# The Iliad, Book 7: Hector and Ajax

Ἰλιάς · Homer · The Wrath

Hector challenges the Greeks and fights Ajax to a draw. The dead are burned under a truce, and the Greeks wall their camp.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/iliad/7. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/iliad/7.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/iliad/<line id>.m4a.

**1** ὣς εἰπὼν πυλέων ἐξέσσυτο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,  
So speaking, glorious Hector rushed out through the gates,

**2** τῷ δʼ ἅμʼ Ἀλέξανδρος κίʼ ἀδελφεός· ἐν δʼ ἄρα θυμῷ  
and with him went his brother Paris; within their hearts

**3** ἀμφότεροι μέμασαν πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.  
both were eager to wage war and fight.

**4** ὡς δὲ θεὸς ναύτῃσιν ἐελδομένοισιν ἔδωκεν  
As when a god gives welcome wind to sailors

**5** οὖρον, ἐπεί κε κάμωσιν ἐϋξέστῃς ἐλάτῃσι  
who long for it, when they have wearied at the polished oars,

**6** πόντον ἐλαύνοντες, καμάτῳ δʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα λέλυνται,  
driving over the sea, and their limbs hang loose with toil,
> A perfect state: λέλυνται is perfect middle-passive: the sailors' limbs have been loosened by labor and remain slack. The perfect stresses the exhausted state left by their rowing, not one moment of giving way.

**7** ὣς ἄρα τὼ Τρώεσσιν ἐελδομένοισι φανήτην.  
so the two appeared to the longing Trojans.

**8** ἔνθʼ ἑλέτην ὃ μὲν υἱὸν Ἀρηϊθόοιο ἄνακτος  
There each killed his man: one killed the son of King Areithous,

**9** Ἄρνῃ ναιετάοντα Μενέσθιον, ὃν κορυνήτης  
Menesthius, who lived in Arne, whom the mace-bearer
> The mace-bearer: κορυνήτης is Areithous's byname, formed from κορύνη, an iron mace. Nestor later explains how that weapon gave him the name and shaped the manner of his death.

**10** γείνατʼ Ἀρηΐθοος καὶ Φυλομέδουσα βοῶπις·  
Areithous and ox-eyed Phylomedusa begot;

**11** Ἕκτωρ δʼ Ἠϊονῆα βάλʼ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι  
and Hector struck Eioneus with his sharp spear

**12** αὐχένʼ ὑπὸ στεφάνης εὐχάλκου, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.  
in the neck beneath the rim of his bronze-fitted helm, and his limbs gave way.
> His limbs gave way: The recurring death phrase says literally that his limbs were loosened. Homer marks the instant bodily strength leaves a fighter instead of adding a separate statement that he died.

**13** Γλαῦκος δʼ Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν  
Then Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, leader of the Lycian men,

**14** Ἰφίνοον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην  
struck Iphinous with his spear in the mighty combat,

**15** Δεξιάδην ἵππων ἐπιάλμενον ὠκειάων  
the son of Dexius, as he leapt onto his swift horses,

**16** ὦμον· ὃ δʼ ἐξ ἵππων χαμάδις πέσε, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.  
in the shoulder; he fell from his chariot to the ground, and his limbs gave way.

**17** τοὺς δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη  
But when the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, saw them
> Bright-eyed Athena: γλαυκῶπις is Athena's standing epithet, held as "bright-eyed." Its recurrence marks the goddess at once even as the battle shifts from mortal killing to divine design.

**18** Ἀργείους ὀλέκοντας ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,  
destroying the Argives in the mighty combat,

**19** βῆ ῥα κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα  
she darted down from the peaks of Olympus

**20** Ἴλιον εἰς ἱερήν· τῇ δʼ ἀντίος ὄρνυτʼ Ἀπόλλων  
toward sacred Ilion; Apollo rose to meet her,

**21** Περγάμου ἐκκατιδών, Τρώεσσι δὲ βούλετο νίκην·  
looking down from Pergamus, for he wished victory for the Trojans;

**22** ἀλλήλοισι δὲ τώ γε συναντέσθην παρὰ φηγῷ.  
and the two met one another beside the oak.
> The two gods meet: τώ is dual, and συναντέσθην is a dual verb: Athena and Apollo are presented as a precise pair meeting at Zeus's oak. Homer often uses the dual when two figures briefly act as one unit.

**23** τὴν πρότερος προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·  
Lord Apollo, son of Zeus, spoke to her first:

**24** τίπτε σὺ δʼ αὖ μεμαυῖα Διὸς θύγατερ μεγάλοιο  
"Why, daughter of great Zeus, have you come again so eager

**25** ἦλθες ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο, μέγας δέ σε θυμὸς ἀνῆκεν;  
from Olympus? Your great heart has driven you on.

**26** ἦ ἵνα δὴ Δαναοῖσι μάχης ἑτεραλκέα νίκην  
Is it to give the Danaans victory that turns the battle

**27** δῷς; ἐπεὶ οὔ τι Τρῶας ἀπολλυμένους ἐλεαίρεις.  
because you feel no pity for the Trojans as they perish?

**28** ἀλλʼ εἴ μοί τι πίθοιο τό κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη·  
But if you would heed me, it would be far better:
> A should-would condition: The optatives πίθοιο and εἴη, with εἴ in the condition and κε in the result, frame Apollo's proposal at a courteous remove: if Athena should heed him, the outcome would be better.

**29** νῦν μὲν παύσωμεν πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα  
for now let us halt the war and strife

**30** σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχήσοντʼ εἰς ὅ κε τέκμωρ  
today; later they shall fight again until they reach the end

**31** Ἰλίου εὕρωσιν, ἐπεὶ ὣς φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ  
of Ilion, since it has become dear to the hearts

**32** ὑμῖν ἀθανάτῃσι, διαπραθέειν τόδε ἄστυ.  
of you immortal goddesses to sack this city."

**33** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
Then the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:

**34** ὧδʼ ἔστω ἑκάεργε· τὰ γὰρ φρονέουσα καὶ αὐτὴ  
"So be it, far-worker; I too came with these thoughts

**35** ἦλθον ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς.  
from Olympus among the Trojans and Achaeans.

**36** ἀλλʼ ἄγε πῶς μέμονας πόλεμον καταπαυσέμεν ἀνδρῶν;  
But come, how do you mean to bring the men's war to an end?"

**37** τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·  
Then lord Apollo, son of Zeus, answered her:

**38** Ἕκτορος ὄρσωμεν κρατερὸν μένος ἱπποδάμοιο,  
"Let us stir the mighty spirit of Hector, tamer of horses,
> Hector, tamer of horses: ἱπποδάμος, "tamer of horses," is an individual warrior's epithet here. It is kept distinct from the collective "horse-taming Trojans," though both praise mastery of horses.

**39** ἤν τινά που Δαναῶν προκαλέσσεται οἰόθεν οἶος  
in hope that he may challenge one of the Danaans, alone,

**40** ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,  
to fight him man to man in the dread strife of war.

**41** οἳ δέ κʼ ἀγασσάμενοι χαλκοκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ  
Then the bronze-greaved Achaeans, angered by it,

**42** οἶον ἐπόρσειαν πολεμίζειν Ἕκτορι δίῳ.  
may send one man to fight godlike Hector."

**43** ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.  
So she spoke, and the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, did not disobey.

**44** τῶν δʼ Ἕλενος Πριάμοιο φίλος παῖς σύνθετο θυμῷ  
Then Helenus, Priam's dear son, perceived in his heart
> Helenus perceives the plan: σύνθετο θυμῷ means that Helenus "put together" or perceived the gods' design within his heart. As Troy's seer, he hears the divine counsel without being present at the gods' meeting.

**45** βουλήν, ἥ ῥα θεοῖσιν ἐφήνδανε μητιόωσι·  
the plan that pleased the gods as they took counsel;

**46** στῆ δὲ παρʼ Ἕκτορʼ ἰὼν καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·  
he went and stood beside Hector, and spoke a word to him:

**47** Ἕκτορ υἱὲ Πριάμοιο Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντε  
"Hector, son of Priam, the equal of Zeus in counsel,
> Equal to Zeus in counsel: ἀτάλαντος means "equal in weight" and so "a match for." Helenus praises Hector as the equal of Zeus specifically in counsel, not in strength or divine rank.

**48** ἦ ῥά νύ μοί τι πίθοιο, κασίγνητος δέ τοί εἰμι·  
would you heed me in something? I am your brother.

**49** ἄλλους μὲν κάθισον Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιούς,  
Seat the other Trojans and all the Achaeans down,

**50** αὐτὸς δὲ προκάλεσσαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος  
and you yourself challenge whoever is best among the Achaeans

**51** ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι·  
to fight him man to man in the dread strife of war.

**52** οὐ γάρ πώ τοι μοῖρα θανεῖν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν·  
For it is not yet your fate to die and meet your doom;
> Fate and allotted doom: μοῖρα is one's allotted share, while πότμος is the destiny that overtakes a mortal, especially death. Helenus does not promise Hector safety forever, only that this is not yet his appointed end.

**53** ὣς γὰρ ἐγὼ ὄπʼ ἄκουσα θεῶν αἰειγενετάων.  
for so I heard the voice of the gods who live forever."

**54** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτε χάρη μέγα μῦθον ἀκούσας,  
So he spoke, and Hector rejoiced greatly to hear his words;

**55** καί ῥʼ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν Τρώων ἀνέεργε φάλαγγας,  
and going into the middle he held back the ranks of the Trojans,

**56** μέσσου δουρὸς ἑλών· οἳ δʼ ἱδρύνθησαν ἅπαντες.  
gripping his spear by the middle; and they all sat down.

**57** κὰδ δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων εἷσεν ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·  
Agamemnon seated the well-greaved Achaeans as well;

**58** κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων  
and Athena and Apollo of the silver bow

**59** ἑζέσθην ὄρνισιν ἐοικότες αἰγυπιοῖσι  
sat like birds, like vultures,

**60** φηγῷ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῇ πατρὸς Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο  
on the high oak of father Zeus, bearer of the aegis,

**61** ἀνδράσι τερπόμενοι· τῶν δὲ στίχες εἵατο πυκναὶ  
delighting in the men; their ranks sat close together,

**62** ἀσπίσι καὶ κορύθεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσι πεφρικυῖαι.  
bristling with shields and helmets and spears.

**63** οἵη δὲ Ζεφύροιο ἐχεύατο πόντον ἔπι φρὶξ  
As a ripple of the West Wind pours over the sea
> The West Wind's ripple: φρίξ is a shiver or ripple, the same root used of hair bristling. The simile turns the massed spear-points into the first dark roughness raised on a calm sea by the West Wind.

**64** ὀρνυμένοιο νέον, μελάνει δέ τε πόντος ὑπʼ αὐτῆς,  
as the wind newly rises, and the sea grows black beneath it,

**65** τοῖαι ἄρα στίχες εἵατʼ Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε  
so sat the ranks of Achaeans and Trojans

**66** ἐν πεδίῳ· Ἕκτωρ δὲ μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔειπε·  
upon the plain; and Hector spoke among both armies:

**67** κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ  
"Hear me, you Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans,

**68** ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.  
that I may speak what the heart in my breast commands.

**69** ὅρκια μὲν Κρονίδης ὑψίζυγος οὐκ ἐτέλεσσεν,  
The son of Cronos, throned on high, did not fulfill the oaths,

**70** ἀλλὰ κακὰ φρονέων τεκμαίρεται ἀμφοτέροισιν  
but plans evil for both sides

**71** εἰς ὅ κεν ἢ ὑμεῖς Τροίην εὔπυργον ἕλητε  
until either you take well-walled Troy

**72** ἢ αὐτοὶ παρὰ νηυσὶ δαμείετε ποντοπόροισιν.  
or you yourselves are slain beside your sea-crossing ships.

**73** ὑμῖν δʼ ἐν γὰρ ἔασιν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν·  
For here among you are the champions of all the Achaeans.

**74** τῶν νῦν ὅν τινα θυμὸς ἐμοὶ μαχέσασθαι ἀνώγει  
Now let the man among them whose heart urges him to fight me

**75** δεῦρʼ ἴτω ἐκ πάντων πρόμος ἔμμεναι Ἕκτορι δίῳ.  
come here from them all and stand as champion against godlike Hector.

**76** ὧδε δὲ μυθέομαι, Ζεὺς δʼ ἄμμʼ ἐπιμάρτυρος ἔστω·  
Thus I declare, and let Zeus be witness between us:

**77** εἰ μέν κεν ἐμὲ κεῖνος ἕλῃ ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ,  
if that man kills me with long-edged bronze,

**78** τεύχεα συλήσας φερέτω κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας,  
let him strip my armor and carry it to the hollow ships,

**79** σῶμα δὲ οἴκαδʼ ἐμὸν δόμεναι πάλιν, ὄφρα πυρός με  
but give my body back to my home, so that when I am dead

**80** Τρῶες καὶ Τρώων ἄλοχοι λελάχωσι θανόντα.  
the Trojans and the Trojan wives may grant me my share of fire.

**81** εἰ δέ κʼ ἐγὼ τὸν ἕλω, δώῃ δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων,  
But if I kill him, and Apollo grants me glory,

**82** τεύχεα σύλησας οἴσω προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν,  
I will strip his armor and carry it to sacred Ilion,

**83** καὶ κρεμόω προτὶ νηὸν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο,  
and hang it before the temple of Apollo the far-shooter,
> Apollo the far-shooter: ἕκατος is used here as Apollo's substantive byname, "the far-shooter." It remains distinct from ἑκάεργος, "the far-worker," heard earlier in the gods' exchange.

**84** τὸν δὲ νέκυν ἐπὶ νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀποδώσω,  
but I will give his corpse back beside the well-benched ships,

**85** ὄφρά ἑ ταρχύσωσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,  
so that the long-haired Achaeans may give him funeral rites

**86** σῆμά τέ οἱ χεύωσιν ἐπὶ πλατεῖ Ἑλλησπόντῳ.  
and heap up his mound beside the broad Hellespont.

**87** καί ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἀνθρώπων  
Then someday one among men born hereafter will say,

**88** νηῒ πολυκλήϊδι πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον·  
sailing in a many-benched ship over the wine-dark sea:

**89** ἀνδρὸς μὲν τόδε σῆμα πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,  
‘This is the mound of a man who died long ago,

**90** ὅν ποτʼ ἀριστεύοντα κατέκτανε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.  
a champion whom glorious Hector once killed.’

**91** ὥς ποτέ τις ἐρέει· τὸ δʼ ἐμὸν κλέος οὔ ποτʼ ὀλεῖται.  
So one will someday say; and my fame shall never perish."
> Kleos that does not perish: κλέος is fame carried in what later people hear and say. Hector imagines an enemy's tomb preserving his own name, a compact picture of the heroic hunger for imperishable renown.

**92** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·  
So he spoke, and they all became still in silence;
> Still in silence: Homer doubles the idea: ἀκήν means "quiet, still," while σιωπῇ means "in silence." The tautness makes the armies' refusal to answer Hector feel collective and absolute.

**93** αἴδεσθεν μὲν ἀνήνασθαι, δεῖσαν δʼ ὑποδέχθαι·  
they were ashamed to refuse, but afraid to accept.

**94** ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ Μενέλαος ἀνίστατο καὶ μετέειπε  
At last Menelaus rose and spoke among them,

**95** νείκει ὀνειδίζων, μέγα δὲ στεναχίζετο θυμῷ·  
rebuking them with taunts, and groaning deeply in his heart:

**96** ὤ μοι ἀπειλητῆρες Ἀχαιΐδες οὐκέτʼ Ἀχαιοί·  
"Ah, braggarts, Achaean women, no longer Achaeans!

**97** ἦ μὲν δὴ λώβη τάδε γʼ ἔσσεται αἰνόθεν αἰνῶς  
This will surely be a dreadful disgrace, dreadful beyond measure,

**98** εἰ μή τις Δαναῶν νῦν Ἕκτορος ἀντίος εἶσιν.  
if no Danaan now goes out against Hector.

**99** ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς μὲν πάντες ὕδωρ καὶ γαῖα γένοισθε  
May you all become water and earth,

**100** ἥμενοι αὖθι ἕκαστοι ἀκήριοι ἀκλεὲς αὔτως·  
sitting there each of you, spiritless, inglorious, good for nothing.

**101** τῷδε δʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς θωρήξομαι· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε  
Against this man I myself will arm; but from above

**102** νίκης πείρατʼ ἔχονται ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.  
the cords of victory are held among the immortal gods."
> The cords of victory: πείρατα are cords, bonds, or controlling limits. Menelaus pictures the gods above as holding the lines on which the duel's outcome depends.

**103** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κατεδύσετο τεύχεα καλά.  
So speaking, he put on his fine armor.

**104** ἔνθά κέ τοι Μενέλαε φάνη βιότοιο τελευτὴ  
Then, Menelaus, the end of life would have appeared to you
> The poet addresses Menelaus: The narrator suddenly turns to Menelaus in the second person, "to you, Menelaus." This rare apostrophe pulls the listener close to the instant when his death almost occurs.

**105** Ἕκτορος ἐν παλάμῃσιν, ἐπεὶ πολὺ φέρτερος ἦεν,  
at Hector's hands, since he was far stronger,

**106** εἰ μὴ ἀναΐξαντες ἕλον βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν,  
had not the kings of the Achaeans sprung up and seized you,

**107** αὐτός τʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων  
and the wide-ruling lord Agamemnon himself, son of Atreus,

**108** δεξιτερῆς ἕλε χειρὸς ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·  
caught your right hand and spoke, and called you by name:

**109** ἀφραίνεις Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ  
"You are mad, Menelaus, nurtured of Zeus; there is no need
> Menelaus, nurtured of Zeus: διοτρεφής praises a king as "nurtured of Zeus," grounding royal standing in the god. It is not the same word as διογενής, "sprung from Zeus."

**110** ταύτης ἀφροσύνης· ἀνὰ δὲ σχέο κηδόμενός περ,  
for this folly. Hold yourself back, though you are grieved,

**111** μηδʼ ἔθελʼ ἐξ ἔριδος σεῦ ἀμείνονι φωτὶ μάχεσθαι  
and do not, from rivalry, wish to fight a man better than you,

**112** Ἕκτορι Πριαμίδῃ, τόν τε στυγέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι.  
Hector, son of Priam, whom others too hold in dread.

**113** καὶ δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς τούτῳ γε μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃ  
Even Achilles shudders to meet this man

**114** ἔρριγʼ ἀντιβολῆσαι, ὅ περ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων.  
in the battle that brings men glory, though he is far better than you.

**115** ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν ἵζευ ἰὼν μετὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων,  
Go now and sit among the company of your comrades,

**116** τούτῳ δὲ πρόμον ἄλλον ἀναστήσουσιν Ἀχαιοί.  
and the Achaeans will raise another champion against him.

**117** εἴ περ ἀδειής τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ εἰ μόθου ἔστʼ ἀκόρητος,  
Though he is fearless and insatiate for the clash,
> Insatiate for the clash: ἀκόρητος means "unable to be sated." Hector is imagined as a fighter who cannot get his fill of μόθος, the close press and turmoil of battle.

**118** φημί μιν ἀσπασίως γόνυ κάμψειν, αἴ κε φύγῃσι  
I say he will gladly bend his knee, if he escapes

**119** δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.  
from the hostile war and the dread strife of battle."

**120** ὣς εἰπὼν παρέπεισεν ἀδελφειοῦ φρένας ἥρως  
So speaking, the hero swayed his brother's mind

**121** αἴσιμα παρειπών, ὃ δʼ ἐπείθετο· τοῦ μὲν ἔπειτα  
with fitting counsel, and he obeyed; then

**122** γηθόσυνοι θεράποντες ἀπʼ ὤμων τεύχεʼ ἕλοντο·  
his joyful attendants took the armor from his shoulders.

**123** Νέστωρ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἀνίστατο καὶ μετέειπεν·  
Then Nestor rose among the Argives and spoke:

**124** ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν ἱκάνει.  
"Ah me, truly great grief has come upon the land of Achaea.

**125** ἦ κε μέγʼ οἰμώξειε γέρων ἱππηλάτα Πηλεὺς  
Old Peleus the horseman would surely groan aloud,
> Peleus the horseman: ἱππηλάτης is a driver or horseman, from ἐλαύνω, "drive." It is kept distinct from ἱπποδάμος, "tamer of horses," a different compound used of other heroes.

**126** ἐσθλὸς Μυρμιδόνων βουληφόρος ἠδʼ ἀγορητής,  
the noble counselor and speaker of the Myrmidons,

**127** ὅς ποτέ μʼ εἰρόμενος μέγʼ ἐγήθεεν ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ  
who once questioned me and rejoiced greatly in his house,

**128** πάντων Ἀργείων ἐρέων γενεήν τε τόκον τε.  
asking the lineage and birth of all the Argives.

**129** τοὺς νῦν εἰ πτώσσοντας ὑφʼ Ἕκτορι πάντας ἀκούσαι,  
If he heard now that all of them cower before Hector,

**130** πολλά κεν ἀθανάτοισι φίλας ἀνὰ χεῖρας ἀείραι  
often would he lift his dear hands to the immortals

**131** θυμὸν ἀπὸ μελέων δῦναι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω.  
and pray that his spirit leave his limbs and enter the house of Hades.

**132** αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον  
Would that, father Zeus, and Athena, and Apollo,

**133** ἡβῷμʼ ὡς ὅτʼ ἐπʼ ὠκυρόῳ Κελάδοντι μάχοντο  
I were young, as when beside the swift-flowing Celadon the

**134** ἀγρόμενοι Πύλιοί τε καὶ Ἀρκάδες ἐγχεσίμωροι  
assembled Pylians and spear-fighting Arcadians battled

**135** Φειᾶς πὰρ τείχεσσιν Ἰαρδάνου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα.  
beside the walls of Pheia, around the streams of the Iardanus.

**136** τοῖσι δʼ Ἐρευθαλίων πρόμος ἵστατο ἰσόθεος φὼς  
Against them Ereuthalion stood as champion, a godlike man,

**137** τεύχεʼ ἔχων ὤμοισιν Ἀρηϊθόοιο ἄνακτος  
wearing on his shoulders the armor of King Areithous,

**138** δίου Ἀρηϊθόου, τὸν ἐπίκλησιν κορυνήτην  
godlike Areithous, whom by the surname Mace-man

**139** ἄνδρες κίκλησκον καλλίζωνοί τε γυναῖκες  
men and fair-girdled women used to call,

**140** οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ οὐ τόξοισι μαχέσκετο δουρί τε μακρῷ,  
because he never fought with bow or long spear,
> Repeated action in -sk-: μαχέσκετο and the next line's ῥήγνυσκε carry the iterative -σκ- suffix: this was Areithous's habitual way of fighting, not one isolated feat.

**141** ἀλλὰ σιδηρείῃ κορύνῃ ῥήγνυσκε φάλαγγας.  
but broke the ranks with an iron mace.

**142** τὸν Λυκόοργος ἔπεφνε δόλῳ, οὔ τι κράτεΐ γε,  
Lycurgus killed him by guile, not at all by strength,

**143** στεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ ὅθʼ ἄρʼ οὐ κορύνη οἱ ὄλεθρον  
in a narrow road, where his iron mace could not ward

**144** χραῖσμε σιδηρείη· πρὶν γὰρ Λυκόοργος ὑποφθὰς  
off destruction; for Lycurgus struck first

**145** δουρὶ μέσον περόνησεν, ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος οὔδει ἐρείσθη·  
and pierced him through the middle with his spear; he fell on his back upon the ground.

**146** τεύχεα δʼ ἐξενάριξε, τά οἱ πόρε χάλκεος Ἄρης.  
Then he stripped away the armor bronze Ares had given him.

**147** καὶ τὰ μὲν αὐτὸς ἔπειτα φόρει μετὰ μῶλον Ἄρηος·  
He himself wore it afterward in the battle of Ares;

**148** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Λυκόοργος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐγήρα,  
but when Lycurgus grew old within his halls,

**149** δῶκε δʼ Ἐρευθαλίωνι φίλῳ θεράποντι φορῆναι·  
he gave it to his dear attendant Ereuthalion to wear.

**150** τοῦ ὅ γε τεύχεʼ ἔχων προκαλίζετο πάντας ἀρίστους.  
Wearing Lycurgus's armor, Ereuthalion challenged all the champions.

**151** οἳ δὲ μάλʼ ἐτρόμεον καὶ ἐδείδισαν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη·  
They trembled greatly and were afraid, and no one dared;

**152** ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ θυμὸς ἀνῆκε πολυτλήμων πολεμίζειν  
but my much-enduring spirit drove me to fight him
> A much-enduring spirit: πολυτλήμων, "much-enduring" or "daring much," modifies Nestor's θυμός, his driving spirit. The epithet makes courage here a capacity to bear what all the others fear.

**153** θάρσεϊ ᾧ· γενεῇ δὲ νεώτατος ἔσκον ἁπάντων·  
in my courage; and by birth I was the youngest of them all.

**154** καὶ μαχόμην οἱ ἐγώ, δῶκεν δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀθήνη.  
I fought him, and Athena granted me glory.

**155** τὸν δὴ μήκιστον καὶ κάρτιστον κτάνον ἄνδρα·  
Then I killed him, the tallest and strongest man;

**156** πολλὸς γάρ τις ἔκειτο παρήορος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.  
huge he lay there, sprawling far on either side.

**157** εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι, βίη δέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη·  
Would that I were young as then, and my strength stayed firm;
> An unattainable wish: εἴθε with the optatives ἡβώοιμι and εἴη voices Nestor's wish to recover youth and strength. The optative keeps the wish outside present reality.

**158** τώ κε τάχʼ ἀντήσειε μάχης κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.  
then Hector of the flashing helm would soon find battle.

**159** ὑμέων δʼ οἵ περ ἔασιν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν  
But of you who are the champions of all Achaea,

**160** οὐδʼ οἳ προφρονέως μέμαθʼ Ἕκτορος ἀντίον ἐλθεῖν.  
not even you are eager to go out against Hector."

**161** ὣς νείκεσσʼ ὃ γέρων, οἳ δʼ ἐννέα πάντες ἀνέσταν.  
So the old man rebuked them, and all nine rose.

**162** ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,  
First by far arose Agamemnon, lord of men,

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

**164** τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Αἴαντες θοῦριν ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκήν,  
after them the two Ajaxes, clothed in furious valor;
> The two Ajaxes: Αἴαντες is the nominative plural of Αἴας, Ajax: the plural names the poem's two warriors of that name, Ajax son of Telamon and Ajax son of Oileus. English supplies "the two" to make the paired referents explicit; unlike Αἴαντε elsewhere, this form is not grammatically dual.

**165** τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Ἰδομενεὺς καὶ ὀπάων Ἰδομενῆος  
after them Idomeneus and the companion of Idomeneus,

**166** Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ,  
Meriones, the equal of man-slaying Enyalius;
> Equal to man-slaying Enyalius: Meriones is called the equal of Enyalius, a war-god identified closely with Ares. ἀνδρειφόντης, "man-slaying," keeps the comparison fixed on deadly battle prowess.

**167** τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρύπυλος Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,  
after them Eurypylus, the glorious son of Euaemon;

**168** ἂν δὲ Θόας Ἀνδραιμονίδης καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·  
and Thoas, son of Andraemon, and godlike Odysseus rose.

**169** πάντες ἄρʼ οἵ γʼ ἔθελον πολεμίζειν Ἕκτορι δίῳ.  
All of them were willing to fight godlike Hector.

**170** τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·  
Then Nestor, the Gerenian horseman, spoke to them again:

**171** κλήρῳ νῦν πεπάλασθε διαμπερὲς ὅς κε λάχῃσιν·  
"Now shake the lots thoroughly, to see who may be chosen;

**172** οὗτος γὰρ δὴ ὀνήσει ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,  
for that man will aid the well-greaved Achaeans,

**173** καὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ὃν θυμὸν ὀνήσεται αἴ κε φύγῃσι  
and he will aid his own spirit too, if he escapes

**174** δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.  
from the hostile war and the dread strife of battle."

**175** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ κλῆρον ἐσημήναντο ἕκαστος,  
So he spoke, and each man marked his lot,

**176** ἐν δʼ ἔβαλον κυνέῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο.  
and they cast them into the helmet of Agamemnon, son of Atreus.

**177** λαοὶ δʼ ἠρήσαντο, θεοῖσι δὲ χεῖρας ἀνέσχον·  
And the armies prayed, and lifted their hands to the gods,

**178** ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·  
and thus would one say, looking up to the broad sky:
> What one would keep saying: εἴπεσκεν carries the iterative -σκ- suffix: this is not one named speaker's prayer but what one man after another would say as the lots were shaken.

**179** Ζεῦ πάτερ ἢ Αἴαντα λαχεῖν, ἢ Τυδέος υἱόν,  
"Father Zeus, let Ajax be chosen, or the son of Tydeus,

**180** ἢ αὐτὸν βασιλῆα πολυχρύσοιο Μυκήνης.  
or the king of gold-rich Mycenae himself."

**181** ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, πάλλεν δὲ Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,  
So they spoke, and Nestor, the Gerenian horseman, shook the helmet,

**182** ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε κλῆρος κυνέης ὃν ἄρʼ ἤθελον αὐτοὶ  
and from it sprang the lot they themselves desired,

**183** Αἴαντος· κῆρυξ δὲ φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ  
the lot of Ajax; the herald carried it everywhere through the throng

**184** δεῖξʼ ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.  
and showed it from left to right to all the champions of the Achaeans.

**185** οἳ δʼ οὐ γιγνώσκοντες ἀπηνήναντο ἕκαστος.  
Not recognizing it, each one refused it.

**186** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸν ἵκανε φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ  
But when, carrying it everywhere through the throng, he reached the man

**187** ὅς μιν ἐπιγράψας κυνέῃ βάλε φαίδιμος Αἴας,  
who had marked it and cast it in the helmet, glorious Ajax,

**188** ἤτοι ὑπέσχεθε χεῖρʼ, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔμβαλεν ἄγχι παραστάς,  
Ajax held out his hand, and the herald standing close placed it there.

**189** γνῶ δὲ κλήρου σῆμα ἰδών, γήθησε δὲ θυμῷ.  
He knew the mark when he saw it, and rejoiced in his heart.

**190** τὸν μὲν πὰρ πόδʼ ἑὸν χαμάδις βάλε φώνησέν τε·  
He cast the lot to the ground beside his foot and spoke:

**191** ὦ φίλοι ἤτοι κλῆρος ἐμός, χαίρω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς  
"Friends, the lot is mine, and I myself rejoice

**192** θυμῷ, ἐπεὶ δοκέω νικησέμεν Ἕκτορα δῖον.  
in my heart, since I think I shall defeat godlike Hector.

**193** ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ πολεμήϊα τεύχεα δύω,  
But come, while I put on my armor of war,
> While ... meanwhile: ὄφρα opens Ajax's action, and τόφρα in the next line answers it: "while I arm, meanwhile you pray." The paired temporal words hold the two actions over the same span.

**194** τόφρʼ ὑμεῖς εὔχεσθε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι  
meanwhile pray to lord Zeus, son of Cronos,

**195** σιγῇ ἐφʼ ὑμείων ἵνα μὴ Τρῶές γε πύθωνται,  
silently among yourselves, so that the Trojans do not hear,

**196** ἠὲ καὶ ἀμφαδίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινα δείδιμεν ἔμπης·  
or openly too, since we fear no one at all.

**197** οὐ γάρ τίς με βίῃ γε ἑκὼν ἀέκοντα δίηται  
For no one by force will drive me where I will not go,

**198** οὐδέ τι ἰδρείῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ἐμὲ νήϊδά γʼ οὕτως  
nor by skill; for I do not think I was born so unskilled

**199** ἔλπομαι ἐν Σαλαμῖνι γενέσθαι τε τραφέμεν τε.  
and raised in Salamis."

**200** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ εὔχοντο Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι·  
So he spoke, and they prayed to lord Zeus, son of Cronos,

**201** ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·  
and thus would one say, looking up to the broad sky:

**202** Ζεῦ πάτερ Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε  
"Father Zeus, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most great,

**203** δὸς νίκην Αἴαντι καὶ ἀγλαὸν εὖχος ἀρέσθαι·  
grant Ajax victory and let him win shining glory;

**204** εἰ δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορά περ φιλέεις καὶ κήδεαι αὐτοῦ,  
but if you love Hector too, and care for him,

**205** ἴσην ἀμφοτέροισι βίην καὶ κῦδος ὄπασσον.  
grant equal strength and glory to them both."

**206** ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, Αἴας δὲ κορύσσετο νώροπι χαλκῷ.  
So they spoke, and Ajax armed himself in gleaming bronze.
> Gleaming bronze: νώροψ describes bronze with a flashing, fiery brightness. The formula makes Ajax's full armor register first as a single blaze before Homer names its separate pieces.

**207** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα περὶ χροῒ ἕσσατο τεύχεα,  
When he had put all the armor about his body,

**208** σεύατʼ ἔπειθʼ οἷός τε πελώριος ἔρχεται Ἄρης,  
then he charged as monstrous Ares goes

**209** ὅς τʼ εἶσιν πόλεμον δὲ μετʼ ἀνέρας οὕς τε Κρονίων  
into war among men whom the son of Cronos

**210** θυμοβόρου ἔριδος μένεϊ ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι.  
has brought together to fight in the fury of heart-devouring strife.

**211** τοῖος ἄρʼ Αἴας ὦρτο πελώριος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν  
So huge Ajax arose, bulwark of the Achaeans,
> Bulwark of the Achaeans: ἕρκος is a fence or defensive barrier. Ajax is the army's living bulwark, an epithet made almost literal by the tower-like shield he carries into the duel.

**212** μειδιόων βλοσυροῖσι προσώπασι· νέρθε δὲ ποσσὶν  
smiling on his grim face; beneath him his feet

**213** ἤϊε μακρὰ βιβάς, κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.  
went with long strides as he brandished his long-shadowed spear.

**214** τὸν δὲ καὶ Ἀργεῖοι μὲν ἐγήθεον εἰσορόωντες,  
The Argives rejoiced as they looked upon him,

**215** Τρῶας δὲ τρόμος αἰνὸς ὑπήλυθε γυῖα ἕκαστον,  
but terrible trembling came over every Trojan's limbs,

**216** Ἕκτορί τʼ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι πάτασσεν·  
and Hector's own heart pounded within his breast;

**217** ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἔτι εἶχεν ὑποτρέσαι οὐδʼ ἀναδῦναι  
but he could no longer retreat or slip back

**218** ἂψ λαῶν ἐς ὅμιλον, ἐπεὶ προκαλέσσατο χάρμῃ.  
again into the mass of men, since he had issued the challenge.

**219** Αἴας δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠΰτε πύργον  
Ajax came near, bearing a shield like a tower,
> A shield like a tower: The shield is compared to a πύργος, a defensive tower. Its height, depth, and layered construction turn Ajax's equipment into architecture moving across the field.

**220** χάλκεον ἑπταβόειον, ὅ οἱ Τυχίος κάμε τεύχων  
bronze-faced and sevenfold in oxhide, which Tychius had labored to make,

**221** σκυτοτόμων ὄχʼ ἄριστος Ὕλῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων,  
far the best of leather-cutters, dwelling in his home at Hyle.

**222** ὅς οἱ ἐποίησεν σάκος αἰόλον ἑπταβόειον  
He had made for him the flashing, sevenfold shield

**223** ταύρων ζατρεφέων, ἐπὶ δʼ ὄγδοον ἤλασε χαλκόν.  
from the hides of well-fed bulls, and hammered bronze upon it as an eighth layer.

**224** τὸ πρόσθε στέρνοιο φέρων Τελαμώνιος Αἴας  
Holding it before his chest, Telamonian Ajax

**225** στῆ ῥα μάλʼ Ἕκτορος ἐγγύς, ἀπειλήσας δὲ προσηύδα·  
stood very close to Hector and spoke this threat:

**226** Ἕκτορ νῦν μὲν δὴ σάφα εἴσεαι οἰόθεν οἶος  
"Hector, now you will clearly learn, man against man,

**227** οἷοι καὶ Δαναοῖσιν ἀριστῆες μετέασι  
what champions there are among the Danaans

**228** καὶ μετʼ Ἀχιλλῆα ῥηξήνορα θυμολέοντα.  
even besides Achilles, breaker of men, lion-hearted.
> Breaker of men, lion-hearted: Ajax names Achilles with two compact martial epithets: ῥηξήνωρ, one who breaks men or battle-lines, and θυμολέων, one whose spirit is a lion's.

**229** ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσι ποντοπόροισι  
But he lay among the curved, sea-crossing ships,

**230** κεῖτʼ ἀπομηνίσας Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν·  
nursing his wrath against Agamemnon, shepherd of the people,

**231** ἡμεῖς δʼ εἰμὲν τοῖοι οἳ ἂν σέθεν ἀντιάσαιμεν  
while we are men such as can face you,

**232** καὶ πολέες· ἀλλʼ ἄρχε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο.  
and many of us. But begin the battle and the war."

**233** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·  
Then great Hector of the flashing helm answered him:

**234** Αἶαν διογενὲς Τελαμώνιε κοίρανε λαῶν  
"Ajax, sprung from Zeus, son of Telamon, marshal of men,
> A chain of vocatives: Hector piles four vocative forms into one address: Ajax, sprung from Zeus, Telamonian, marshal. The case endings mark every title as spoken directly to his opponent.

**235** μή τί μευ ἠΰτε παιδὸς ἀφαυροῦ πειρήτιζε  
do not test me as though I were some feeble child

**236** ἠὲ γυναικός, ἣ οὐκ οἶδεν πολεμήϊα ἔργα.  
or a woman who knows nothing of the works of war.

**237** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εὖ οἶδα μάχας τʼ ἀνδροκτασίας τε·  
I know battles and the slaying of men well;
> The slaying of men: ἀνδροκτασία is bluntly compounded from ἀνήρ, "man," and κτείνω, "kill." Hector answers Ajax's threat by claiming practiced knowledge of battle's killing work.

**238** οἶδʼ ἐπὶ δεξιά, οἶδʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ νωμῆσαι βῶν  
I know how to swing my dry oxhide shield to the right and left,
> Swinging the dry oxhide: βῶν on this line stands for the oxhide shield; ἀζαλέην at the opening of the next line marks the hide as dried or seasoned. Hector boasts of practiced shield-work on either side.

**239** ἀζαλέην, τό μοι ἔστι ταλαύρινον πολεμίζειν·  
for that is how I fight steadfast beneath my shield;

**240** οἶδα δʼ ἐπαΐξαι μόθον ἵππων ὠκειάων·  
I know how to charge into the clash of swift chariots;

**241** οἶδα δʼ ἐνὶ σταδίῃ δηΐῳ μέλπεσθαι Ἄρηϊ.  
and in close combat I know how to dance for hostile Ares.
> Dancing for Ares: μέλπεσθαι usually belongs to song and dance. Applied to close combat, it makes the trained movements of spear and shield a deadly dance performed for Ares.

**242** ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ σʼ ἐθέλω βαλέειν τοιοῦτον ἐόντα  
Yet I do not wish to strike a man such as you

**243** λάθρῃ ὀπιπεύσας, ἀλλʼ ἀμφαδόν, αἴ κε τύχωμι.  
by watching in secret, but openly, if I can hit you."

**244** ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,  
So he spoke, and poising it, hurled his long-shadowed spear,

**245** καὶ βάλεν Αἴαντος δεινὸν σάκος ἑπταβόειον  
and struck Ajax's terrible, sevenfold shield

**246** ἀκρότατον κατὰ χαλκόν, ὃς ὄγδοος ἦεν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.  
upon its outermost bronze, the eighth layer upon it.

**247** ἓξ δὲ διὰ πτύχας ἦλθε δαΐζων χαλκὸς ἀτειρής,  
Through six folds the unyielding bronze tore,

**248** ἐν τῇ δʼ ἑβδομάτῃ ῥινῷ σχέτο· δεύτερος αὖτε  
but stopped in the seventh hide. Then in turn

**249** Αἴας διογενὴς προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,  
Ajax, sprung from Zeus, hurled his long-shadowed spear,

**250** καὶ βάλε Πριαμίδαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην.  
and struck the son of Priam upon his shield, balanced on every side.

**251** διὰ μὲν ἀσπίδος ἦλθε φαεινῆς ὄβριμον ἔγχος,  
through the shining shield went the mighty spear,

**252** καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο·  
and through the corselet, richly worked, it drove on;
> A richly worked corselet: πολυδαίδαλος praises the corselet's elaborate workmanship. The fixed rendering "richly worked" keeps craft and construction in view rather than turning it into a vague gleam.

**253** ἀντικρὺ δὲ παραὶ λαπάρην διάμησε χιτῶνα  
straight on, beside his flank, it tore through the tunic,

**254** ἔγχος· ὃ δʼ ἐκλίνθη καὶ ἀλεύατο κῆρα μέλαιναν.  
the spear; but he bent aside and escaped black death.

**255** τὼ δʼ ἐκσπασσαμένω δολίχʼ ἔγχεα χερσὶν ἅμʼ ἄμφω  
The two together drew out their long spears with their hands
> Both fighters together: The article τώ and participle ἐκσπασσαμένω are dual, reinforced by ἄμφω, "both." Grammar holds Ajax and Hector in one synchronized action before they rush together again.

**256** σύν ῥʼ ἔπεσον λείουσιν ἐοικότες ὠμοφάγοισιν  
and fell upon each other like flesh-eating lions

**257** ἢ συσὶ κάπροισιν, τῶν τε σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν.  
or wild boars, whose strength is not feeble,

**258** Πριαμίδης μὲν ἔπειτα μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρί,  
and then the son of Priam struck the shield's middle with his spear,

**259** οὐδʼ ἔρρηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμή.  
but the bronze did not break, and his spear-point bent back.

**260** Αἴας δʼ ἀσπίδα νύξεν ἐπάλμενος· ἣ δὲ διαπρὸ  
Ajax sprang in and stabbed the shield; straight through

**261** ἤλυθεν ἐγχείη, στυφέλιξε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα,  
the spear passed and staggered Hector as he charged,

**262** τμήδην δʼ αὐχένʼ ἐπῆλθε, μέλαν δʼ ἀνεκήκιεν αἷμα,  
and grazed his neck, and black blood welled up;
> Black blood: μέλαν αἷμα is literally "black blood," the same μέλας color family used elsewhere for blood, earth, and ships. Homer keeps the wound concrete: the spear grazes the neck and blood wells out.

**263** ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς ἀπέληγε μάχης κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ,  
but not even then did Hector of the flashing helm cease from battle.

**264** ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος λίθον εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ  
Drawing back, he took in his thick hand a stone

**265** κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ μέλανα τρηχύν τε μέγαν τε·  
that lay on the plain, black and jagged and huge;

**266** τῷ βάλεν Αἴαντος δεινὸν σάκος ἑπταβόειον  
with it he struck Ajax's terrible, sevenfold shield

**267** μέσσον ἐπομφάλιον· περιήχησεν δʼ ἄρα χαλκός.  
in the middle, upon the boss; and the bronze rang around it.

**268** δεύτερος αὖτʼ Αἴας πολὺ μείζονα λᾶαν ἀείρας  
Then Ajax in turn lifted a far larger stone

**269** ἧκʼ ἐπιδινήσας, ἐπέρεισε δὲ ἶνʼ ἀπέλεθρον,  
and sent it spinning, driving into it immeasurable force;

**270** εἴσω δʼ ἀσπίδʼ ἔαξε βαλὼν μυλοειδέϊ πέτρῳ,  
with the millstone-like rock he struck and crushed the shield inward,
> A millstone-like rock: μυλοειδής means "shaped like a millstone." The comparison gives the missile both massive weight and a broad crushing face.

**271** βλάψε δέ οἱ φίλα γούναθʼ· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐξετανύσθη  
and buckled Hector's knees; he sprawled backward

**272** ἀσπίδι ἐγχριμφθείς· τὸν δʼ αἶψʼ ὤρθωσεν Ἀπόλλων.  
braced against his shield, but Apollo raised him at once.

**273** καί νύ κε δὴ ξιφέεσσʼ αὐτοσχεδὸν οὐτάζοντο,  
And now they would have struck each other at close quarters with swords,
> They would have, had not: κε with the past verb οὐτάζοντο gives the unreal result, "they would have struck," and εἰ μή on the next line introduces the interruption. The heralds arrive at the exact brink of sword combat.

**274** εἰ μὴ κήρυκες Διὸς ἄγγελοι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν  
had not the heralds, messengers of Zeus and of men,

**275** ἦλθον, ὃ μὲν Τρώων, ὃ δʼ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,  
come, one from the Trojans and one from the bronze-clad Achaeans,

**276** Ταλθύβιός τε καὶ Ἰδαῖος πεπνυμένω ἄμφω·  
Talthybius and Idaeus, both wise men.
> Both heralds are wise: πεπνυμένω is dual and ἄμφω means "both." The phrase gives equal dignity to the Trojan and Achaean heralds as they step between the fighters.

**277** μέσσῳ δʼ ἀμφοτέρων σκῆπτρα σχέθον, εἶπέ τε μῦθον  
Between the two they held their staffs, and then spoke

**278** κῆρυξ Ἰδαῖος πεπνυμένα μήδεα εἰδώς·  
the herald Idaeus, skilled in prudent counsels:

**279** μηκέτι παῖδε φίλω πολεμίζετε μηδὲ μάχεσθον·  
"Dear children, fight and battle no longer;
> An appeal to two fighters: παῖδε φίλω, "dear children," is dual, and μάχεσθον is a dual command; πολεμίζετε uses the plural imperative. Idaeus addresses Ajax and Hector together, not one after the other.

**280** ἀμφοτέρω γὰρ σφῶϊ φιλεῖ νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,  
for Zeus the cloud-gatherer loves you both,

**281** ἄμφω δʼ αἰχμητά· τό γε δὴ καὶ ἴδμεν ἅπαντες.  
and both are spearmen; that much we all know.

**282** νὺξ δʼ ἤδη τελέθει· ἀγαθὸν καὶ νυκτὶ πιθέσθαι.  
Night has come; it is good to heed the night."

**283** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·  
Then Telamonian Ajax answered him and said:

**284** Ἰδαῖʼ Ἕκτορα ταῦτα κελεύετε μυθήσασθαι·  
"Idaeus, you heralds command Hector to say these things,

**285** αὐτὸς γὰρ χάρμῃ προκαλέσσατο πάντας ἀρίστους.  
for he himself challenged all the champions to battle.

**286** ἀρχέτω· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μάλα πείσομαι ᾗ περ ἂν οὗτος.  
Let him begin; and I will fully obey whatever he commands."

**287** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·  
Then great Hector of the flashing helm answered him:

**288** Αἶαν ἐπεί τοι δῶκε θεὸς μέγεθός τε βίην τε  
"Ajax, since a god has given you stature and strength

**289** καὶ πινυτήν, περὶ δʼ ἔγχει Ἀχαιῶν φέρτατός ἐσσι,  
and wisdom, and you are best of the Achaeans with the spear,

**290** νῦν μὲν παυσώμεσθα μάχης καὶ δηϊοτῆτος  
let us now cease from battle and strife

**291** σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων  
today; later we shall fight again until a god

**292** ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.  
parts us and grants victory to one side or the other.

**293** νὺξ δʼ ἤδη τελέθει· ἀγαθὸν καὶ νυκτὶ πιθέσθαι,  
Night has come; it is good to heed the night,

**294** ὡς σύ τʼ ἐϋφρήνῃς πάντας παρὰ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιούς,  
so that you may gladden all the Achaeans beside their ships,

**295** σούς τε μάλιστα ἔτας καὶ ἑταίρους, οἵ τοι ἔασιν·  
and above all your own kinsmen and companions who are there;

**296** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κατὰ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος  
while I, throughout the great city of King Priam,

**297** Τρῶας ἐϋφρανέω καὶ Τρῳάδας ἑλκεσιπέπλους,  
will gladden the Trojans and the trailing-robed Trojan women,

**298** αἵ τέ μοι εὐχόμεναι θεῖον δύσονται ἀγῶνα.  
who will enter the sacred gathering to pray for me.

**299** δῶρα δʼ ἄγʼ ἀλλήλοισι περικλυτὰ δώομεν ἄμφω,  
Come, let us both give each other glorious gifts,

**300** ὄφρά τις ὧδʼ εἴπῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε·  
so that one among the Achaeans or Trojans may say:

**301** ἠμὲν ἐμαρνάσθην ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο,  
‘The two fought for the sake of heart-devouring strife,

**302** ἠδʼ αὖτʼ ἐν φιλότητι διέτμαγεν ἀρθμήσαντε.  
and then parted in friendship, joined in concord.’"
> The two fought and parted: The preceding line's ἐμαρνάσθην and this line's διέτμαγεν and ἀρθμήσαντε are dual: Ajax and Hector fought as a pair of opponents and separate as a pair bound by agreement. The grammar makes their reciprocity exact.

**303** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας δῶκε ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον  
So speaking, he gave him a silver-studded sword,

**304** σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι·  
bringing it with its sheath and well-cut baldric;

**305** Αἴας δὲ ζωστῆρα δίδου φοίνικι φαεινόν.  
and Ajax gave him a belt purple-bright.

**306** τὼ δὲ διακρινθέντε ὃ μὲν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν  
The two parted, and one went among the army of the Achaeans,

**307** ἤϊʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐς Τρώων ὅμαδον κίε· τοὶ δὲ χάρησαν,  
while the other went into the din of the Trojans; and the Trojans rejoiced

**308** ὡς εἶδον ζωόν τε καὶ ἀρτεμέα προσιόντα,  
when they saw him coming toward them alive and unharmed

**309** Αἴαντος προφυγόντα μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους·  
after escaping Ajax's fury and irresistible hands;
> Irresistible hands: ἄαπτος means "not to be laid hold of" and so "irresistible." The recurring formula first described Zeus's overwhelming hands; here it magnifies Ajax's physical force.

**310** καί ῥʼ ἦγον προτὶ ἄστυ ἀελπτέοντες σόον εἶναι.  
and they led him toward the city, never expecting him to be safe.

**311** Αἴαντʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ  
From the other side the well-greaved Achaeans led Ajax

**312** εἰς Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον ἄγον κεχαρηότα νίκῃ.  
to godlike Agamemnon, rejoicing in his victory.

**313** οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίῃσιν ἐν Ἀτρεΐδαο γένοντο,  
And when they reached the shelters of the son of Atreus,

**314** τοῖσι δὲ βοῦν ἱέρευσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων  
Agamemnon, lord of men, sacrificed an ox for them,

**315** ἄρσενα πενταέτηρον ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι.  
a five-year-old male, to the exceedingly mighty son of Cronos.
> The exceedingly mighty son of Cronos: ὑπερμενής intensifies the god's might, while Κρονίων names Zeus by his father Cronos. The phrase keeps this stronger epithet distinct from the poem's bare 'son of Cronos.'

**316** τὸν δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, καί μιν διέχευαν ἅπαντα,  
They flayed it, dressed it all around, and cut it all apart;

**317** μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,  
they sliced it skillfully and pierced the pieces on spits,

**318** ὄπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.  
roasted them carefully, and drew them all from the fire.

**319** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,  
And when they had ceased from their labor and made ready the feast,

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

**321** νώτοισιν δʼ Αἴαντα διηνεκέεσσι γέραιρεν  
With full-length cuts from the chine he honored Ajax,

**322** ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων.  
the hero, son of Atreus, the wide-ruling lord Agamemnon,

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

**324** τοῖς ὁ γέρων πάμπρωτος ὑφαίνειν ἤρχετο μῆτιν  
the old man was first among them to begin weaving counsel,
> Weaving counsel: ὑφαίνειν is literally 'to weave.' Joined to μῆτιν, 'counsel' or 'design,' it pictures Nestor arranging a plan as carefully as threads in woven cloth.

**325** Νέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·  
Nestor, whose counsel had also seemed best before;

**326** ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·  
with good will toward them, he addressed them and spoke:

**327** Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,  
"Son of Atreus, and you other princes of all the Achaeans,

**328** πολλοὶ γὰρ τεθνᾶσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,  
many long-haired Achaeans have died,

**329** τῶν νῦν αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐΰρροον ἀμφὶ Σκάμανδρον  
and fierce Ares has scattered their dark blood around

**330** ἐσκέδασʼ ὀξὺς Ἄρης, ψυχαὶ δʼ Ἄϊδος δὲ κατῆλθον·  
fair-flowing Scamander, while their souls went down to Hades.

**331** τώ σε χρὴ πόλεμον μὲν ἅμʼ ἠοῖ παῦσαι Ἀχαιῶν,  
Therefore at dawn you must halt the Achaeans' war,
> An impersonal expression of necessity: χρή is impersonal: 'it is necessary.' The accusative σε supplies the person obliged to act, while the infinitive παῦσαι states what Agamemnon must do.

**332** αὐτοὶ δʼ ἀγρόμενοι κυκλήσομεν ἐνθάδε νεκροὺς  
and we ourselves shall gather and bring the dead together here

**333** βουσὶ καὶ ἡμιόνοισιν· ἀτὰρ κατακήομεν αὐτοὺς  
with oxen and mules; then we shall burn them

**334** τυτθὸν ἀπὸ πρὸ νεῶν, ὥς κʼ ὀστέα παισὶν ἕκαστος  
a little way before the ships, so each man may carry the bones to his children

**335** οἴκαδʼ ἄγῃ ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε νεώμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν.  
when once we return home to our native land.

**336** τύμβον δʼ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν ἕνα χεύομεν ἐξαγαγόντες  
Around the pyre let us heap one common mound, bringing earth

**337** ἄκριτον ἐκ πεδίου· ποτὶ δʼ αὐτὸν δείμομεν ὦκα  
indiscriminately from the plain; and beside it let us quickly build

**338** πύργους ὑψηλοὺς εἶλαρ νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν.  
high towers as a bulwark for the ships and for ourselves.

**339** ἐν δʼ αὐτοῖσι πύλας ποιήσομεν εὖ ἀραρυίας,  
Within them let us make well-fitted gates,

**340** ὄφρα διʼ αὐτάων ἱππηλασίη ὁδὸς εἴη·  
so that through them there may be a roadway for chariots;

**341** ἔκτοσθεν δὲ βαθεῖαν ὀρύξομεν ἐγγύθι τάφρον,  
and outside, close by, let us dig a deep trench,

**342** ἥ χʼ ἵππον καὶ λαὸν ἐρυκάκοι ἀμφὶς ἐοῦσα,  
which, running all around, might hold back horse and men,
> A potential optative: ἐρυκάκοι is an optative with κε: the trench 'might hold back' attackers. Nestor presents the defensive result as the expected capability of the work they are proposing.

**343** μή ποτʼ ἐπιβρίσῃ πόλεμος Τρώων ἀγερώχων.  
lest the war of the proud Trojans ever press hard upon us."

**344** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνησαν βασιλῆες.  
So he spoke, and all the kings gave their approval.

**345** Τρώων αὖτʼ ἀγορὴ γένετʼ Ἰλίου ἐν πόλει ἄκρῃ  
Then an assembly of Trojans arose on the height of Ilion,

**346** δεινὴ τετρηχυῖα, παρὰ Πριάμοιο θύρῃσι·  
fierce and turbulent, beside the doors of Priam's house;

**347** τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·  
and wise Antenor was first to address them:

**348** κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι,  
"Hear me, you Trojans and Dardanians and allies;

**349** ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.  
that I may speak what the heart in my breast commands.

**350** δεῦτʼ ἄγετʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἅμʼ αὐτῇ  
Come, let us give Argive Helen and all her possessions

**351** δώομεν Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἄγειν· νῦν δʼ ὅρκια πιστὰ  
to the sons of Atreus to take away; for now we fight
> The trusted oaths: ὅρκια πιστά is the poem's fixed phrase for the sworn truce. Antenor points back to the sacrifice and promises of Book 3, whose violation now stains the Trojan cause.

**352** ψευσάμενοι μαχόμεσθα· τὼ οὔ νύ τι κέρδιον ἡμῖν  
after breaking the trusted oaths; therefore I do not expect

**353** ἔλπομαι ἐκτελέεσθαι, ἵνα μὴ ῥέξομεν ὧδε.  
any good outcome for us unless we act as I say."

**354** ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη  
So he spoke, and sat down; and among them rose up

**355** δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο,  
godlike Paris, husband of lovely-haired Helen.

**356** ὅς μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
Answering Antenor, he addressed him with winged words:

**357** Ἀντῆνορ σὺ μὲν οὐκέτʼ ἐμοὶ φίλα ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύεις·  
"Antenor, these words you speak no longer please me;

**358** οἶσθα καὶ ἄλλον μῦθον ἀμείνονα τοῦδε νοῆσαι.  
you know how to devise another speech better than this.

**359** εἰ δʼ ἐτεὸν δὴ τοῦτον ἀπὸ σπουδῆς ἀγορεύεις,  
But if you truly speak this in sober earnest,

**360** ἐξ ἄρα δή τοι ἔπειτα θεοὶ φρένας ὤλεσαν αὐτοί.  
then the gods themselves have destroyed your wits.

**361** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Τρώεσσι μεθʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἀγορεύσω·  
But I will declare to the horse-taming Trojans:

**362** ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἀπόφημι γυναῖκα μὲν οὐκ ἀποδώσω·  
I tell you outright, I will not give back the woman.

**363** κτήματα δʼ ὅσσʼ ἀγόμην ἐξ Ἄργεος ἡμέτερον δῶ  
Yet all the possessions I brought from Argos to our house

**364** πάντʼ ἐθέλω δόμεναι καὶ οἴκοθεν ἄλλʼ ἐπιθεῖναι.  
I am willing to give, and to add still more from home."

**365** ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη  
So he spoke, and sat down; and among them rose up

**366** Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος, θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος,  
Priam, descendant of Dardanus, a counselor equal to the gods,
> A counselor equal to the gods: μήστωρ names one skilled in planning, and ἀτάλαντος means 'equal in weight' or 'a match for.' The old king is compared to the gods specifically in counsel, not in physical strength.

**367** ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·  
with good will toward them, he addressed them and spoke:

**368** κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι,  
"Hear me, you Trojans and Dardanians and allies;

**369** ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.  
that I may speak what the heart in my breast commands.

**370** νῦν μὲν δόρπον ἕλεσθε κατὰ πτόλιν ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,  
For now, take your supper throughout the city as before,

**371** καὶ φυλακῆς μνήσασθε καὶ ἐγρήγορθε ἕκαστος·  
and remember the watch, and let each man stay awake.
> Two commands, two aspects: μνήσασθε is an aorist imperative, calling for the watch to be kept in mind; ἐγρήγορθε is a perfect imperative with present force, 'be awake.' Priam moves from the decision to the continuing state required through the night.

**372** ἠῶθεν δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἴτω κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας  
At dawn let Idaeus go to the hollow ships

**373** εἰπέμεν Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ  
to tell the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus,

**374** μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρε·  
the word of Paris, because of whom the quarrel arose;

**375** καὶ δὲ τόδʼ εἰπέμεναι πυκινὸν ἔπος, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωσι  
and let him also speak this prudent word, in case they are willing

**376** παύσασθαι πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, εἰς ὅ κε νεκροὺς  
to cease from the harsh-sounding war until we burn

**377** κήομεν· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων  
the dead; afterward we shall fight again until a god
> Until with the subjunctive: εἰς ὅ κε introduces an open-ended future limit, and διακρίνῃ on the next line is subjunctive: the armies will fight until a god separates or decides between them. The same two-line formulation returns in Idaeus's report.

**378** ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.  
parts us and grants victory to one side or the other."

**379** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο·  
So he spoke, and they listened closely and obeyed him.

**380** δόρπον ἔπειθʼ εἵλοντο κατὰ στρατὸν ἐν τελέεσσιν·  
Then throughout the camp they took supper in their companies.

**381** ἠῶθεν δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἔβη κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας·  
At dawn Idaeus went to the hollow ships.

**382** τοὺς δʼ εὗρʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ Δαναοὺς θεράποντας Ἄρηος  
He found the Danaans, servants of Ares, in assembly
> Servants of Ares: θεράπων can mean an attendant or devoted servant. Calling the Danaans 'servants of Ares' makes warfare itself the service to which the assembled heroes are bound.

**383** νηῒ πάρα πρύμνῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος· αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι  
beside the stern of Agamemnon's ship; and among them

**384** στὰς ἐν μέσσοισιν μετεφώνεεν ἠπύτα κῆρυξ·  
the loud-voiced herald stood in the midst and spoke:

**385** Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν  
"Son of Atreus, and you other princes of all the Achaeans,

**386** ἠνώγει Πρίαμός τε καὶ ἄλλοι Τρῶες ἀγαυοὶ  
Priam and the other noble Trojans commanded me

**387** εἰπεῖν, αἴ κέ περ ὔμμι φίλον καὶ ἡδὺ γένοιτο,  
to tell you, if it should prove pleasing and welcome to you,

**388** μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρε·  
the word of Paris, because of whom the quarrel arose;

**389** κτήματα μὲν ὅσʼ Ἀλέξανδρος κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσὶν  
all the possessions Paris brought in the hollow ships

**390** ἠγάγετο Τροίηνδʼ· ὡς πρὶν ὤφελλʼ ἀπολέσθαι·  
to Troy — would that he had perished before then —
> A wish that cannot be fulfilled: ὤφελλε with the aorist infinitive ἀπολέσθαι voices a frustrated wish about the past: Paris ought to have died before bringing the treasure to Troy. Idaeus inserts the bitter aside into the formal offer.

**391** πάντʼ ἐθέλει δόμεναι καὶ οἴκοθεν ἄλλʼ ἐπιθεῖναι·  
he is willing to give, and to add still more from home;

**392** κουριδίην δʼ ἄλοχον Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο  
but the wedded wife of glorious Menelaus

**393** οὔ φησιν δώσειν· ἦ μὴν Τρῶές γε κέλονται.  
he says he will not give back, though the Trojans urge him to.

**394** καὶ δὲ τόδʼ ἠνώγεον εἰπεῖν ἔπος αἴ κʼ ἐθέλητε  
They also commanded me to say this, if you are willing

**395** παύσασθαι πολέμοιο δυσηχέος εἰς ὅ κε νεκροὺς  
to cease from the harsh-sounding war until we burn

**396** κήομεν· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων  
the dead; afterward we shall fight again until a god

**397** ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.  
parts us and grants victory to one side or the other."

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

**399** ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·  
but at last Diomedes, good at the war-cry, spoke among them:

**400** μήτʼ ἄρ τις νῦν κτήματʼ Ἀλεξάνδροιο δεχέσθω  
"Let no one now accept the possessions of Paris,

**401** μήθʼ Ἑλένην· γνωτὸν δὲ καὶ ὃς μάλα νήπιός ἐστιν  
nor Helen; for it is plain even to one who is very foolish
> Plain even to a fool: γνωτόν is impersonal, 'it is known' or 'plain,' and the relative clause supplies the observer: even one who is very foolish can see the truth. Diomedes makes Trojan defeat no longer a matter for negotiation.

**402** ὡς ἤδη Τρώεσσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπται.  
that the cords of destruction are already fastened upon the Trojans."
> The cords of destruction: πείρατα are fastenings, bonds, or cords, and ἐφῆπται says they have already been attached. Diomedes pictures Troy's destruction as something tied onto the city and now impossible to cast off.

**403** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπίαχον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν  
So he spoke, and all the sons of the Achaeans shouted aloud,

**404** μῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο·  
marveling at the word of Diomedes, tamer of horses.

**405** καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἰδαῖον προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·  
Then the lord Agamemnon spoke to Idaeus:

**406** Ἰδαῖʼ ἤτοι μῦθον Ἀχαιῶν αὐτὸς ἀκούεις  
"Idaeus, you yourself hear the word of the Achaeans,

**407** ὥς τοι ὑποκρίνονται· ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐπιανδάνει οὕτως  
how they answer you; and their answer pleases me as well.

**408** ἀμφὶ δὲ νεκροῖσιν κατακαιέμεν οὔ τι μεγαίρω·  
But as for the dead, I do not begrudge you their burning;

**409** οὐ γάρ τις φειδὼ νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων  
for there is no sparing the bodies of the dead

**410** γίγνετʼ ἐπεί κε θάνωσι πυρὸς μειλισσέμεν ὦκα.  
once they have died, but we must swiftly appease them with fire.

**411** ὅρκια δὲ Ζεὺς ἴστω ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.  
And let loud-thundering Zeus, husband of Hera, witness the oaths."

**412** ὣς εἰπὼν τὸ σκῆπτρον ἀνέσχεθε πᾶσι θεοῖσιν,  
So speaking, he raised the scepter before all the gods,

**413** ἄψορρον δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἔβη προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν.  
and Idaeus went back again toward sacred Ilion.

**414** οἳ δʼ ἕατʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ Τρῶες καὶ Δαρδανίωνες  
The Trojans and Dardanians sat in assembly,

**415** πάντες ὁμηγερέες, ποτιδέγμενοι ὁππότʼ ἄρʼ ἔλθοι  
all gathered together, waiting for Idaeus to return.

**416** Ἰδαῖος· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἦλθε καὶ ἀγγελίην ἀπέειπε  
He came and delivered his message,

**417** στὰς ἐν μέσσοισιν· τοὶ δʼ ὁπλίζοντο μάλʼ ὦκα,  
standing in their midst; and they made ready with all speed

**418** ἀμφότερον νέκυάς τʼ ἀγέμεν ἕτεροι δὲ μεθʼ ὕλην·  
for a twofold task, some to gather the dead and others to fetch wood.

**419** Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋσσέλμων ἀπὸ νηῶν  
From the other side, the Argives left their well-benched ships

**420** ὀτρύνοντο νέκυς τʼ ἀγέμεν, ἕτεροι δὲ μεθʼ ὕλην.  
and hastened, some to gather the dead and others to fetch wood.

**421** Ἠέλιος μὲν ἔπειτα νέον προσέβαλλεν ἀρούρας  
Then Helios had only just begun to strike the fields,

**422** ἐξ ἀκαλαρρείταο βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο  
climbing into heaven from gently flowing, deep-streaming Oceanus,

**423** οὐρανὸν εἰσανιών· οἳ δʼ ἤντεον ἀλλήλοισιν.  
when the two armies met one another.

**424** ἔνθα διαγνῶναι χαλεπῶς ἦν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·  
There it was hard to distinguish each man;
> An infinitive with an impersonal expression: ἦν with the adverb χαλεπῶς forms an impersonal expression, 'it was difficult,' and the infinitive διαγνῶναι states what was difficult: recognizing one fallen man from another.

**425** ἀλλʼ ὕδατι νίζοντες ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα  
but they washed the blood-clotted gore away with water,
> Blood-caked gore: βρότος here is not the ordinary word for a mortal but a rare noun for clotted blood or gore. The adjective αἱματόεντα reinforces the bloodiness of what must be washed from the bodies before recognition.

**426** δάκρυα θερμὰ χέοντες ἀμαξάων ἐπάειραν.  
shed hot tears, and lifted the bodies onto wagons.

**427** οὐδʼ εἴα κλαίειν Πρίαμος μέγας· οἳ δὲ σιωπῇ  
Great Priam would not allow wailing; and in silence

**428** νεκροὺς πυρκαϊῆς ἐπινήνεον ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ,  
they heaped the dead upon the pyre, grieving at heart,

**429** ἐν δὲ πυρὶ πρήσαντες ἔβαν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν.  
and after burning them in the fire they went toward sacred Ilion.

**430** ὣς δʼ αὔτως ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ  
And just so, on the other side, the well-greaved Achaeans

**431** νεκροὺς πυρκαϊῆς ἐπινήνεον ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ,  
they heaped the dead upon the pyre, grieving at heart,

**432** ἐν δὲ πυρὶ πρήσαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.  
and after burning them in the fire they went to the hollow ships.

**433** ἦμος δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πω ἠώς, ἔτι δʼ ἀμφιλύκη νύξ,  
When it was not yet dawn, but night still held its twilight,
> When ... then: This line's ἦμος and the next line's answering τῆμος frame the time and action: 'when' the night was in its dim border before dawn, 'then' the chosen Achaeans rose around the pyre.

**434** τῆμος ἄρʼ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν κριτὸς ἔγρετο λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν,  
then a picked force of Achaeans rose around the pyre.

**435** τύμβον δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὴν ἕνα ποίεον ἐξαγαγόντες  
Around it they made one common mound, bringing earth

**436** ἄκριτον ἐκ πεδίου, ποτὶ δʼ αὐτὸν τεῖχος ἔδειμαν  
indiscriminately from the plain; and beside it they built a wall

**437** πύργους θʼ ὑψηλούς, εἶλαρ νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν.  
and high towers as a bulwark for the ships and for themselves.

**438** ἐν δʼ αὐτοῖσι πύλας ἐνεποίεον εὖ ἀραρυίας,  
Within them they made well-fitted gates,

**439** ὄφρα διʼ αὐτάων ἱππηλασίη ὁδὸς εἴη·  
so that through them there may be a roadway for chariots;

**440** ἔκτοσθεν δὲ βαθεῖαν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ τάφρον ὄρυξαν  
and outside, beside the wall, they dug a deep trench,

**441** εὐρεῖαν μεγάλην, ἐν δὲ σκόλοπας κατέπηξαν.  
broad and great, and drove stakes down within it.

**442** ὣς οἳ μὲν πονέοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί·  
So the long-haired Achaeans labored there;

**443** οἳ δὲ θεοὶ πὰρ Ζηνὶ καθήμενοι ἀστεροπητῇ  
and the gods, seated beside Zeus, lord of the lightning,

**444** θηεῦντο μέγα ἔργον Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.  
marveled at the great work of the bronze-clad Achaeans.

**445** τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·  
Poseidon the earth-shaker was first to speak among them:
> Poseidon the earth-shaker: ἐνοσίχθων, 'earth-shaker,' is Poseidon's standing epithet, joining his power over earthquakes to the heaving sea. Here he reacts as a divine builder whose own wall may be eclipsed.

**446** Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι βροτῶν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν  
"Father Zeus, is there now any mortal upon the boundless earth

**447** ὅς τις ἔτʼ ἀθανάτοισι νόον καὶ μῆτιν ἐνίψει;  
who will still tell the immortals his thought and counsel?

**448** οὐχ ὁράᾳς ὅτι δʼ αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ  
Do you not see how once again the long-haired Achaeans

**449** τεῖχος ἐτειχίσσαντο νεῶν ὕπερ, ἀμφὶ δὲ τάφρον  
have walled a wall above their ships and driven a trench

**450** ἤλασαν, οὐδὲ θεοῖσι δόσαν κλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας;  
around it, yet gave the gods no glorious hecatombs?

**451** τοῦ δʼ ἤτοι κλέος ἔσται ὅσον τʼ ἐπικίδναται ἠώς·  
Its fame will reach as far as Dawn spreads her light,
> The fame of a wall: κλέος is usually the fame won by heroes and carried in song. Poseidon applies it to the Achaean wall, whose renown threatens to displace the divine construction he and Apollo raised for Troy.

**452** τοῦ δʼ ἐπιλήσονται τὸ ἐγὼ καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων  
and men will forget the wall that I and Phoebus Apollo

**453** ἥρῳ Λαομέδοντι πολίσσαμεν ἀθλήσαντε.  
built for the hero Laomedon when we labored for him."

**454** τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·  
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer, deeply angered, answered him:

**455** ὢ πόποι ἐννοσίγαιʼ εὐρυσθενές, οἷον ἔειπες.  
"Ah, Earth-shaker of broad strength, what a thing you have said.

**456** ἄλλός κέν τις τοῦτο θεῶν δείσειε νόημα,  
Some other god might fear this design,

**457** ὃς σέο πολλὸν ἀφαυρότερος χεῖράς τε μένος τε·  
one far weaker than you in hands and strength;

**458** σὸν δʼ ἤτοι κλέος ἔσται ὅσον τʼ ἐπικίδναται ἠώς.  
but your fame will reach as far as Dawn spreads her light.

**459** ἄγρει μὰν ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ  
Come then: when once again the long-haired Achaeans

**460** οἴχωνται σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν  
depart in their ships for their dear native land,

**461** τεῖχος ἀναρρήξας τὸ μὲν εἰς ἅλα πᾶν καταχεῦαι,  
tear their wall apart and pour all of it into the sea,

**462** αὖτις δʼ ἠϊόνα μεγάλην ψαμάθοισι καλύψαι,  
then cover the broad shore again with sand,

**463** ὥς κέν τοι μέγα τεῖχος ἀμαλδύνηται Ἀχαιῶν.  
so that the Achaeans' great wall may be blotted away."

**464** ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,  
So they spoke such words to one another,

**465** δύσετο δʼ ἠέλιος, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον Ἀχαιῶν,  
and Helios went down, and the Achaeans' work stood finished.
> The work stood complete: τετέλεστο is pluperfect middle-passive: by sunset the work had been brought to completion and now stood finished. The tense looks back over the labor just narrated while presenting its completed result.

**466** βουφόνεον δὲ κατὰ κλισίας καὶ δόρπον ἕλοντο.  
They slaughtered oxen throughout the shelters and took supper.

**467** νῆες δʼ ἐκ Λήμνοιο παρέσταν οἶνον ἄγουσαι  
Ships had come alongside from Lemnos, carrying wine,

**468** πολλαί, τὰς προέηκεν Ἰησονίδης Εὔνηος,  
many of them, sent by Euneus, the son of Jason,

**469** τόν ῥʼ ἔτεχʼ Ὑψιπύλη ὑπʼ Ἰήσονι ποιμένι λαῶν.  
whom Hypsipyle bore to Jason, shepherd of the people.

**470** χωρὶς δʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ  
And separately, to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus,

**471** δῶκεν Ἰησονίδης ἀγέμεν μέθυ χίλια μέτρα.  
the son of Jason gave a thousand measures of wine to carry away.

**472** ἔνθεν οἰνίζοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,  
From those ships the long-haired Achaeans bought wine,

**473** ἄλλοι μὲν χαλκῷ, ἄλλοι δʼ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ,  
some for bronze, others for gleaming iron,

**474** ἄλλοι δὲ ῥινοῖς, ἄλλοι δʼ αὐτῇσι βόεσσιν,  
others for hides, others for cattle on the hoof,

**475** ἄλλοι δʼ ἀνδραπόδεσσι· τίθεντο δὲ δαῖτα θάλειαν.  
and others for enslaved people; and they laid out a rich feast.

**476** παννύχιοι μὲν ἔπειτα κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ  
Then all night long the long-haired Achaeans

**477** δαίνυντο, Τρῶες δὲ κατὰ πτόλιν ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι·  
feasted, and the Trojans and their allies throughout the city.

**478** παννύχιος δέ σφιν κακὰ μήδετο μητίετα Ζεὺς  
But all night long Zeus the counselor devised evils for them,

**479** σμερδαλέα κτυπέων· τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει·  
thundering terribly; and pale fear seized them.
> Pale fear: χλωρός can describe a greenish or blood-drained pallor. Joined to δέος, it makes fear visible on the body as the men blanch beneath Zeus's threatening thunder.

**480** οἶνον δʼ ἐκ δεπάων χαμάδις χέον, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη  
They poured wine from their cups onto the ground, and no one dared

**481** πρὶν πιέειν πρὶν λεῖψαι ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι.  
to drink before he had poured a libation to the exceedingly mighty son of Cronos.
> Before ... before: The repeated πρίν sets two infinitives against each other: no one dared 'to drink before pouring a libation.' The doubled structure makes the ritual order absolute under Zeus's thunder.

**482** κοιμήσαντʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.  
Then they lay down and took the gift of sleep.

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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.