, over his great shield,

**821** αἰὲν ἐπʼ αὐχένι κῦρε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ.  
kept aiming the point of his shining spear at Ajax's neck.

**822** καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ Αἴαντι περιδείσαντες Ἀχαιοὶ  
Then the Achaeans, greatly fearing for Ajax,

**823** παυσαμένους ἐκέλευσαν ἀέθλια ἶσʼ ἀνελέσθαι.  
ordered them to stop and take up equal prizes.

**824** αὐτὰρ Τυδεΐδῃ δῶκεν μέγα φάσγανον ἥρως  
But the hero gave the great sword to the son of Tydeus,

**825** σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι.  
bringing it with its sheath and well-cut baldric;

**826** αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης θῆκεν σόλον αὐτοχόωνον  
Then Peleus' son set out a solid-cast iron weight,
> A solid-cast iron weight: σόλος is a heavy mass of iron used for the throwing contest, and αὐτοχόωνος marks it as cast in one solid piece.

**827** ὃν πρὶν μὲν ῥίπτασκε μέγα σθένος Ἠετίωνος·  
which the mighty strength of Eetion once used to throw;

**828** ἀλλʼ ἤτοι τὸν ἔπεφνε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,  
but swift-footed godlike Achilles had killed him

**829** τὸν δʼ ἄγετʼ ἐν νήεσσι σὺν ἄλλοισι κτεάτεσσι.  
and brought it in his ships with his other possessions.

**830** στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·  
He stood upright and spoke a word among the Argives:

**831** ὄρνυσθʼ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθε.  
"Rise, you who will make trial of this contest.

**832** εἴ οἱ καὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἀπόπροθι πίονες ἀγροί,  
Even if the winner's rich fields lie very far away,

**833** ἕξει μιν καὶ πέντε περιπλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺς  
he will have this to use through five revolving years;

**834** χρεώμενος· οὐ μὲν γάρ οἱ ἀτεμβόμενός γε σιδήρου  
for neither his shepherd nor his plowman, lacking iron,

**835** ποιμὴν οὐδʼ ἀροτὴρ εἶσʼ ἐς πόλιν, ἀλλὰ παρέξει.  
will go into town; the weight itself will supply them."

**836** ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης,  
So he spoke, and then Polypoetes steadfast in battle arose,

**837** ἂν δὲ Λεοντῆος κρατερὸν μένος ἀντιθέοιο,  
and the mighty strength of godlike Leonteus stood up,

**838** ἂν δʼ Αἴας Τελαμωνιάδης καὶ δῖος Ἐπειός.  
and Ajax, son of Telamon, and godlike Epeius.

**839** ἑξείης δʼ ἵσταντο, σόλον δʼ ἕλε δῖος Ἐπειός,  
They stood in order, and godlike Epeius took the weight,

**840** ἧκε δὲ δινήσας· γέλασαν δʼ ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοί.  
whirled it and let it fly; and all the Achaeans laughed.

**841** δεύτερος αὖτʼ ἀφέηκε Λεοντεὺς ὄζος Ἄρηος·  
Leonteus, scion of Ares, cast it second;

**842** τὸ τρίτον αὖτʼ ἔρριψε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας  
then great Ajax, son of Telamon, threw it third

**843** χειρὸς ἄπο στιβαρῆς, καὶ ὑπέρβαλε σήματα πάντων.  
from his strong hand and passed the marks of all the others.

**844** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σόλον εἷλε μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης,  
But when Polypoetes steadfast in battle took the weight,

**845** ὅσσόν τίς τʼ ἔρριψε καλαύροπα βουκόλος ἀνήρ,  
as far as a herdsman hurls his throwing staff,
> The herdsman's throwing staff: A καλαῦροψ is the curved staff of a herdsman, here flung spinning across the herd. Its familiar arc supplies the measure for Polypoetes' exceptional throw.

**846** ἣ δέ θʼ ἑλισσομένη πέτεται διὰ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,  
and it flies spinning through the herd of cattle,

**847** τόσσον παντὸς ἀγῶνος ὑπέρβαλε· τοὶ δὲ βόησαν.  
so far he outthrew the whole gathering; and the people shouted.

**848** ἀνστάντες δʼ ἕταροι Πολυποίταο κρατεροῖο  
The companions of mighty Polypoetes rose

**849** νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς ἔφερον βασιλῆος ἄεθλον.  
and carried their king's prize to the hollow ships.

**850** αὐτὰρ ὃ τοξευτῇσι τίθει ἰόεντα σίδηρον,  
Then Achilles set out dark iron for the archers,
> Dark iron for the archers: Here ἰόεντα is a color epithet derived from ἴον, violet, and describes the iron as dark. It is not derived from ἰός, arrow.

**851** κὰδ δʼ ἐτίθει δέκα μὲν πελέκεας, δέκα δʼ ἡμιπέλεκκα,  
laying down ten axes and ten half-axes,

**852** ἱστὸν δʼ ἔστησεν νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο  
and he raised the mast of a dark-prowed ship

**853** τηλοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ἐκ δὲ τρήρωνα πέλειαν  
far off on the sands, and from it a trembling dove

**854** λεπτῇ μηρίνθῳ δῆσεν ποδός, ἧς ἄρʼ ἀνώγει  
he tied by the foot with a slender cord, and ordered them

**855** τοξεύειν· ὃς μέν κε βάλῃ τρήρωνα πέλειαν,  
to shoot at her. Whoever strikes the trembling dove

**856** πάντας ἀειράμενος πελέκεας οἶκον δὲ φερέσθω·  
shall lift all the axes and carry them home;

**857** ὃς δέ κε μηρίνθοιο τύχῃ ὄρνιθος ἁμαρτών,  
but whoever strikes the cord and misses the bird,

**858** ἥσσων γὰρ δὴ κεῖνος, ὃ δʼ οἴσεται ἡμιπέλεκκα.  
being the poorer shot, shall carry off the half-axes.

**859** ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα βίη Τεύκροιο ἄνακτος,  
So he spoke, and then the strength of lord Teucer arose,

**860** ἂν δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος.  
and Meriones, the good companion of Idomeneus, stood up.

**861** κλήρους δʼ ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλον ἑλόντες,  
They took lots and shook them in a bronze-fitted helmet,

**862** Τεῦκρος δὲ πρῶτος κλήρῳ λάχεν· αὐτίκα δʼ ἰὸν  
and Teucer won first place by lot; at once he loosed his arrow

**863** ἧκεν ἐπικρατέως, οὐδʼ ἠπείλησεν ἄνακτι  
with force, but he had not vowed to the lord

**864** ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην.  
that he would offer a glorious hecatomb of firstling lambs

**865** ὄρνιθος μὲν ἅμαρτε· μέγηρε γάρ οἱ τό γʼ Ἀπόλλων·  
He missed the bird, for Apollo denied him that;

**866** αὐτὰρ ὃ μήρινθον βάλε πὰρ πόδα, τῇ δέδετʼ ὄρνις·  
but he struck beside her foot the cord that bound the bird,

**867** ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἀπὸ μήρινθον τάμε πικρὸς ὀϊστός.  
and the bitter arrow cut straight through the cord.

**868** ἣ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἤϊξε πρὸς οὐρανόν, ἣ δὲ παρείθη  
The dove darted up toward the sky, while the cord

**869** μήρινθος ποτὶ γαῖαν· ἀτὰρ κελάδησαν Ἀχαιοί.  
hung down toward the ground; and the Achaeans shouted.

**870** σπερχόμενος δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης ἐξείρυσε χειρὸς  
Meriones hurried and snatched the bow from his hand,

**871** τόξον· ἀτὰρ δὴ ὀϊστὸν ἔχεν πάλαι, ὡς ἴθυνεν.  
while he had long held his arrow ready to take aim.

**872** αὐτίκα δʼ ἠπείλησεν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι  
At once he vowed to far-shooting Apollo

**873** ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην.  
that he would offer a glorious hecatomb of firstling lambs

**874** ὕψι δʼ ὑπὸ νεφέων εἶδε τρήρωνα πέλειαν·  
High beneath the clouds he saw the trembling dove,

**875** τῇ ῥʼ ὅ γε δινεύουσαν ὑπὸ πτέρυγος βάλε μέσσην,  
and struck her as she wheeled, beneath the middle of her wing.

**876** ἀντικρὺ δὲ διῆλθε βέλος· τὸ μὲν ἂψ ἐπὶ γαίῃ  
The shaft passed straight through; then it came back down to earth

**877** πρόσθεν Μηριόναο πάγη ποδός· αὐτὰρ ἣ ὄρνις  
and stuck before Meriones' foot. But the bird

**878** ἱστῷ ἐφεζομένη νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο  
perched upon the mast of the dark-prowed ship,

**879** αὐχένʼ ἀπεκρέμασεν, σὺν δὲ πτερὰ πυκνὰ λίασθεν.  
let her neck hang down, and her close feathers drooped together.

**880** ὠκὺς δʼ ἐκ μελέων θυμὸς πτάτο, τῆλε δʼ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ  
Swiftly the life flew from her limbs, and far from the mast

**881** κάππεσε· λαοὶ δʼ αὖ θηεῦντό τε θάμβησάν τε.  
she fell down; the people looked on in wonder and amazement.
> The dove is the carried subject: The verb does not mark gender, but its carried subject here is the dove, so English requires she or it. The identical Greek line at 23.728 carries Ajax and therefore requires he there.

**882** ἂν δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης πελέκεας δέκα πάντας ἄειρε,  
Then Meriones lifted all ten axes,

**883** Τεῦκρος δʼ ἡμιπέλεκκα φέρεν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.  
while Teucer carried the half-axes to the hollow ships.

**884** αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,  
Then the son of Peleus laid down a long-shadowed spear

**885** κὰδ δὲ λέβητʼ ἄπυρον βοὸς ἄξιον ἀνθεμόεντα  
and set down an unused, flowered cauldron worth an ox,

**886** θῆκʼ ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων· καί ῥʼ ἥμονες ἄνδρες ἀνέσταν·  
carrying them into the gathering; and the spear-throwers rose.

**887** ἂν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,  
The wide-ruling lord Agamemnon, son of Atreus, stood up,

**888** ἂν δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης, θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος.  
and Meriones, the good companion of Idomeneus, arose.

**889** τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·  
Then swift-footed godlike Achilles spoke among them:

**890** Ἀτρεΐδη· ἴδμεν γὰρ ὅσον προβέβηκας ἁπάντων  
"Son of Atreus, we know how far you have surpassed all others,
> Established preeminence: προβέβηκας is perfect: Agamemnon has advanced beyond the others and stands acknowledged as preeminent, so Achilles ends the contest without a throw.

**891** ἠδʼ ὅσσον δυνάμει τε καὶ ἥμασιν ἔπλευ ἄριστος·  
and how much you are best in strength and in casting the spear.

**892** ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν τόδʼ ἄεθλον ἔχων κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας  
Take this prize and go to the hollow ships,

**893** ἔρχευ, ἀτὰρ δόρυ Μηριόνῃ ἥρωϊ πόρωμεν,  
and let us give the spear to the hero Meriones,

**894** εἰ σύ γε σῷ θυμῷ ἐθέλοις· κέλομαι γὰρ ἔγωγε.  
if your own heart is willing, for this is what I urge."

**895** ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·  
So he spoke, and Agamemnon, lord of men, did not disobey.

**896** δῶκε δὲ Μηριόνῃ δόρυ χάλκεον· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως  
He gave the bronze spear to Meriones; but the hero

**897** Ταλθυβίῳ κήρυκι δίδου περικαλλὲς ἄεθλον.  
gave the splendid prize to Talthybius the herald.

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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.