# The Iliad, Book 8: Zeus Turns the Battle

Ἰλιάς · Homer · The Wrath

Zeus forbids the gods to fight and drives the Greeks back to the wall. The Trojans camp on the plain, their fires like stars.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/iliad/8. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/iliad/8.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/iliad/<line id>.m4a.

**1** Ἠὼς μὲν κροκόπεπλος ἐκίδνατο πᾶσαν ἐπʼ αἶαν,  
Saffron-robed Dawn spread over all the earth,
> Saffron-robed Dawn: κροκόπεπλος is a feminine nominative singular compound adjective modifying Ἠὼς. It presents Dawn as wearing a saffron-colored robe, an image for the yellow-orange light spreading over the earth.

**2** Ζεὺς δὲ θεῶν ἀγορὴν ποιήσατο τερπικέραυνος  
and Zeus, who delights in thunder, called the gods to council

**3** ἀκροτάτῃ κορυφῇ πολυδειράδος Οὐλύμποιο·  
upon the topmost peak of many-ridged Olympus;

**4** αὐτὸς δέ σφʼ ἀγόρευε, θεοὶ δʼ ὑπὸ πάντες ἄκουον·  
he spoke himself, and all the gods below him listened:

**5** κέκλυτέ μευ πάντές τε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι,  
"Hear me, all you gods and all you goddesses,
> A perfect imperative: κέκλυτέ is the second-person plural perfect active imperative of the verb meaning hear or heed. The perfect form has present force here: Zeus commands the entire assembly to give him their attention.

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

**7** μήτέ τις οὖν θήλεια θεὸς τό γε μήτέ τις ἄρσην  
Let no god, whether female or male,

**8** πειράτω διακέρσαι ἐμὸν ἔπος, ἀλλʼ ἅμα πάντες  
attempt to cut across my word, but all together

**9** αἰνεῖτʼ, ὄφρα τάχιστα τελευτήσω τάδε ἔργα.  
approve it, so I may bring these deeds to pass most swiftly.

**10** ὃν δʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε θεῶν ἐθέλοντα νοήσω  
Whomever I perceive apart from all the gods,

**11** ἐλθόντʼ ἢ Τρώεσσιν ἀρηγέμεν ἢ Δαναοῖσι  
going willingly to aid the Trojans or Danaans,

**12** πληγεὶς οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ἐλεύσεται Οὔλυμπον δέ·  
shall come back beaten and dishonored to Olympus,

**13** ἤ μιν ἑλὼν ῥίψω ἐς Τάρταρον ἠερόεντα  
or I shall seize and hurl him into murky Tartarus,

**14** τῆλε μάλʼ, ἧχι βάθιστον ὑπὸ χθονός ἐστι βέρεθρον,  
far off, where the deepest gulf lies under earth,

**15** ἔνθα σιδήρειαί τε πύλαι καὶ χάλκεος οὐδός,  
where gates are made of iron, the threshold bronze,

**16** τόσσον ἔνερθʼ Ἀΐδεω ὅσον οὐρανός ἐστʼ ἀπὸ γαίης·  
as far beneath Hades as heaven is above the earth.

**17** γνώσετʼ ἔπειθʼ ὅσον εἰμὶ θεῶν κάρτιστος ἁπάντων.  
Then he shall know how far I am the strongest of all gods.

**18** εἰ δʼ ἄγε πειρήσασθε θεοὶ ἵνα εἴδετε πάντες·  
Come then, you gods, make trial, so you all may know:

**19** σειρὴν χρυσείην ἐξ οὐρανόθεν κρεμάσαντες  
hang down a golden cable out of heaven,

**20** πάντές τʼ ἐξάπτεσθε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι·  
and all take hold, every god and goddess;

**21** ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐρύσαιτʼ ἐξ οὐρανόθεν πεδίον δὲ  
yet you could never drag from heaven down to earth

**22** Ζῆνʼ ὕπατον μήστωρʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ μάλα πολλὰ κάμοιτε.  
Zeus, highest counselor, though you labored hard.

**23** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ ἐγὼ πρόφρων ἐθέλοιμι ἐρύσσαι,  
But whenever I myself should willingly choose to pull,
> A pair of optatives: ἐθέλοιμι is a first-person singular present active optative: Zeus imagines being willing to pull. In the next line, ἐρύσαιμʼ is an aorist optative with κεν, expressing what he could then accomplish in that imagined situation.

**24** αὐτῇ κεν γαίῃ ἐρύσαιμʼ αὐτῇ τε θαλάσσῃ·  
I would draw up the earth itself and sea itself;

**25** σειρὴν μέν κεν ἔπειτα περὶ ῥίον Οὐλύμποιο  
then I would bind the cable round a peak of Olympus,

**26** δησαίμην, τὰ δέ κʼ αὖτε μετήορα πάντα γένοιτο.  
and all of them would hang suspended in the air.

**27** τόσσον ἐγὼ περί τʼ εἰμὶ θεῶν περί τʼ εἴμʼ ἀνθρώπων.  
So far above both gods and mortals do I stand."

**28** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ  
So he spoke, and they all became still in silence;

**29** μῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι· μάλα γὰρ κρατερῶς ἀγόρευσεν.  
astonished at his words, for he had spoken sternly.

**30** ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
At last the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, spoke among them:
> Bright-eyed Athena: γλαυκῶπις is a feminine nominative singular epithet agreeing with Ἀθήνη. Traditionally rendered bright-eyed, it is one of Athena's recurrent Homeric epithets; its precise visual nuance is debated.

**31** ὦ πάτερ ἡμέτερε Κρονίδη ὕπατε κρειόντων  
"Our father, son of Cronos, highest of all rulers,

**32** εὖ νυ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἴδμεν ὅ τοι σθένος οὐκ ἐπιεικτόν·  
we too know well your strength cannot be resisted.

**33** ἀλλʼ ἔμπης Δαναῶν ὀλοφυρόμεθʼ αἰχμητάων,  
Yet still we mourn the Danaan spearmen,

**34** οἵ κεν δὴ κακὸν οἶτον ἀναπλήσαντες ὄλωνται.  
who now shall fill their wretched fate and perish.

**35** ἀλλʼ ἤτοι πολέμου μὲν ἀφεξόμεθʼ ὡς σὺ κελεύεις·  
Still, we shall keep away from war, as you command;

**36** βουλὴν δʼ Ἀργείοις ὑποθησόμεθʼ ἥ τις ὀνήσει,  
but we shall offer counsel to the Argives that may help them,

**37** ὡς μὴ πάντες ὄλωνται ὀδυσσαμένοιο τεοῖο.  
so all do not perish beneath your wrath."

**38** τὴν δʼ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·  
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer smiled and spoke to her:

**39** θάρσει Τριτογένεια φίλον τέκος· οὔ νύ τι θυμῷ  
"Take heart, Tritogeneia, my dear child. I do not speak
> Tritogeneia: Τριτογένεια is a vocative epithet by which Zeus addresses Athena. Its derivation was disputed even in antiquity, so retaining the traditional title avoids choosing among uncertain explanations.

**40** πρόφρονι μυθέομαι, ἐθέλω δέ τοι ἤπιος εἶναι.  
from a willing heart; I mean to deal with you gently."

**41** ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι τιτύσκετο χαλκόποδʼ ἵππω  
So speaking, he yoked beneath his car his bronze-hoofed horses,
> The divine pair in the dual: ἵππω is an accusative dual form, referring to exactly two horses. The dual continues in the next line with the paired modifiers ὠκυπέτα and κομόωντε, presenting Zeus's team as a matched pair.

**42** ὠκυπέτα χρυσέῃσιν ἐθείρῃσιν κομόωντε,  
swift-flying, with their flowing manes of gold;

**43** χρυσὸν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔδυνε περὶ χροΐ, γέντο δʼ ἱμάσθλην  
he clothed his own body round in gold and took

**44** χρυσείην εὔτυκτον, ἑοῦ δʼ ἐπεβήσετο δίφρου,  
his well-made golden whip, then mounted his chariot,

**45** μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν· τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην  
and lashed them on; the willing pair flew forward

**46** μεσσηγὺς γαίης τε καὶ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος.  
midway between the earth and starry heaven.

**47** Ἴδην δʼ ἵκανεν πολυπίδακα μητέρα θηρῶν  
He came to many-springed Ida, mother of wild beasts,

**48** Γάργαρον, ἔνθά τέ οἱ τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.  
to Gargaron, where he had his precinct and fragrant altar.

**49** ἔνθʼ ἵππους ἔστησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε  
There the father of men and gods halted his horses,

**50** λύσας ἐξ ὀχέων, κατὰ δʼ ἠέρα πουλὺν ἔχευεν.  
loosed them from the car, and poured thick mist around them.

**51** αὐτὸς δʼ ἐν κορυφῇσι καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίων  
He sat upon the peaks, exulting in his glory,

**52** εἰσορόων Τρώων τε πόλιν καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.  
gazing on Troy's city and the ships of the Achaeans.

**53** οἳ δʼ ἄρα δεῖπνον ἕλοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ  
The long-haired Achaeans took their meal

**54** ῥίμφα κατὰ κλισίας, ἀπὸ δʼ αὐτοῦ θωρήσσοντο.  
swiftly by the huts, and there put on their armor.

**55** Τρῶες δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀνὰ πτόλιν ὁπλίζοντο  
The Trojans, on the other side, armed throughout the city,

**56** παυρότεροι· μέμασαν δὲ καὶ ὧς ὑσμῖνι μάχεσθαι  
fewer in number, yet still intent on fighting

**57** χρειοῖ ἀναγκαίῃ, πρό τε παίδων καὶ πρὸ γυναικῶν.  
under harsh need, for their children and their wives.

**58** πᾶσαι δʼ ὠΐγνυντο πύλαι, ἐκ δʼ ἔσσυτο λαός,  
All gates swung open and the army poured outside,

**59** πεζοί θʼ ἱππῆές τε· πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει.  
footmen and horsemen; and a great din arose.

**60** οἳ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐς χῶρον ἕνα ξυνιόντες ἵκοντο  
Now when the two sides, coming together, met in one place,

**61** σύν ῥʼ ἔβαλον ῥινούς, σὺν δʼ ἔγχεα καὶ μένεʼ ἀνδρῶν  
they dashed together shield on shield, and spears, and the fury of men

**62** χαλκεοθωρήκων· ἀτὰρ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι  
clad in bronze corselets; and the bossed shields

**63** ἔπληντʼ ἀλλήλῃσι, πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει.  
pressed against one another, and a great din arose.

**64** ἔνθα δʼ ἅμʼ οἰμωγή τε καὶ εὐχωλὴ πέλεν ἀνδρῶν  
There at once were the groaning and the boasting of men,

**65** ὀλλύντων τε καὶ ὀλλυμένων, ῥέε δʼ αἵματι γαῖα.  
of those who slew and those who were slain, and the earth ran with blood.

**66** ὄφρα μὲν ἠὼς ἦν καὶ ἀέξετο ἱερὸν ἦμαρ,  
As long as morning lasted and the sacred day grew stronger,

**67** τόφρα μάλʼ ἀμφοτέρων βέλεʼ ἥπτετο, πῖπτε δὲ λαός.  
the weapons struck both sides, and the people fell.

**68** ἦμος δʼ Ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκει,  
But when the Sun had reached the middle of heaven,

**69** καὶ τότε δὴ χρύσεια πατὴρ ἐτίταινε τάλαντα·  
the father raised his golden scales and stretched them level;

**70** ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει δύο κῆρε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο  
within he set two fates of death that lays men low,

**71** Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,  
of the horse-taming Trojans and the bronze-clad Achaeans,

**72** ἕλκε δὲ μέσσα λαβών· ῥέπε δʼ αἴσιμον ἦμαρ Ἀχαιῶν.  
then held the midpoint; the Achaeans' fated day sank down.

**73** αἳ μὲν Ἀχαιῶν κῆρες ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ  
The Achaeans' fates settled upon the all-nurturing earth,

**74** ἑζέσθην, Τρώων δὲ πρὸς οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἄερθεν·  
while those of Troy rose upward toward broad heaven.

**75** αὐτὸς δʼ ἐξ Ἴδης μεγάλʼ ἔκτυπε, δαιόμενον δὲ  
Then from Ida he thundered terribly and hurled

**76** ἧκε σέλας μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν· οἳ δὲ ἰδόντες  
a blazing flash among the Achaean host; they saw it,

**77** θάμβησαν, καὶ πάντας ὑπὸ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλεν.  
stood stunned, and pale fear seized them all.
> Pale fear: χλωρὸν is a neuter singular adjective agreeing with δέος. Although the adjective can denote green or fresh vegetation, in this formula for fear it conveys the pallor associated with terror.

**78** ἔνθʼ οὔτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς τλῆ μίμνειν οὔτʼ Ἀγαμέμνων,  
Then neither Idomeneus dared remain, nor Agamemnon,

**79** οὔτε δύʼ Αἴαντες μενέτην θεράποντες Ἄρηος·  
nor did the two Ajaxes hold, attendants of Ares.

**80** Νέστωρ οἶος ἔμιμνε Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν  
Nestor alone remained, the Gerenian guard of the Achaeans,

**81** οὔ τι ἑκών, ἀλλʼ ἵππος ἐτείρετο, τὸν βάλεν ἰῷ  
not willingly: a horse was stricken, shot by an arrow

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

**83** ἄκρην κὰκ κορυφήν, ὅθι τε πρῶται τρίχες ἵππων  
It struck the crown, where first the horse's mane-hairs

**84** κρανίῳ ἐμπεφύασι, μάλιστα δὲ καίριόν ἐστιν.  
grow rooted in the skull, the deadliest spot.

**85** ἀλγήσας δʼ ἀνέπαλτο, βέλος δʼ εἰς ἐγκέφαλον δῦ,  
In pain it reared; the arrow entered through the brain,

**86** σὺν δʼ ἵππους ἐτάραξε κυλινδόμενος περὶ χαλκῷ.  
and rolling round the bronze it threw the team in tumult.

**87** ὄφρʼ ὁ γέρων ἵπποιο παρηορίας ἀπέταμνε  
While the old man rushed to cut the trace-horse's harness

**88** φασγάνῳ ἀΐσσων, τόφρʼ Ἕκτορος ὠκέες ἵπποι  
with his sword, Hector's swift horses came

**89** ἦλθον ἀνʼ ἰωχμὸν θρασὺν ἡνίοχον φορέοντες  
through the rout, bearing their bold charioteer,

**90** Ἕκτορα· καί νύ κεν ἔνθʼ ὁ γέρων ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὄλεσσεν  
Hector; and the old man there would have lost his life

**91** εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·  
had Diomedes, good at the war-cry, not swiftly seen.

**92** σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησεν ἐποτρύνων Ὀδυσῆα·  
He shouted terribly, urging Odysseus:

**93** διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ  
"Odysseus, son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, of many devices,
> A chain of vocatives: διογενὲς, Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ, and Ὀδυσσεῦ are all vocative forms addressed directly to Odysseus. The sequence moves through divine ancestry, patronymic, epithet, and personal name before Diomedes asks his urgent question.

**94** πῇ φεύγεις μετὰ νῶτα βαλὼν κακὸς ὣς ἐν ὁμίλῳ;  
why flee, turning your back like a coward in the press?

**95** μή τίς τοι φεύγοντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πήξῃ·  
Beware that as you flee no one plant a spear in your back.

**96** ἀλλὰ μένʼ ὄφρα γέροντος ἀπώσομεν ἄγριον ἄνδρα.  
Stand fast, so we may drive the savage man from Nestor."

**97** ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἐσάκουσε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
So he spoke, but much-enduring godlike Odysseus did not heed him,

**98** ἀλλὰ παρήϊξεν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.  
but swept on past toward the hollow ships of the Achaeans.

**99** Τυδεΐδης δʼ αὐτός περ ἐὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη,  
The son of Tydeus, though alone, went among the foremost fighters

**100** στῆ δὲ πρόσθʼ ἵππων Νηληϊάδαο γέροντος,  
and stood before the horses of Neleus' aged son,

**101** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and speaking to him, he addressed him with winged words:
> Winged words: ἔπεα πτερόεντα is a recurrent Homeric formula meaning winged words. Both words are neuter accusative plural, the object of προσηύδα, and the image presents spoken words as traveling swiftly from speaker to hearer.

**102** ὦ γέρον ἦ μάλα δή σε νέοι τείρουσι μαχηταί,  
"Old man, young warriors wear you down sorely;

**103** σὴ δὲ βίη λέλυται, χαλεπὸν δέ σε γῆρας ὀπάζει,  
your strength is broken, and harsh age attends you,

**104** ἠπεδανὸς δέ νύ τοι θεράπων, βραδέες δέ τοι ἵπποι.  
your attendant is feeble and your horses slow.

**105** ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐμῶν ὀχέων ἐπιβήσεο, ὄφρα ἴδηαι  
Come, mount my chariot, so you may see

**106** οἷοι Τρώϊοι ἵπποι ἐπιστάμενοι πεδίοιο  
what the horses of Tros are like, trained across the plain

**107** κραιπνὰ μάλʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα διωκέμεν ἠδὲ φέβεσθαι,  
to chase swiftly here and there, and to flee.

**108** οὕς ποτʼ ἀπʼ Αἰνείαν ἑλόμην μήστωρε φόβοιο.  
Once I took them from Aeneas, those two devisers of rout.

**109** τούτω μὲν θεράποντε κομείτων, τώδε δὲ νῶϊ  
Let these two attendants tend your team, while we two
> Two teams and two men: τούτω and τώδε are dual demonstratives referring respectively to Nestor's team and Diomedes' team. The dual θεράποντε and κομείτων mark the two attendants who are to tend the first pair, while νῶϊ identifies Diomedes and Nestor as the two men who will drive the second.

**110** Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἰθύνομεν, ὄφρα καὶ Ἕκτωρ  
drive mine against the horse-taming Trojans, so Hector too

**111** εἴσεται εἰ καὶ ἐμὸν δόρυ μαίνεται ἐν παλάμῃσιν.  
may learn whether my spear rages in my hands."

**112** ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ.  
So he spoke, and Nestor, the Gerenian horseman, did not disobey.

**113** Νεστορέας μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἵππους θεράποντε κομείτην  
Then the two attendants tended Nestor's horses,

**114** ἴφθιμοι Σθένελός τε καὶ Εὐρυμέδων ἀγαπήνωρ.  
mighty Sthenelus and manly Eurymedon.
> Manly Eurymedon: ἀγαπήνωρ is a masculine nominative singular heroic epithet agreeing with Εὐρυμέδων. Built around the word for man, it praises him as manly or valorous; it is a conventional epithet rather than part of his name.

**115** τὼ δʼ εἰς ἀμφοτέρω Διομήδεος ἅρματα βήτην·  
The two men mounted Diomedes' chariot together;

**116** Νέστωρ δʼ ἐν χείρεσσι λάβʼ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,  
Nestor took the shining reins into his hands

**117** μάστιξεν δʼ ἵππους· τάχα δʼ Ἕκτορος ἄγχι γένοντο.  
and lashed the horses; soon they drew near Hector.

**118** τοῦ δʼ ἰθὺς μεμαῶτος ἀκόντισε Τυδέος υἱός·  
As he rushed straight on, the son of Tydeus cast his spear.

**119** καὶ τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀφάμαρτεν, ὃ δʼ ἡνίοχον θεράποντα  
He missed Hector, but struck his attendant charioteer,

**120** υἱὸν ὑπερθύμου Θηβαίου Ἠνιοπῆα  
Eniopeus, son of great-hearted Thebaeus,
> Eniopeus the charioteer: Ἠνιοπῆα is the accusative form of Eniopeus, Hector's charioteer. The patronymic phrase υἱὸν ὑπερθύμου Θηβαίου identifies him as the son of great-hearted Thebaeus immediately before Diomedes kills him.

**121** ἵππων ἡνίʼ ἔχοντα βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν.  
beside the nipple in the chest as he held the horses' reins.

**122** ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπερώησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι  
He fell from the chariot, and his swift-footed horses swerved away,

**123** ὠκύποδες· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη ψυχή τε μένος τε.  
and there his life and strength were loosed.
> Life and strength released: ψυχή denotes the life that departs at death, while μένος denotes vital force or fighting energy. Their pairing as the subject of λύθη presents Eniopeus's death as the simultaneous release of life and strength.

**124** Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἡνιόχοιο·  
Dread grief for his charioteer covered Hector's heart,

**125** τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ εἴασε καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου  
but he left him lying there, though grieving for his comrade,

**126** κεῖσθαι, ὃ δʼ ἡνίοχον μέθεπε θρασύν· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν  
and sought a bold charioteer; his horses did not long

**127** ἵππω δευέσθην σημάντορος· αἶψα γὰρ εὗρεν  
lack a driver, for at once he found

**128** Ἰφιτίδην Ἀρχεπτόλεμον θρασύν, ὅν ῥα τόθʼ ἵππων  
bold Archeptolemus, son of Iphitus, whom he mounted

**129** ὠκυπόδων ἐπέβησε, δίδου δέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν.  
behind the swift-footed horses and gave the reins into his hands.

**130** ἔνθά κε λοιγὸς ἔην καὶ ἀμήχανα ἔργα γένοντο,  
Then ruin would have come, and deeds beyond all remedy,

**131** καί νύ κε σήκασθεν κατὰ Ἴλιον ἠΰτε ἄρνες,  
and they would have been penned in Ilion like lambs,

**132** εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·  
had the father of men and gods not swiftly seen.

**133** βροντήσας δʼ ἄρα δεινὸν ἀφῆκʼ ἀργῆτα κεραυνόν,  
He thundered dreadfully and loosed a blazing thunderbolt,

**134** κὰδ δὲ πρόσθʼ ἵππων Διομήδεος ἧκε χαμᾶζε·  
and cast it to the ground before Diomedes' horses.

**135** δεινὴ δὲ φλὸξ ὦρτο θεείου καιομένοιο,  
A dreadful flame rose up from burning sulfur;

**136** τὼ δʼ ἵππω δείσαντε καταπτήτην ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι·  
the horses, terrified, crouched beneath the car.

**137** Νέστορα δʼ ἐκ χειρῶν φύγον ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,  
The shining reins slipped from Nestor's hands,

**138** δεῖσε δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν θυμῷ, Διομήδεα δὲ προσέειπε·  
and fear took his heart; he spoke to Diomedes:

**139** Τυδεΐδη ἄγε δʼ αὖτε φόβον δʼ ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους.  
"Son of Tydeus, turn your single-hoofed horses back in flight.
> A present command: ἔχε is a second-person singular present active imperative, not an aorist. With φόβον δʼ it commands Diomedes to direct the single-hoofed horses back toward flight; ἄγε adds a second present imperative urging immediate action.

**140** ἦ οὐ γιγνώσκεις ὅ τοι ἐκ Διὸς οὐχ ἕπετʼ ἀλκή;  
Do you not know that strength from Zeus does not attend you?

**141** νῦν μὲν γὰρ τούτῳ Κρονίδης Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει  
For now the son of Cronos grants glory to this man

**142** σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε καὶ ἡμῖν, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσι,  
today; another time he will give it also to us, if he wills.

**143** δώσει· ἀνὴρ δέ κεν οὔ τι Διὸς νόον εἰρύσσαιτο  
No man could ever drag the mind of Zeus aside,

**144** οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἴφθιμος, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερός ἐστι.  
however mighty, since he is far stronger."

**145** τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·  
Then Diomedes, good at the war-cry, answered him:

**146** ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα γέρον κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·  
"Yes, old man, all this you have spoken rightly and in due order.

**147** ἀλλὰ τόδʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει·  
But this dread grief reaches my heart and spirit:

**148** Ἕκτωρ γάρ ποτε φήσει ἐνὶ Τρώεσσʼ ἀγορεύων·  
Hector one day will boast among the Trojans,

**149** Τυδεΐδης ὑπʼ ἐμεῖο φοβεύμενος ἵκετο νῆας.  
'The son of Tydeus fled before me and reached the ships.'

**150** ὥς ποτʼ ἀπειλήσει· τότε μοι χάνοι εὐρεῖα χθών.  
So he will boast; then may the broad earth gape for me."
> An optative wish: χάνοι is a third-person singular aorist active optative expressing a wish: may the broad earth gape open for me. Diomedes would rather be swallowed by the earth than live to hear Hector make the imagined boast.

**151** τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·  
Then Nestor, the Gerenian horseman, answered him:

**152** ὤ μοι Τυδέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος, οἷον ἔειπες.  
"Ah, son of Tydeus the wise, what have you said?

**153** εἴ περ γάρ σʼ Ἕκτωρ γε κακὸν καὶ ἀνάλκιδα φήσει,  
Though Hector call you cowardly and weak,

**154** ἀλλʼ οὐ πείσονται Τρῶες καὶ Δαρδανίωνες  
the Trojans and Dardanians will not believe him,

**155** καὶ Τρώων ἄλοχοι μεγαθύμων ἀσπιστάων,  
nor the wives of the great-hearted shield-bearing Trojans,

**156** τάων ἐν κονίῃσι βάλες θαλεροὺς παρακοίτας.  
whose vigorous husbands you struck down in dust."

**157** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας φύγαδε τράπε μώνυχας ἵππους  
So speaking, he turned the single-hoofed horses back in flight,

**158** αὖτις ἀνʼ ἰωχμόν· ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶές τε καὶ Ἕκτωρ  
once more through the rout; and Hector and the Trojans

**159** ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ βέλεα στονόεντα χέοντο.  
with wondrous clamor poured their groan-bringing missiles after them.

**160** τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄϋσε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·  
Then great Hector of the flashing helm shouted after him:

**161** Τυδεΐδη περὶ μέν σε τίον Δαναοὶ ταχύπωλοι  
"Son of Tydeus, the swift-horsed Danaans honored you above all

**162** ἕδρῃ τε κρέασίν τε ἰδὲ πλείοις δεπάεσσι·  
with the seat of honor, meat, and brimming cups;

**163** νῦν δέ σʼ ἀτιμήσουσι· γυναικὸς ἄρʼ ἀντὶ τέτυξο.  
now they shall dishonor you: you have become a woman.

**164** ἔρρε κακὴ γλήνη, ἐπεὶ οὐκ εἴξαντος ἐμεῖο  
Begone, you wretched doll! Since I shall not yield,
> A taunt: wretched doll: γλήνη can denote the pupil of an eye and, by extension, a small image, ornament, or doll. In the vocative phrase κακὴ γλήνη, Hector turns that word into a contemptuous insult after taunting Diomedes as a woman.

**165** πύργων ἡμετέρων ἐπιβήσεαι, οὐδὲ γυναῖκας  
you shall not mount our towers, nor carry off our women

**166** ἄξεις ἐν νήεσσι· πάρος τοι δαίμονα δώσω.  
in ships; before that I shall give you death."

**167** ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δὲ διάνδιχα μερμήριξεν  
So he spoke; the son of Tydeus divided in his purpose,

**168** ἵππους τε στρέψαι καὶ ἐναντίβιον μαχέσασθαι.  
whether to turn the horses and fight him face to face.

**169** τρὶς μὲν μερμήριξε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,  
Three times he weighed it in his heart and spirit,

**170** τρὶς δʼ ἄρʼ ἀπʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων κτύπε μητίετα Ζεὺς  
and three times Zeus the counselor thundered from Ida's mountains,

**171** σῆμα τιθεὶς Τρώεσσι μάχης ἑτεραλκέα νίκην.  
giving the Trojans a sign that victory had turned.

**172** Ἕκτωρ δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·  
Then Hector called to the Trojans with a far-carrying shout:

**173** Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ  
"Trojans and Lycians and Dardanians, close fighters,

**174** ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.  
be men, my friends, and remember your furious valor,

**175** γιγνώσκω δʼ ὅτι μοι πρόφρων κατένευσε Κρονίων  
for I know the son of Cronos willingly nodded to grant me

**176** νίκην καὶ μέγα κῦδος, ἀτὰρ Δαναοῖσί γε πῆμα·  
victory and great glory, and ruin to the Danaans.

**177** νήπιοι οἳ ἄρα δὴ τάδε τείχεα μηχανόωντο  
Fools, to devise these walls, so weak

**178** ἀβλήχρʼ οὐδενόσωρα· τὰ δʼ οὐ μένος ἁμὸν ἐρύξει·  
and worthless; they shall never check our strength.

**179** ἵπποι δὲ ῥέα τάφρον ὑπερθορέονται ὀρυκτήν.  
Our horses will leap lightly over the dug trench.

**180** ἀλλʼ ὅτε κεν δὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσι γένωμαι,  
But when I come among the hollow ships,

**181** μνημοσύνη τις ἔπειτα πυρὸς δηΐοιο γενέσθω,  
let someone then remember consuming fire,

**182** ὡς πυρὶ νῆας ἐνιπρήσω, κτείνω δὲ καὶ αὐτοὺς  
so I may burn their ships and kill the Argives

**183** Ἀργείους παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀτυζομένους ὑπὸ καπνοῦ.  
beside them, dazed beneath the smoke."

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

**185** Ξάνθέ τε καὶ σὺ Πόδαργε καὶ Αἴθων Λάμπέ τε δῖε  
"Xanthus, and you, Podargus, Aethon, and noble Lampus,

**186** νῦν μοι τὴν κομιδὴν ἀποτίνετον, ἣν μάλα πολλὴν  
now repay the tending, all the care

**187** Ἀνδρομάχη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἠετίωνος  
Andromache, daughter of great-hearted Eetion,

**188** ὑμῖν πὰρ προτέροισι μελίφρονα πυρὸν ἔθηκεν  
gave you first, setting honey-sweet wheat before you

**189** οἶνόν τʼ ἐγκεράσασα πιεῖν, ὅτε θυμὸς ἀνώγοι,  
and mixing wine to drink whenever your spirit urged,

**190** ἢ ἐμοί, ὅς πέρ οἱ θαλερὸς πόσις εὔχομαι εἶναι.  
before she served me, though I boast I am her vigorous husband.

**191** ἀλλʼ ἐφομαρτεῖτον καὶ σπεύδετον ὄφρα λάβωμεν  
Come, follow close and hurry, so we may seize

**192** ἀσπίδα Νεστορέην, τῆς νῦν κλέος οὐρανὸν ἵκει  
the shield of Nestor, whose fame now reaches heaven,

**193** πᾶσαν χρυσείην ἔμεναι, κανόνας τε καὶ αὐτήν,  
for all of it is gold, both shield and crossbars,

**194** αὐτὰρ ἀπʼ ὤμοιιν Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο  
and from the shoulders of Diomedes, tamer of horses, take

**195** δαιδάλεον θώρηκα, τὸν Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων.  
the richly wrought corselet Hephaestus labored to make.

**196** εἰ τούτω κε λάβοιμεν, ἐελποίμην κεν Ἀχαιοὺς  
If we should take these two, I would hope the Achaeans

**197** αὐτονυχὶ νηῶν ἐπιβησέμεν ὠκειάων.  
would board their swift ships this very night."

**198** ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, νεμέσησε δὲ πότνια Ἥρη,  
So he spoke in boast; queenly Hera was angered,

**199** σείσατο δʼ εἰνὶ θρόνῳ, ἐλέλιξε δὲ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,  
and shook upon her throne, making long Olympus tremble.

**200** καί ῥα Ποσειδάωνα μέγαν θεὸν ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then she addressed the mighty god Poseidon face to face:

**201** ὢ πόποι ἐννοσίγαιʼ εὐρυσθενές, οὐδέ νυ σοί περ  
"Ah, Earth-shaker of broad strength, does your heart feel nothing
> Two vocatives for Poseidon: ἐννοσίγαιʼ and εὐρυσθενές are vocative forms addressed to Poseidon. Hera invokes him as Earth-shaker and wide in strength before reproaching him for feeling no pity for the dying Danaans.

**202** ὀλλυμένων Δαναῶν ὀλοφύρεται ἐν φρεσὶ θυμός.  
within you for the Danaans dying?

**203** οἳ δέ τοι εἰς Ἑλίκην τε καὶ Αἰγὰς δῶρʼ ἀνάγουσι  
Yet at Helice and Aegae they bring you gifts,

**204** πολλά τε καὶ χαρίεντα· σὺ δέ σφισι βούλεο νίκην.  
many and pleasing; so desire victory for them.

**205** εἴ περ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλοιμεν, ὅσοι Δαναοῖσιν ἀρωγοί,  
For if all we gods who favor the Danaans wished

**206** Τρῶας ἀπώσασθαι καὶ ἐρυκέμεν εὐρύοπα Ζῆν,  
to drive the Trojans back and hold wide-thundering Zeus away,

**207** αὐτοῦ κʼ ἔνθʼ ἀκάχοιτο καθήμενος οἶος ἐν Ἴδῃ.  
he would sit there grieving, all alone on Ida."

**208** τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη κρείων ἐνοσίχθων·  
The lord Earth-shaker answered her in deep anger:

**209** Ἥρη ἀπτοεπὲς ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.  
"Hera, rash in speech, what word is this you have spoken?

**210** οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι Διὶ Κρονίωνι μάχεσθαι  
I would not have us other gods do battle

**211** ἡμέας τοὺς ἄλλους, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερός ἐστιν.  
against Zeus, son of Cronos, since he is far stronger."

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

**213** τῶν δʼ ὅσον ἐκ νηῶν ἀπὸ πύργου τάφρος ἔεργε  
The whole space the ditch enclosed between the ships and wall

**214** πλῆθεν ὁμῶς ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν ἀσπιστάων  
was filled alike with horses and shield-bearing men,

**215** εἰλομένων· εἴλει δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ  
penned in; Hector, the equal of swift Ares, penned them,
> Equal to swift Ares: ἀτάλαντος is a masculine nominative singular adjective describing Hector as equal in weight or match to someone. The comparison is completed by the dative phrase θοῷ Ἄρηϊ: he is a match for swift Ares in battle.

**216** Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, ὅτε οἱ Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκε.  
Priam's son, when Zeus had granted him glory.

**217** καί νύ κʼ ἐνέπρησεν πυρὶ κηλέῳ νῆας ἐΐσας,  
And now he would have burned the balanced ships with blazing fire

**218** εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι πότνια Ἥρη  
had queenly Hera not set it in Agamemnon's mind

**219** αὐτῷ ποιπνύσαντι θοῶς ὀτρῦναι Ἀχαιούς.  
to bestir himself and swiftly urge the Achaeans.

**220** βῆ δʼ ἰέναι παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν  
He went beside the huts and ships of the Achaeans,

**221** πορφύρεον μέγα φᾶρος ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ παχείῃ,  
holding a great purple cloak in his strong hand,

**222** στῆ δʼ ἐπʼ Ὀδυσσῆος μεγακήτεϊ νηῒ μελαίνῃ,  
and stood upon Odysseus' huge black ship,

**223** ἥ ῥʼ ἐν μεσσάτῳ ἔσκε γεγωνέμεν ἀμφοτέρωσε,  
which lay at the middle, so a shout could carry both ways,

**224** ἠμὲν ἐπʼ Αἴαντος κλισίας Τελαμωνιάδαο  
toward the huts of Ajax, son of Telamon,

**225** ἠδʼ ἐπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος, τοί ῥʼ ἔσχατα νῆας ἐΐσας  
and toward Achilles'; these had drawn their balanced ships

**226** εἴρυσαν, ἠνορέῃ πίσυνοι καὶ κάρτεϊ χειρῶν·  
at the farthest ends, trusting their courage and strong hands.

**227** ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς·  
There he cried in a piercing voice to the Danaans:

**228** αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι, κάκʼ ἐλέγχεα, εἶδος ἀγητοί·  
"Shame, Argives! Wretched disgraces, splendid only to look at!
> Aidos as a battle cry: αἰδὼς denotes the shame or reverence felt before the judgment of others. Used here as a sharp exclamation before the vocative Ἀργεῖοι, it calls the retreating Argives back to conduct worthy of their public honor.

**229** πῇ ἔβαν εὐχωλαί, ὅτε δὴ φάμεν εἶναι ἄριστοι,  
Where have our boasts gone, when we claimed to be the best,

**230** ἃς ὁπότʼ ἐν Λήμνῳ κενεαυχέες ἠγοράασθε,  
those empty boasts you made in Lemnos,

**231** ἔσθοντες κρέα πολλὰ βοῶν ὀρθοκραιράων  
eating abundant meat from straight-horned cattle

**232** πίνοντες κρητῆρας ἐπιστεφέας οἴνοιο,  
and drinking mixing bowls filled to the brim with wine,

**233** Τρώων ἄνθʼ ἑκατόν τε διηκοσίων τε ἕκαστος  
that each would stand in war against a hundred

**234** στήσεσθʼ ἐν πολέμῳ· νῦν δʼ οὐδʼ ἑνὸς ἄξιοί εἰμεν  
or two hundred Trojans? Now we are not worth one Hector,

**235** Ἕκτορος, ὃς τάχα νῆας ἐνιπρήσει πυρὶ κηλέῳ.  
who soon will burn the ships with blazing fire.

**236** Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥά τινʼ ἤδη ὑπερμενέων βασιλήων  
Father Zeus, have you ever blinded any exceedingly mighty king
> Blinded by ate: The question continues in the next line with τῇδʼ ἄτῃ ἄασας. ἄτῃ is ruinous delusion, and the related aorist participle ἄασας means having blinded or led astray; Agamemnon asks whether Zeus has ever so deluded another exceedingly mighty king.

**237** τῇδʼ ἄτῃ ἄασας καί μιν μέγα κῦδος ἀπηύρας;  
with such delusion and stripped away his great glory?

**238** οὐ μὲν δή ποτέ φημι τεὸν περικαλλέα βωμὸν  
Never, I say, did I pass by your splendid altar

**239** νηῒ πολυκλήϊδι παρελθέμεν ἐνθάδε ἔρρων,  
in my many-benched ship as I journeyed here,

**240** ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ πᾶσι βοῶν δημὸν καὶ μηρίʼ ἔκηα  
but on them all I burned the fat and thighs of cattle,

**241** ἱέμενος Τροίην εὐτείχεον ἐξαλαπάξαι.  
longing to lay waste well-walled Troy.

**242** ἀλλὰ Ζεῦ τόδε πέρ μοι ἐπικρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·  
But Zeus, fulfill for me this one desire:

**243** αὐτοὺς δή περ ἔασον ὑπεκφυγέειν καὶ ἀλύξαι,  
at least allow the men themselves to flee and escape;

**244** μηδʼ οὕτω Τρώεσσιν ἔα δάμνασθαι Ἀχαιούς.  
do not let the Trojans crush the Achaeans so."

**245** ὣς φάτο, τὸν δὲ πατὴρ ὀλοφύρατο δάκρυ χέοντα,  
So he spoke; the father pitied him as he wept

**246** νεῦσε δέ οἱ λαὸν σόον ἔμμεναι οὐδʼ ἀπολέσθαι.  
and nodded that his army would survive, not perish.

**247** αὐτίκα δʼ αἰετὸν ἧκε τελειότατον πετεηνῶν,  
At once he sent an eagle, surest among birds,

**248** νεβρὸν ἔχοντʼ ὀνύχεσσι τέκος ἐλάφοιο ταχείης·  
clutching in its talons a fawn, a swift deer's young.

**249** πὰρ δὲ Διὸς βωμῷ περικαλλέϊ κάββαλε νεβρόν,  
Beside the splendid altar of Zeus it dropped the fawn,

**250** ἔνθα πανομφαίῳ Ζηνὶ ῥέζεσκον Ἀχαιοί.  
where the Achaeans sacrificed to Zeus, lord of every voice.

**251** οἳ δʼ ὡς οὖν εἴδονθʼ ὅ τʼ ἄρʼ ἐκ Διὸς ἤλυθεν ὄρνις,  
When they saw the bird had come to them from Zeus,

**252** μᾶλλον ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι θόρον, μνήσαντο δὲ χάρμης.  
they leapt more fiercely on the Trojans and remembered battle-joy.

**253** ἔνθʼ οὔ τις πρότερος Δαναῶν πολλῶν περ ἐόντων  
Then no one among the Danaans, though they were many,

**254** εὔξατο Τυδεΐδαο πάρος σχέμεν ὠκέας ἵππους  
could boast that he had held his swift horses ahead of the son of Tydeus,

**255** τάφρου τʼ ἐξελάσαι καὶ ἐναντίβιον μαχέσασθαι,  
driven them beyond the trench, and fought face to face.

**256** ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρῶτος Τρώων ἕλεν ἄνδρα κορυστὴν  
Far ahead of all, he slew a helmeted Trojan,

**257** Φραδμονίδην Ἀγέλαον· ὃ μὲν φύγαδʼ ἔτραπεν ἵππους·  
Agelaus, son of Phradmon, who turned his horses in flight.
> Agelaus, son of Phradmon: Φραδμονίδην is an accusative patronymic meaning son of Phradmon, and Ἀγέλαον is the personal name it modifies. The paired forms identify the first Trojan killed in the renewed Achaean charge before the spear strike is narrated.

**258** τῷ δὲ μεταστρεφθέντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πῆξεν  
As he turned, Diomedes planted the spear into his back
> An aorist passive participle: μεταστρεφθέντι is a masculine dative singular aorist passive participle referring to Agelaus. Its aorist aspect presents his turning as completed before Diomedes plants the spear in his back, while the passive form is used in the intransitive sense having turned around.

**259** ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσεν·  
between the shoulders, and drove the spear through his chest;

**260** ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.  
He fell from the chariot, and his armor clattered upon him,

**261** τὸν δὲ μετʼ Ἀτρεΐδαι Ἀγαμέμνων καὶ Μενέλαος,  
After him came the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus;

**262** τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Αἴαντες θοῦριν ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκήν,  
after them the two Ajaxes, clothed in furious valor;

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

**264** Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ,  
Meriones, the equal of man-slaying Enyalius;

**265** τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρύπυλος Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·  
after them Eurypylus, the glorious son of Euaemon.

**266** Τεῦκρος δʼ εἴνατος ἦλθε παλίντονα τόξα τιταίνων,  
Teucer came ninth, stretching his recurved bow,

**267** στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπʼ Αἴαντος σάκεϊ Τελαμωνιάδαο.  
and took his stand beneath the shield of Telamonian Ajax.

**268** ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ὑπεξέφερεν σάκος· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως  
Ajax would lift the shield away; then the hero
> Repeated action in the past: ὑπεξέφερεν is an imperfect describing Ajax's repeated lifting of the shield. The cycle closes in line 272 with κρύπτασκε, an iterative imperfect: Ajax would lift the shield, Teucer would shoot, and Ajax would cover him again.

**269** παπτήνας, ἐπεὶ ἄρ τινʼ ὀϊστεύσας ἐν ὁμίλῳ  
would look about, and when he shot someone in the press

**270** βεβλήκοι, ὃ μὲν αὖθι πεσὼν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὄλεσσεν,  
and struck him, the man fell there and lost his life;

**271** αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτις ἰὼν πάϊς ὣς ὑπὸ μητέρα δύσκεν  
then Teucer would return like a child beneath its mother,

**272** εἰς Αἴανθʼ· ὃ δέ μιν σάκεϊ κρύπτασκε φαεινῷ.  
under Ajax, who would hide him with his shining shield.

**273** ἔνθα τίνα πρῶτον Τρώων ἕλε Τεῦκρος ἀμύμων;  
Then whom among the Trojans did blameless Teucer first slay?

**274** Ὀρσίλοχον μὲν πρῶτα καὶ Ὄρμενον ἠδʼ Ὀφελέστην  
Orsilochus first, and Ormenus and Ophelestes,

**275** Δαίτορά τε Χρομίον τε καὶ ἀντίθεον Λυκοφόντην  
and Daitor and Chromius and godlike Lycophontes,

**276** καὶ Πολυαιμονίδην Ἀμοπάονα καὶ Μελάνιππον,  
and Amopaon, son of Polyaemon, and Melanippus—

**277** πάντας ἐπασσυτέρους πέλασε χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ.  
all one after another he laid upon the all-nurturing earth.

**278** τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν γήθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων  
Seeing him, Agamemnon, lord of men, rejoiced

**279** τόξου ἄπο κρατεροῦ Τρώων ὀλέκοντα φάλαγγας·  
as with his strong bow Teucer destroyed the Trojan ranks.

**280** στῆ δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν ἰὼν καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·  
He came and stood beside him and spoke these words:

**281** Τεῦκρε φίλη κεφαλή, Τελαμώνιε κοίρανε λαῶν  
"Teucer, dear heart, son of Telamon, marshal of the people,
> Dear head, dear heart: φίλη κεφαλή literally means dear head but functions as an affectionate address to the whole person. Agamemnon places it between the vocative Τεῦκρε and Teucer's patronymic, giving warmth to his appeal.

**282** βάλλʼ οὕτως, αἴ κέν τι φόως Δαναοῖσι γένηαι  
keep shooting so, and perhaps become a light to the Danaans

**283** πατρί τε σῷ Τελαμῶνι, ὅ σʼ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα,  
and to your father Telamon, who raised you when you were little

**284** καί σε νόθον περ ἐόντα κομίσσατο ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ·  
and, though you were born outside marriage, cared for you in his house.

**285** τὸν καὶ τηλόθʼ ἐόντα ἐϋκλείης ἐπίβησον.  
Though he is far away, bring him good fame.

**286** σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ ἐξερέω ὡς καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·  
I shall declare what also shall be fulfilled:

**287** αἴ κέν μοι δώῃ Ζεύς τʼ αἰγίοχος καὶ Ἀθήνη  
if Zeus who bears the aegis and Athena grant me

**288** Ἰλίου ἐξαλαπάξαι ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,  
to lay waste utterly the well-built citadel of Ilion,

**289** πρώτῳ τοι μετʼ ἐμὲ πρεσβήϊον ἐν χερὶ θήσω,  
first after myself I shall place a prize of honor in your hands,

**290** ἢ τρίποδʼ ἠὲ δύω ἵππους αὐτοῖσιν ὄχεσφιν  
either a tripod, or two horses with their chariot,

**291** ἠὲ γυναῖχʼ, ἥ κέν τοι ὁμὸν λέχος εἰσαναβαίνοι.  
or a woman who will mount the same bed with you."

**292** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε Τεῦκρος ἀμύμων·  
Then blameless Teucer answered him and said:

**293** Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε τί με σπεύδοντα καὶ αὐτὸν  
"Most glorious son of Atreus, why, when I myself am eager,

**294** ὀτρύνεις; οὐ μέν τοι ὅση δύναμίς γε πάρεστι  
do you urge me? So far as strength remains in me,

**295** παύομαι, ἀλλʼ ἐξ οὗ προτὶ Ἴλιον ὠσάμεθʼ αὐτοὺς  
I do not cease; but since we drove them hard toward Ilion,

**296** ἐκ τοῦ δὴ τόξοισι δεδεγμένος ἄνδρας ἐναίρω.  
I have watched for men and killed them with my bow.

**297** ὀκτὼ δὴ προέηκα τανυγλώχινας ὀϊστούς,  
Eight long-barbed arrows I have loosed already,

**298** πάντες δʼ ἐν χροῒ πῆχθεν ἀρηϊθόων αἰζηῶν·  
and all lodged in the flesh of battle-raging young men;

**299** τοῦτον δʼ οὐ δύναμαι βαλέειν κύνα λυσσητῆρα.  
yet I cannot strike this raging dog."

**300** ἦ ῥα καὶ ἄλλον ὀϊστὸν ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ἴαλλεν  
He spoke and sent another arrow from the string,

**301** Ἕκτορος ἀντικρύ, βαλέειν δέ ἑ ἵετο θυμός·  
straight at Hector, for his heart desired to strike him;

**302** καὶ τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀφάμαρθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἀμύμονα Γοργυθίωνα  
but he missed him, and struck blameless Gorgythion,

**303** υἱὸν ἐῢν Πριάμοιο κατὰ στῆθος βάλεν ἰῷ,  
Priam's noble son, in the chest with an arrow.

**304** τόν ῥʼ ἐξ Αἰσύμηθεν ὀπυιομένη τέκε μήτηρ  
His mother bore him after coming as a bride from Aesyma,

**305** καλὴ Καστιάνειρα δέμας ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσι.  
beautiful Castianeira, in form like the goddesses.
> Castianeira of Aesyma: Καστιάνειρα names Gorgythion's mother, introduced in the preceding line as a bride from Aesyma. καλὴ and δέμας ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσι describe her as beautiful and like the goddesses in bodily form before the simile of her son's fall.

**306** μήκων δʼ ὡς ἑτέρωσε κάρη βάλεν, ἥ τʼ ἐνὶ κήπῳ  
As a poppy droops its head to one side in a garden,

**307** καρπῷ βριθομένη νοτίῃσί τε εἰαρινῇσιν,  
heavy with its fruit and with the rains of spring,

**308** ὣς ἑτέρωσʼ ἤμυσε κάρη πήληκι βαρυνθέν.  
so his head bowed to one side, weighed down by his helmet.

**309** Τεῦκρος δʼ ἄλλον ὀϊστὸν ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ἴαλλεν  
Teucer sent another arrow from the string,

**310** Ἕκτορος ἀντικρύ, βαλέειν δέ ἑ ἵετο θυμός.  
straight at Hector, for his heart desired to strike him.

**311** ἀλλʼ ὅ γε καὶ τόθʼ ἅμαρτε· παρέσφηλεν γὰρ Ἀπόλλων·  
Yet then too he missed, for Apollo turned the shaft aside;

**312** ἀλλʼ Ἀρχεπτόλεμον θρασὺν Ἕκτορος ἡνιοχῆα  
but bold Archeptolemus, Hector's charioteer;

**313** ἱέμενον πόλεμον δὲ βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν·  
as he rushed into battle, Teucer struck him in the chest beside the nipple.

**314** ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπερώησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι  
He fell from the chariot, and his swift-footed horses swerved away,

**315** ὠκύποδες· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη ψυχή τε μένος τε.  
and there his life and strength were loosed.

**316** Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἡνιόχοιο·  
Dread grief for his charioteer covered Hector's heart,

**317** τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ εἴασε καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου,  
but he left him lying there, though grieving for his comrade,

**318** Κεβριόνην δʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἀδελφεὸν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα  
and ordered his brother Cebriones, who stood nearby,
> Cebriones, Hector's brother: Κεβριόνην is the accusative form of Cebriones, and ἀδελφεὸν explicitly identifies him as Hector's brother. Because he is ἐγγὺς ἐόντα, standing nearby, Hector can order him to take the reins immediately after Archeptolemus falls.

**319** ἵππων ἡνίʼ ἑλεῖν· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας.  
to take the horses' reins; hearing, he did not disobey.

**320** αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντος  
Hector himself leapt down from the shining chariot

**321** σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὃ δὲ χερμάδιον λάβε χειρί,  
with a dreadful cry, and took up a stone in his hand.

**322** βῆ δʼ ἰθὺς Τεύκρου, βαλέειν δέ ἑ θυμὸς ἀνώγει.  
He went straight at Teucer, his heart commanding him to strike.

**323** ἤτοι ὃ μὲν φαρέτρης ἐξείλετο πικρὸν ὀϊστόν,  
Teucer had drawn a bitter arrow from his quiver

**324** θῆκε δʼ ἐπὶ νευρῇ· τὸν δʼ αὖ κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ  
and set it on the string; but Hector of the flashing helm,

**325** αὐερύοντα παρʼ ὦμον, ὅθι κληῒς ἀποέργει  
as Teucer drew, beside the shoulder where the collarbone divides

**326** αὐχένα τε στῆθός τε, μάλιστα δὲ καίριόν ἐστι,  
the neck and chest, the deadliest spot;

**327** τῇ ῥʼ ἐπὶ οἷ μεμαῶτα βάλεν λίθῳ ὀκριόεντι,  
there, as Teucer aimed at him, Hector struck with the rugged stone,

**328** ῥῆξε δέ οἱ νευρήν· νάρκησε δὲ χεὶρ ἐπὶ καρπῷ,  
and broke Teucer's bowstring; his hand went numb at the wrist.
> The hand goes numb: νάρκησε is an aorist verb meaning became numb or paralyzed. Its subject is χεὶρ, and ἐπὶ καρπῷ locates the numbness at the wrist; the injury coincides with the breaking of Teucer's bowstring.

**329** στῆ δὲ γνὺξ ἐριπών, τόξον δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.  
He fell upon his knees, and the bow dropped from his hand.

**330** Αἴας δʼ οὐκ ἀμέλησε κασιγνήτοιο πεσόντος,  
Ajax did not neglect his fallen brother,

**331** ἀλλὰ θέων περίβη καί οἱ σάκος ἀμφεκάλυψε.  
but ran to stand over him and covered him with his shield.

**332** τὸν μὲν ἔπειθʼ ὑποδύντε δύω ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι  
Then two loyal companions stooped and took him up,

**333** Μηκιστεὺς Ἐχίοιο πάϊς καὶ δῖος Ἀλάστωρ  
Mecisteus, son of Echius, and godlike Alastor,

**334** νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς φερέτην βαρέα στενάχοντα.  
and bore him to the hollow ships, groaning heavily.

**335** ἂψ δʼ αὖτις Τρώεσσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἐν μένος ὦρσεν·  
Once more the Olympian roused strength in the Trojans;

**336** οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς τάφροιο βαθείης ὦσαν Ἀχαιούς·  
and straight toward the deep trench they drove the Achaeans;

**337** Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἐν πρώτοισι κίε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνων.  
Hector strode among the foremost, exulting in his might.

**338** ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τε κύων συὸς ἀγρίου ἠὲ λέοντος  
As when a hound, pursuing with swift feet,

**339** ἅπτηται κατόπισθε ποσὶν ταχέεσσι διώκων  
closes from behind upon a wild boar or lion,

**340** ἰσχία τε γλουτούς τε, ἑλισσόμενόν τε δοκεύει,  
snapping at haunches and buttocks, and watches it wheel,

**341** ὣς Ἕκτωρ ὤπαζε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς,  
so Hector pressed the long-haired Achaeans close,
> Long-haired Achaeans: The standing epithet describes the Achaeans by their long hair. Homer keeps this concrete bodily marker distinct from their armor epithets, such as well-greaved and bronze-clad.

**342** αἰὲν ἀποκτείνων τὸν ὀπίστατον· οἳ δὲ φέβοντο.  
always killing the hindmost; and they fled in fear.

**343** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ διά τε σκόλοπας καὶ τάφρον ἔβησαν  
But when in flight they had crossed the stakes and trench,

**344** φεύγοντες, πολλοὶ δὲ δάμεν Τρώων ὑπὸ χερσίν,  
and many had fallen beneath the Trojans' hands,

**345** οἳ μὲν δὴ παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐρητύοντο μένοντες,  
they halted beside the ships and held their ground,

**346** ἀλλήλοισί τε κεκλόμενοι καὶ πᾶσι θεοῖσι  
calling to one another and to all the gods,

**347** χεῖρας ἀνίσχοντες μεγάλʼ εὐχετόωντο ἕκαστος·  
each lifting his hands and praying aloud.

**348** Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἀμφιπεριστρώφα καλλίτριχας ἵππους  
But Hector wheeled his lovely-maned horses round and round,

**349** Γοργοῦς ὄμματʼ ἔχων ἠδὲ βροτολοιγοῦ Ἄρηος.  
with the Gorgon's eyes and those of Ares, bane of mortals.

**350** τοὺς δὲ ἰδοῦσʼ ἐλέησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,  
Seeing them, the goddess white-armed Hera pitied them,

**351** αἶψα δʼ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and at once addressed Athena with winged words:
> Winged words: The recurring speech formula imagines words as winged, flying swiftly from speaker to hearer. Its fixed return helps mark formal speech throughout the poem.

**352** ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος οὐκέτι νῶϊ  
"Ah, child of Zeus who bears the aegis, shall we no longer

**353** ὀλλυμένων Δαναῶν κεκαδησόμεθʼ ὑστάτιόν περ;  
care for the dying Danaans, even at the last?

**354** οἵ κεν δὴ κακὸν οἶτον ἀναπλήσαντες ὄλωνται  
who now shall fill their wretched fate and perish.

**355** ἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς ῥιπῇ, ὃ δὲ μαίνεται οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτῶς  
beneath one man's assault; and he rages past endurance,

**356** Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, καὶ δὴ κακὰ πολλὰ ἔοργε.  
Hector, son of Priam, and has wrought much evil."

**357** τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
Then the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, said to her:
> Bright-eyed Athena: γλαυκῶπις is Athena's fixed eye epithet, rendered throughout as bright-eyed. It is distinct from the affectionate form Zeus uses later, where the adjective stands without her name.

**358** καὶ λίην οὗτός γε μένος θυμόν τʼ ὀλέσειε  
"Would that this man might lose his strength and life

**359** χερσὶν ὑπʼ Ἀργείων φθίμενος ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ·  
beneath the Argives' hands, dead in his native land!

**360** ἀλλὰ πατὴρ οὑμὸς φρεσὶ μαίνεται οὐκ ἀγαθῇσι  
But my father rages in no sound mind,

**361** σχέτλιος, αἰὲν ἀλιτρός, ἐμῶν μενέων ἀπερωεύς·  
hard-hearted, ever perverse, a check upon my purposes;

**362** οὐδέ τι τῶν μέμνηται, ὅ οἱ μάλα πολλάκις υἱὸν  
nor does he remember how very often I saved his son,

**363** τειρόμενον σώεσκον ὑπʼ Εὐρυσθῆος ἀέθλων.  
worn down beneath the labors laid on him by Eurystheus.
> Repeated rescue: σώεσκον is an iterative imperfect: Athena did not save Heracles once, but repeatedly throughout the labors imposed by Eurystheus. The -σκ- form emphasizes the action happening again and again.

**364** ἤτοι ὃ μὲν κλαίεσκε πρὸς οὐρανόν, αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ Ζεὺς  
He would weep toward heaven, and Zeus would send me

**365** τῷ ἐπαλεξήσουσαν ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν προΐαλλεν.  
down from heaven to stand beside him and defend him.

**366** εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ τάδε ᾔδεʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσιν  
If only I had known this in my shrewd heart

**367** εὖτέ μιν εἰς Ἀΐδαο πυλάρταο προὔπεμψεν  
when Eurystheus sent him to Hades the gatekeeper,

**368** ἐξ Ἐρέβευς ἄξοντα κύνα στυγεροῦ Ἀΐδαο,  
to bring the dog of hateful Hades up from Erebus,

**369** οὐκ ἂν ὑπεξέφυγε Στυγὸς ὕδατος αἰπὰ ῥέεθρα.  
he would not have escaped the steep streams of the Styx.

**370** νῦν δʼ ἐμὲ μὲν στυγέει, Θέτιδος δʼ ἐξήνυσε βουλάς,  
Now he hates me, but has fulfilled the plans of Thetis,

**371** ἥ οἱ γούνατʼ ἔκυσσε καὶ ἔλλαβε χειρὶ γενείου,  
who kissed his knees and grasped his chin in her hand,

**372** λισσομένη τιμῆσαι Ἀχιλλῆα πτολίπορθον.  
begging him to honor Achilles, sacker of cities.
> Achilles, sacker of cities: πτολίπορθος, sacker of cities, is a generic martial epithet also borne by other heroes. Here it sharpens the irony that the great destroyer of cities remains absent from battle while Zeus honors him.

**373** ἔσται μὰν ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε φίλην γλαυκώπιδα εἴπῃ.  
A time will surely come when he calls me his dear bright-eyed one again.

**374** ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν νῶϊν ἐπέντυε μώνυχας ἵππους,  
But now harness our single-hoofed horses for us,

**375** ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ καταδῦσα Διὸς δόμον αἰγιόχοιο  
while I enter the hall of Zeus who bears the aegis

**376** τεύχεσιν ἐς πόλεμον θωρήξομαι, ὄφρα ἴδωμαι  
and arm myself in battle gear, so I may see

**377** ἢ νῶϊ Πριάμοιο πάϊς κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ  
whether Priam's son, Hector of the flashing helm,

**378** γηθήσει προφανέντε ἀνὰ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας,  
will rejoice when we appear upon the causeways of battle,
> The causeways of battle: γεφύρας literally suggests bridges, dikes, or causeways, but its exact force in Homeric battle language is disputed. The translation keeps the physical image rather than replacing it with a general word for combat.

**379** ἦ τις καὶ Τρώων κορέει κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνοὺς  
or whether some Trojan too will glut the dogs and birds

**380** δημῷ καὶ σάρκεσσι, πεσὼν ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.  
with his fat and flesh, fallen by the Achaeans' ships."

**381** ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη.  
So she spoke, and the goddess white-armed Hera did not disobey,

**382** ἣ μὲν ἐποιχομένη χρυσάμπυκας ἔντυεν ἵππους  
Hera went among the horses and harnessed the gold-frontleted team,
> Gold-frontleted horses: The compound names the golden bands worn across the horses' foreheads. This line begins a compressed return of the divine arming scene from Book 5 and keeps its accepted English unchanged.

**383** Ἥρη πρέσβα θεὰ θυγάτηρ μεγάλοιο Κρόνοιο·  
the august goddess, daughter of great Cronos;

**384** αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο  
But Athena, daughter of Zeus who bears the aegis,

**385** πέπλον μὲν κατέχευεν ἑανὸν πατρὸς ἐπʼ οὔδει  
let fall her soft robe upon her father's floor,

**386** ποικίλον, ὅν ῥʼ αὐτὴ ποιήσατο καὶ κάμε χερσίν,  
richly patterned, which she herself had made and wrought with her hands;

**387** ἣ δὲ χιτῶνʼ ἐνδῦσα Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο  
then, putting on the tunic of Zeus the cloud-gatherer,

**388** τεύχεσιν ἐς πόλεμον θωρήσσετο δακρυόεντα.  
she arrayed herself in armor for tearful war.

**389** ἐς δʼ ὄχεα φλόγεα ποσὶ βήσετο, λάζετο δʼ ἔγχος  
She stepped with her feet into the flaming chariot and took up her spear,

**390** βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν, τῷ δάμνησι στίχας ἀνδρῶν  
heavy, huge, and strong, with which she subdues the ranks

**391** ἡρώων, τοῖσίν τε κοτέσσεται ὀβριμοπάτρη.  
of heroes against whom she, daughter of a mighty father, is angered.
> Daughter of a mighty father: The compound ὀβριμοπάτρη names Athena through the might of her father Zeus. It closes the spear formula by linking her own terrible weapon to her divine parentage.

**392** Ἥρη δὲ μάστιγι θοῶς ἐπεμαίετʼ ἄρʼ ἵππους·  
Then Hera swiftly plied the whip over the horses;

**393** αὐτόμαται δὲ πύλαι μύκον οὐρανοῦ ἃς ἔχον Ὧραι,  
and of themselves the gates of heaven groaned, which the Hours guarded,

**394** τῇς ἐπιτέτραπται μέγας οὐρανὸς Οὔλυμπός τε  
to whom great heaven and Olympus are entrusted,

**395** ἠμὲν ἀνακλῖναι πυκινὸν νέφος ἠδʼ ἐπιθεῖναι.  
both to roll back the thick cloud and to draw it over.

**396** τῇ ῥα διʼ αὐτάων κεντρηνεκέας ἔχον ἵππους.  
Through these they guided the horses responsive to the goad;

**397** Ζεὺς δὲ πατὴρ Ἴδηθεν ἐπεὶ ἴδε χώσατʼ ἄρʼ αἰνῶς,  
But father Zeus on Ida saw them and grew terribly angry,

**398** Ἶριν δʼ ὄτρυνε χρυσόπτερον ἀγγελέουσαν·  
and urged golden-winged Iris to carry his message:

**399** βάσκʼ ἴθι Ἶρι ταχεῖα, πάλιν τρέπε μηδʼ ἔα ἄντην  
"Go now, swift Iris, turn them back, and do not let them

**400** ἔρχεσθʼ· οὐ γὰρ καλὰ συνοισόμεθα πτόλεμον δέ.  
come against me; we shall not meet well in battle.

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

**402** γυιώσω μέν σφωϊν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους,  
I shall lame beneath their chariot their swift horses,

**403** αὐτὰς δʼ ἐκ δίφρου βαλέω κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξω·  
hurl the two of them from the car, and smash the chariot;

**404** οὐδέ κεν ἐς δεκάτους περιτελλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺς  
nor within ten full circling years

**405** ἕλκεʼ ἀπαλθήσεσθον, ἅ κεν μάρπτῃσι κεραυνός·  
will wounds be healed that a thunderbolt may strike;
> The two goddesses: ἀπαλθήσεσθον is dual, agreeing with Athena and Hera as a pair: the wounds of both will not heal. Greek's separate dual number keeps the threat fixed on exactly these two goddesses.

**406** ὄφρα ἰδῇ γλαυκῶπις ὅτʼ ἂν ᾧ πατρὶ μάχηται.  
so bright-eyed Athena may know what comes of fighting her father.

**407** Ἥρῃ δʼ οὔ τι τόσον νεμεσίζομαι οὐδὲ χολοῦμαι·  
But against Hera I feel no such outrage or anger,

**408** αἰεὶ γάρ μοι ἔωθεν ἐνικλᾶν ὅττί κεν εἴπω.  
for she is always accustomed to thwart whatever I say."

**409** ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δὲ Ἶρις ἀελλόπος ἀγγελέουσα,  
So he spoke, and storm-footed Iris rose to carry the message,
> Storm-footed Iris: ἀελλόπος describes Iris with the speed of a storm wind. It is a distinct epithet from swift-footed and wind-footed, though all three mark her speed as the gods' messenger.

**410** βῆ δʼ ἐξ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον.  
and went from the mountains of Ida to high Olympus.

**411** πρώτῃσιν δὲ πύλῃσι πολυπτύχου Οὐλύμποιο  
At the first gates of many-folded Olympus

**412** ἀντομένη κατέρυκε, Διὸς δέ σφʼ ἔννεπε μῦθον·  
she met and checked them, and told them Zeus's word:

**413** πῇ μέματον; τί σφῶϊν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μαίνεται ἦτορ;  
"Where are you two rushing? Why does the heart rage in your breasts?
> Addressing two goddesses: μέματον is a dual verb and σφῶϊν a dual pronoun: Iris asks where precisely the two goddesses are rushing and what is happening within the two of them. The grammar treats Hera and Athena as a pair throughout the warning.

**414** οὐκ ἐάᾳ Κρονίδης ἐπαμυνέμεν Ἀργείοισιν.  
The son of Cronos will not let you defend the Argives.

**415** ὧδε γὰρ ἠπείλησε Κρόνου πάϊς, ᾗ τελέει περ,  
For this is the threat the son of Cronos made, and he will fulfill it:

**416** γυιώσειν μὲν σφῶϊν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους,  
he will lame beneath your chariot your swift horses,

**417** αὐτὰς δʼ ἐκ δίφρου βαλέειν κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξειν·  
hurl the two of you from the car, and smash the chariot;

**418** οὐδέ κεν ἐς δεκάτους περιτελλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺς  
nor within ten full circling years

**419** ἕλκεʼ ἀπαλθήσεσθον, ἅ κεν μάρπτῃσι κεραυνός·  
will wounds be healed that a thunderbolt may strike;

**420** ὄφρα ἰδῇς γλαυκῶπι ὅτʼ ἂν σῷ πατρὶ μάχηαι.  
so you may know, bright-eyed one, what comes of fighting your father.
> An epithet in direct address: γλαυκῶπι is vocative: Iris addresses Athena directly as bright-eyed one without repeating her name. The form turns Athena's familiar epithet into a pointed warning from Zeus.

**421** Ἥρῃ δʼ οὔ τι τόσον νεμεσίζεται οὐδὲ χολοῦται·  
Against Hera he feels no such outrage or anger,

**422** αἰεὶ γάρ οἱ ἔωθεν ἐνικλᾶν ὅττι κεν εἴπῃ·  
for she is always accustomed to thwart whatever he says.

**423** ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ αἰνοτάτη κύον ἀδεὲς εἰ ἐτεόν γε  
But you, most dreadful dog, unafraid, if truly
> Iris's insult: Iris calls Athena a most dreadful dog and adds ἀδεὲς, unafraid. The line is deliberately abusive, matching the violence of Zeus's threat rather than softening it into a mild rebuke.

**424** τολμήσεις Διὸς ἄντα πελώριον ἔγχος ἀεῖραι.  
you dare to raise your huge spear against Zeus!"

**425** ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις,  
So speaking, swift-footed Iris departed,

**426** αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίην Ἥρη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·  
and Hera spoke these words to Athena:

**427** ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, οὐκέτʼ ἔγωγε  
"Ah, child of Zeus who bears the aegis, no longer will I

**428** νῶϊ ἐῶ Διὸς ἄντα βροτῶν ἕνεκα πτολεμίζειν·  
let us two fight against Zeus for mortals' sake.

**429** τῶν ἄλλος μὲν ἀποφθίσθω, ἄλλος δὲ βιώτω,  
Let one of them die, and another live,

**430** ὅς κε τύχῃ· κεῖνος δὲ τὰ ἃ φρονέων ἐνὶ θυμῷ  
as chance may fall; and let him, pondering his own designs,

**431** Τρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι δικαζέτω, ὡς ἐπιεικές.  
judge between Trojans and Danaans as is fitting."

**432** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα πάλιν τρέπε μώνυχας ἵππους·  
So speaking, she turned the single-hoofed horses back;
> Single-hoofed horses: μώνυχας is a conventional epic description of horses as single-hoofed, contrasting their solid hoof with the cloven hoof of cattle. The same epithet marked the team when Athena ordered Hera to harness it.

**433** τῇσιν δʼ Ὧραι μὲν λῦσαν καλλίτριχας ἵππους,  
and the Hours unyoked the lovely-maned horses for them,

**434** καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέδησαν ἐπʼ ἀμβροσίῃσι κάπῃσιν,  
and tethered them beside the ambrosial mangers,

**435** ἅρματα δʼ ἔκλιναν πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα·  
then leaned the chariot against the shining front wall;

**436** αὐταὶ δὲ χρυσέοισιν ἐπὶ κλισμοῖσι κάθιζον  
and the goddesses sat upon golden chairs

**437** μίγδʼ ἄλλοισι θεοῖσι, φίλον τετιημέναι ἦτορ.  
among the other gods, their dear hearts grieved.

**438** Ζεὺς δὲ πατὴρ Ἴδηθεν ἐΰτροχον ἅρμα καὶ ἵππους  
Then father Zeus from Ida drove his smooth-running chariot and horses

**439** Οὔλυμπον δὲ δίωκε, θεῶν δʼ ἐξίκετο θώκους.  
toward Olympus, and came among the seats of the gods.

**440** τῷ δὲ καὶ ἵππους μὲν λῦσε κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος,  
For him the famed shaker of earth unyoked the horses,
> The famed shaker of earth: ἐννοσίγαιος is Poseidon's earth-shaking title, used here in place of his name. Despite Hera's earlier appeal to him, he receives Zeus and tends the returning chariot.

**441** ἅρματα δʼ ἂμ βωμοῖσι τίθει κατὰ λῖτα πετάσσας·  
set the chariot upon its stand, and spread a linen cloth over it;

**442** αὐτὸς δὲ χρύσειον ἐπὶ θρόνον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς  
and wide-thundering Zeus himself sat down
> Wide-thundering Zeus: εὐρύοπα points to Zeus's far-reaching voice or thunder, not to sight. The fixed rendering wide-thundering keeps this epithet distinct from cloud-gatherer and other titles of Zeus.

**443** ἕζετο, τῷ δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ μέγας πελεμίζετʼ Ὄλυμπος.  
upon his golden throne, and great Olympus shook beneath his feet.

**444** αἳ δʼ οἶαι Διὸς ἀμφὶς Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη  
Athena and Hera alone sat apart from Zeus,

**445** ἥσθην, οὐδέ τί μιν προσεφώνεον οὐδʼ ἐρέοντο·  
and neither addressed him nor asked him anything;

**446** αὐτὰρ ὃ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φώνησέν τε·  
but he understood it in his own heart, and spoke to them:

**447** τίφθʼ οὕτω τετίησθον Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη;  
"Why are you two so grieved, Athena and Hera?

**448** οὐ μέν θην κάμετόν γε μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃ  
Surely you did not weary yourselves in the battle that brings men glory,

**449** ὀλλῦσαι Τρῶας, τοῖσιν κότον αἰνὸν ἔθεσθε.  
slaying the Trojans against whom you set your dreadful hate.

**450** πάντως, οἷον ἐμόν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρες ἄαπτοι,  
In any case, such are my strength and irresistible hands
> Irresistible hands: ἄαπτος means not to be laid hold of or resisted. The same phrase was established in Book 1 for Zeus's overwhelming physical force and returns here unchanged.

**451** οὐκ ἄν με τρέψειαν ὅσοι θεοί εἰσʼ ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ.  
that all the gods upon Olympus could not turn me back.

**452** σφῶϊν δὲ πρίν περ τρόμος ἔλλαβε φαίδιμα γυῖα  
But trembling seized the shining limbs of you both
> Fear seizes both: The dual pronoun σφῶϊν marks Hera and Athena together, while the plural γυῖα names their limbs. Zeus taunts the pair as one frightened unit before either has even entered the battle.

**453** πρὶν πόλεμόν τε ἰδεῖν πολέμοιό τε μέρμερα ἔργα.  
before you saw the war and war's grievous work.

**454** ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δέ κεν τετελεσμένον ἦεν·  
For thus I tell you, and it would have been brought to pass:

**455** οὐκ ἂν ἐφʼ ὑμετέρων ὀχέων πληγέντε κεραυνῷ  
once struck by my thunderbolt upon your chariot,

**456** ἂψ ἐς Ὄλυμπον ἵκεσθον, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτων ἕδος ἐστίν.  
you would not have returned to Olympus, the immortals' seat."

**457** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἳ δʼ ἐπέμυξαν Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη·  
So he spoke, and Athena and Hera muttered in anger;
> A quarrel returns: This line and the five that follow repeat the divine quarrel from Book 4. Their English is held verbatim so the audience hears the same formal pattern return around Athena's silence and Hera's anger.

**458** πλησίαι αἵ γʼ ἥσθην, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μεδέσθην.  
sitting close together, they were devising evils for the Trojans.

**459** ἤτοι Ἀθηναίη ἀκέων ἦν οὐδέ τι εἶπε  
Athena indeed was silent and said nothing,

**460** σκυζομένη Διὶ πατρί, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ᾕρει·  
raging at Zeus her father; a savage anger seized her;

**461** Ἥρῃ δʼ οὐκ ἔχαδε στῆθος χόλον, ἀλλὰ προσηύδα·  
but Hera's breast could not contain her anger, and she spoke:

**462** αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.  
"Most dread son of Cronos, what a word you have spoken!
> Hera's repeated rebuke: Hera opens with the exact rebuke she used against Zeus in Books 1 and 4. The repeated Greek and English make her opposition itself formulaic.

**463** εὖ νυ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἴδμεν ὅ τοι σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν·  
We too know well that your strength is not feeble;

**464** ἀλλʼ ἔμπης Δαναῶν ὀλοφυρόμεθʼ αἰχμητάων,  
Yet still we mourn the Danaan spearmen,
> Danaan spearmen: αἰχμητάων names the Danaans by the spear-point, making them spearmen rather than using a general word for warriors. Lines 464–468 repeat Athena's earlier submission to Zeus within this same book.

**465** οἵ κεν δὴ κακὸν οἶτον ἀναπλήσαντες ὄλωνται.  
who now shall fill their wretched fate and perish.

**466** ἀλλʼ ἤτοι πολέμου μὲν ἀφεξόμεθʼ, εἰ σὺ κελεύεις·  
Still, we shall keep away from war, as you command;

**467** βουλὴν δʼ Ἀργείοις ὑποθησόμεθʼ ἥ τις ὀνήσει,  
but we shall offer counsel to the Argives that may help them,

**468** ὡς μὴ πάντες ὄλωνται ὀδυσσαμένοιο τεοῖο.  
so all do not perish beneath your wrath."

**469** τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·  
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her and said:
> Zeus the cloud-gatherer: Zeus's cloud-gathering epithet returns in the full answered-and-said speech formula. Both the epithet and the speech frame keep their accepted wording.

**470** ἠοῦς δὴ καὶ μᾶλλον ὑπερμενέα Κρονίωνα  
"At dawn, still more, the exceedingly mighty son of Cronos

**471** ὄψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη  
you shall see, if you wish, ox-eyed queenly Hera,

**472** ὀλλύντʼ Ἀργείων πουλὺν στρατὸν αἰχμητάων·  
destroying the great host of Argive spearmen;

**473** οὐ γὰρ πρὶν πολέμου ἀποπαύσεται ὄβριμος Ἕκτωρ  
for mighty Hector will not cease from war

**474** πρὶν ὄρθαι παρὰ ναῦφι ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα,  
until he rouses the swift-footed son of Peleus beside the ships,
> The swift-footed son of Peleus: Achilles is named through his father Peleus and his standing swiftness epithet. Zeus forecasts the crisis that will finally draw him back toward battle.

**475** ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἂν οἳ μὲν ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσι μάχωνται  
on that day when they fight beside the sterns

**476** στείνει ἐν αἰνοτάτῳ περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος·  
in the most dreadful straits around Patroclus fallen dead;

**477** ὣς γὰρ θέσφατόν ἐστι· σέθεν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἀλεγίζω  
for so it is ordained. I take no heed of you

**478** χωομένης, οὐδʼ εἴ κε τὰ νείατα πείραθʼ ἵκηαι  
in your anger, not even if you reach the lowest bounds

**479** γαίης καὶ πόντοιο, ἵνʼ Ἰάπετός τε Κρόνος τε  
of earth and sea, where Iapetus and Cronos

**480** ἥμενοι οὔτʼ αὐγῇς Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιο  
sit and take no joy in the rays of Hyperion the Sun

**481** τέρποντʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμοισι, βαθὺς δέ τε Τάρταρος ἀμφίς·  
or in the winds, but deep Tartarus lies all around them;

**482** οὐδʼ ἢν ἔνθʼ ἀφίκηαι ἀλωμένη, οὔ σευ ἔγωγε  
not even if your wandering brings you there will I care

**483** σκυζομένης ἀλέγω, ἐπεὶ οὐ σέο κύντερον ἄλλο.  
for your anger, since there is nothing more doglike than you."

**484** ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη λευκώλενος Ἥρη.  
So he spoke, but white-armed Hera gave him no answer.

**485** ἐν δʼ ἔπεσʼ Ὠκεανῷ λαμπρὸν φάος ἠελίοιο  
Then the sun's bright light fell into Oceanus,

**486** ἕλκον νύκτα μέλαιναν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.  
drawing black night across the life-giving plowland.

**487** Τρωσὶν μέν ῥʼ ἀέκουσιν ἔδυ φάος, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοῖς  
For the unwilling Trojans the light went down, but upon the Achaeans

**488** ἀσπασίη τρίλλιστος ἐπήλυθε νὺξ ἐρεβεννή.  
welcome night came, thrice prayed for, dark with gloom.
> Thrice-prayed-for night: Night is welcome and τρίλλιστος, prayed for three times or intensely entreated, because darkness halts Hector's assault. The same sunset is therefore loss to the Trojans and rescue to the Achaeans.

**489** Τρώων αὖτʼ ἀγορὴν ποιήσατο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ  
Then glorious Hector called an assembly of the Trojans,

**490** νόσφι νεῶν ἀγαγὼν ποταμῷ ἔπι δινήεντι,  
leading them away from the ships beside the eddying river,

**491** ἐν καθαρῷ ὅθι δὴ νεκύων διεφαίνετο χῶρος.  
in a clear place where the ground showed free of corpses.

**492** ἐξ ἵππων δʼ ἀποβάντες ἐπὶ χθόνα μῦθον ἄκουον  
Climbing down from their chariots, they listened on the ground

**493** τόν ῥʼ Ἕκτωρ ἀγόρευε Διῒ φίλος· ἐν δʼ ἄρα χειρὶ  
to the speech Hector, dear to Zeus, addressed to them; in his hand

**494** ἔγχος ἔχʼ ἑνδεκάπηχυ· πάροιθε δὲ λάμπετο δουρὸς  
he held an eleven-cubit spear; before its shaft gleamed

**495** αἰχμὴ χαλκείη, περὶ δὲ χρύσεος θέε πόρκης,  
the bronze point, and a golden collar ran around it.

**496** τῷ ὅ γʼ ἐρεισάμενος ἔπεα Τρώεσσι μετηύδα·  
Leaning upon it, he addressed the Trojans with these words:

**497** κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι·  
"Hear me, you Trojans and Dardanians and allies;
> Hector's assembly call: The herald-like call names the Trojans, Dardanians, and allied contingents separately. Its Greek and accepted English recur from earlier assemblies and are kept verbatim.

**498** νῦν ἐφάμην νῆάς τʼ ὀλέσας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιοὺς  
just now I thought that, destroying the ships together with all the Achaeans,

**499** ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν·  
I would return again toward windy Ilion;

**500** ἀλλὰ πρὶν κνέφας ἦλθε, τὸ νῦν ἐσάωσε μάλιστα  
but darkness came first, and it above all has now saved

**501** Ἀργείους καὶ νῆας ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.  
the Argives and their ships upon the breaking sea.

**502** ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μὲν πειθώμεθα νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ  
But now let us obey black night

**503** δόρπά τʼ ἐφοπλισόμεσθα· ἀτὰρ καλλίτριχας ἵππους  
and make our suppers ready; but your lovely-maned horses

**504** λύσαθʼ ὑπὲξ ὀχέων, παρὰ δέ σφισι βάλλετʼ ἐδωδήν·  
unhitch from beneath the chariots and cast fodder beside them;

**505** ἐκ πόλιος δʼ ἄξεσθε βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα  
bring cattle and sturdy sheep out from the city

**506** καρπαλίμως, οἶνον δὲ μελίφρονα οἰνίζεσθε  
with all speed, fetch honey-hearted wine,

**507** σῖτόν τʼ ἐκ μεγάρων, ἐπὶ δὲ ξύλα πολλὰ λέγεσθε,  
and grain from the halls, and gather heaps of wood,

**508** ὥς κεν παννύχιοι μέσφʼ ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης  
so that all night long until early-born Dawn
> Early-born Dawn: ἠριγένεια, early-born, is one of Dawn's standing epithets. Here rosy-fingered is absent, so the line does not expand into the poem's fuller fixed dawn formula.

**509** καίωμεν πυρὰ πολλά, σέλας δʼ εἰς οὐρανὸν ἵκῃ,  
we may burn many fires, and their blaze reach heaven,

**510** μή πως καὶ διὰ νύκτα κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ  
lest somehow by night the long-haired Achaeans

**511** φεύγειν ὁρμήσωνται ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.  
set out in flight across the broad back of the sea.

**512** μὴ μὰν ἀσπουδί γε νεῶν ἐπιβαῖεν ἕκηλοι,  
Let them not mount their ships at ease, without a fight,

**513** ἀλλʼ ὥς τις τούτων γε βέλος καὶ οἴκοθι πέσσῃ  
but let some man among them nurse a missile even at home,
> A wound carried home: πέσσῃ literally means digest or ripen. Hector imagines an Achaean surviving the voyage but still nursing at home the missile wound received while boarding his ship.

**514** βλήμενος ἢ ἰῷ ἢ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι  
struck by an arrow or by a sharp-pointed spear

**515** νηὸς ἐπιθρῴσκων, ἵνα τις στυγέῃσι καὶ ἄλλος  
as he leaps aboard, so that another too may shrink

**516** Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισι φέρειν πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα.  
from bringing war of many tears upon the horse-taming Trojans.
> Ares as war: Here Ares' name stands for war itself, qualified as bringing many tears. The personified god and the thing he embodies remain deliberately close in Homeric diction.

**517** κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ Διῒ φίλοι ἀγγελλόντων  
And let heralds dear to Zeus proclaim throughout the city

**518** παῖδας πρωθήβας πολιοκροτάφους τε γέροντας  
that youths in their first manhood and gray-templed old men

**519** λέξασθαι περὶ ἄστυ θεοδμήτων ἐπὶ πύργων·  
take their posts around the city on its god-built towers;

**520** θηλύτεραι δὲ γυναῖκες ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑκάστη  
and let the women, each within her hall,

**521** πῦρ μέγα καιόντων· φυλακὴ δέ τις ἔμπεδος ἔστω  
kindle a great fire; and let a steadfast watch be kept

**522** μὴ λόχος εἰσέλθῃσι πόλιν λαῶν ἀπεόντων.  
lest an ambush enter the city while the army is away.

**523** ὧδʼ ἔστω Τρῶες μεγαλήτορες ὡς ἀγορεύω·  
Let it be so, great-hearted Trojans, as I tell you;

**524** μῦθος δʼ ὃς μὲν νῦν ὑγιὴς εἰρημένος ἔστω,  
let the counsel now spoken stand sound and whole,
> Sound counsel: ὑγιὴς literally means healthy or sound. Hector applies it to his present counsel as a plan that is whole and fit for the night, before promising another speech at dawn.

**525** τὸν δʼ ἠοῦς Τρώεσσι μεθʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἀγορεύσω.  
and at dawn I shall speak another among the horse-taming Trojans.

**526** ἔλπομαι εὐχόμενος Διί τʼ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσιν  
I hope, praying to Zeus and all the other gods,

**527** ἐξελάαν ἐνθένδε κύνας κηρεσσιφορήτους,  
to drive from here these dogs borne onward by doom,
> Dogs borne onward by doom: Hector calls the Achaeans dogs and describes them with a dense compound built on κήρ, destructive fate or death-doom. The next line unfolds the image: their dooms carry them upon the black ships.

**528** οὓς κῆρες φορέουσι μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν.  
whom the dooms carry upon the black ships.

**529** ἀλλʼ ἤτοι ἐπὶ νυκτὶ φυλάξομεν ἡμέας αὐτούς,  
But through the night let us keep guard over ourselves,

**530** πρῶϊ δʼ ὑπηοῖοι σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντες  
and early at dawn, arrayed in our armor,

**531** νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.  
let us rouse sharp battle beside the hollow ships.

**532** εἴσομαι εἴ κέ μʼ ὁ Τυδεΐδης κρατερὸς Διομήδης  
Then I shall know whether mighty Diomedes, son of Tydeus,
> Mighty Diomedes, son of Tydeus: Hector combines Diomedes' patronymic with the already established epithet mighty. His boast singles out the Achaean who most directly resisted him during the day's retreat.

**533** πὰρ νηῶν πρὸς τεῖχος ἀπώσεται, ἤ κεν ἐγὼ τὸν  
will drive me from the ships toward the wall, or whether I

**534** χαλκῷ δῃώσας ἔναρα βροτόεντα φέρωμαι.  
shall cut him down with bronze and carry off his bloodied spoils.

**535** αὔριον ἣν ἀρετὴν διαείσεται, εἴ κʼ ἐμὸν ἔγχος  
Tomorrow he shall learn his own valor, if he stands

**536** μείνῃ ἐπερχόμενον· ἀλλʼ ἐν πρώτοισιν ὀΐω  
against my oncoming spear; but among the foremost, I think,

**537** κείσεται οὐτηθείς, πολέες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι  
he will lie wounded, with many comrades around him,

**538** ἠελίου ἀνιόντος ἐς αὔριον· εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὣς  
at tomorrow's sunrise. If only I

**539** εἴην ἀθάνατος καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα,  
were immortal and ageless all my days,

**540** τιοίμην δʼ ὡς τίετʼ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἀπόλλων,  
and honored as Athena and Apollo are honored,

**541** ὡς νῦν ἡμέρη ἥδε κακὸν φέρει Ἀργείοισιν.  
as surely as this day now brings evil to the Argives."

**542** ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἀγόρευʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶες κελάδησαν.  
So Hector spoke, and the Trojans shouted aloud.

**543** οἳ δʼ ἵππους μὲν λῦσαν ὑπὸ ζυγοῦ ἱδρώοντας,  
They loosed the sweating horses from beneath the yoke,

**544** δῆσαν δʼ ἱμάντεσσι παρʼ ἅρμασιν οἷσιν ἕκαστος·  
and each man tethered his team with straps beside his chariot;

**545** ἐκ πόλιος δʼ ἄξοντο βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα  
they brought cattle and sturdy sheep out from the city

**546** καρπαλίμως, οἶνον δὲ μελίφρονα οἰνίζοντο,  
with all speed, and fetched honey-hearted wine,

**547** σῖτόν τʼ ἐκ μεγάρων, ἐπὶ δὲ ξύλα πολλὰ λέγοντο.  
and grain from the halls, and gathered heaps of wood.

**548** ἔρδον δ’ ἀθανάτοισι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας  
They offered perfect hecatombs to the immortals,

**549** κνίσην δʼ ἐκ πεδίου ἄνεμοι φέρον οὐρανὸν εἴσω.  
and winds carried the savor from the plain toward heaven,

**550** ἡδεῖαν· τῆς δ’ οὔ τι θεοὶ μάκαρες δατέοντο,  
sweet savor; but the blessed gods took no share of it

**551** οὐδ’ ἔθελον· μάλα γάρ σφιν ἀπήχθετο Ἴλιος ἱρή,  
and had no wish to, for sacred Ilion was deeply hateful to them,

**552** καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο  
and Priam, and the people of Priam of the strong ash spear.

**553** οἳ δὲ μέγα φρονέοντες ἐπὶ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας  
High-hearted, they sat upon the causeways of battle

**554** εἴατο παννύχιοι, πυρὰ δέ σφισι καίετο πολλά.  
all night long, and many fires burned among them.

**555** ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐν οὐρανῷ ἄστρα φαεινὴν ἀμφὶ σελήνην  
As when in heaven the stars about the shining moon

**556** φαίνετʼ ἀριπρεπέα, ὅτε τʼ ἔπλετο νήνεμος αἰθήρ·  
shine forth clear, when the upper air is windless,

**557** ἔκ τʼ ἔφανεν πᾶσαι σκοπιαὶ καὶ πρώονες ἄκροι  
and all the lookout peaks and high headlands stand revealed,

**558** καὶ νάπαι· οὐρανόθεν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπερράγη ἄσπετος αἰθήρ,  
and the valleys, and boundless upper air breaks open from heaven,

**559** πάντα δὲ εἴδεται ἄστρα, γέγηθε δέ τε φρένα ποιμήν·  
and all the stars are seen, and the shepherd's heart rejoices,

**560** τόσσα μεσηγὺ νεῶν ἠδὲ Ξάνθοιο ῥοάων  
so many fires, between the ships and the streams of Xanthus,

**561** Τρώων καιόντων πυρὰ φαίνετο Ἰλιόθι πρό.  
shone before Ilion where the Trojans burned them.

**562** χίλιʼ ἄρʼ ἐν πεδίῳ πυρὰ καίετο, πὰρ δὲ ἑκάστῳ  
A thousand fires were burning on the plain, and beside each

**563** εἴατο πεντήκοντα σέλᾳ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο.  
sat fifty men in the blaze of the burning fire.

**564** ἵπποι δὲ κρῖ λευκὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι καὶ ὀλύρας  
And the horses, munching white barley and spelt,

**565** ἑσταότες παρʼ ὄχεσφιν ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ μίμνον.  
stood beside the chariots and waited for fair-throned Dawn.
> Fair-throned Dawn: Dawn closes the book with the distinct epithet fair-throned. The horses wait ready beside the chariots, so the final image holds the army poised for the next day's battle.

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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.