Iliad

CC BY 4.0 (estate-derived fields); included text keeps its per-record source license

Reuse requires the attribution line above (CC BY 4.0). Text records carry their own license_id; only open-display licenses appear in this file.

Licensed lexica and citation-only authorities are excluded from bulk dumps by construction — cite the authority, never reprint it.


The quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles—Achilles withdraws
      from the war, and sends his mother Thetis to ask Jove to help the
      Trojans—Scene between Jove and Juno on Olympus.

      Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that
      brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did
      it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a
      prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove
      fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men,
      and great Achilles, first fell out with one another.

      And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel? It was
      the son of Jove and Leto; for he was angry with the king and sent
      a pestilence upon the host to plague the people, because the son
      of Atreus had dishonoured Chryses his priest. Now Chryses had
      come to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and had
      brought with him a great ransom: moreover he bore in his hand the
      sceptre of Apollo wreathed with a suppliant’s wreath, and he
      besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus,
      who were their chiefs.

      “Sons of Atreus,” he cried, “and all other Achaeans, may the gods
      who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam, and to
      reach your homes in safety; but free my daughter, and accept a
      ransom for her, in reverence to Apollo, son of Jove.”

      On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for
      respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered; but
      not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly
      away. “Old man,” said he, “let me not find you tarrying about our
      ships, nor yet coming hereafter. Your sceptre of the god and your
      wreath shall profit you nothing. I will not free her. She shall
      grow old in my house at Argos far from her own home, busying
      herself with her loom and visiting my couch; so go, and do not
      provoke me or it shall be the worse for you.”

      The old man feared him and obeyed. Not a word he spoke, but went
      by the shore of the sounding sea and prayed apart to King Apollo
      whom lovely Leto had borne. “Hear me,” he cried, “O god of the
      silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest
      Tenedos with thy might, hear me oh thou of Sminthe. If I have
      ever decked your temple with garlands, or burned your thigh-bones
      in fat of bulls or goats, grant my prayer, and let your arrows
      avenge these my tears upon the Danaans.”

      Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He came down
      furious from the summits of Olympus, with his bow and his quiver
      upon his shoulder, and the arrows rattled on his back with the
      rage that trembled within him. He sat himself down away from the
      ships with a face as dark as night, and his silver bow rang death
      as he shot his arrow in the midst of them. First he smote their
      mules and their hounds, but presently he aimed his shafts at the
      people themselves, and all day long the pyres of the dead were
      burning.

      For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people, but upon
      the tenth day Achilles called them in assembly—moved thereto by
      Juno, who saw the Achaeans in their death-throes and had
      compassion upon them. Then, when they were got together, he rose
      and spoke among them.

      “Son of Atreus,” said he, “I deem that we should now turn roving
      home if we would escape destruction, for we are being cut down by
      war and pestilence at once. Let us ask some priest or prophet, or
      some reader of dreams (for dreams, too, are of Jove) who can tell
      us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry, and say whether it is for some
      vow that we have broken, or hecatomb that we have not offered,
      and whether he will accept the savour of lambs and goats without
      blemish, so as to take away the plague from us.”

      With these words he sat down, and Calchas son of Thestor, wisest
      of augurs, who knew things past present and to come, rose to
      speak. He it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to
      Ilius, through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had
      inspired him. With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed them
      thus:—

      “Achilles, loved of heaven, you bid me tell you about the anger
      of King Apollo, I will therefore do so; but consider first and
      swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed, for I
      know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might, to
      whom all the Achaeans are in subjection. A plain man cannot stand
      against the anger of a king, who if he swallow his displeasure
      now, will yet nurse revenge till he has wreaked it. Consider,
      therefore, whether or no you will protect me.”

      And Achilles answered, “Fear not, but speak as it is borne in
      upon you from heaven, for by Apollo, Calchas, to whom you pray,
      and whose oracles you reveal to us, not a Danaan at our ships
      shall lay his hand upon you, while I yet live to look upon the
      face of the earth—no, not though you name Agamemnon himself, who
      is by far the foremost of the Achaeans.”

      Thereon the seer spoke boldly. “The god,” he said, “is angry
      neither about vow nor hecatomb, but for his priest’s sake, whom
      Agamemnon has dishonoured, in that he would not free his daughter
      nor take a ransom for her; therefore has he sent these evils upon
      us, and will yet send others. He will not deliver the Danaans
      from this pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl without
      fee or ransom to her father, and has sent a holy hecatomb to
      Chryse. Thus we may perhaps appease him.”

      With these words he sat down, and Agamemnon rose in anger. His
      heart was black with rage, and his eyes flashed fire as he
      scowled on Calchas and said, “Seer of evil, you never yet
      prophesied smooth things concerning me, but have ever loved to
      foretell that which was evil. You have brought me neither comfort
      nor performance; and now you come seeing among Danaans, and
      saying that Apollo has plagued us because I would not take a
      ransom for this girl, the daughter of Chryses. I have set my
      heart on keeping her in my own house, for I love her better even
      than my own wife Clytemnestra, whose peer she is alike in form
      and feature, in understanding and accomplishments. Still I will
      give her up if I must, for I would have the people live, not die;
      but you must find me a prize instead, or I alone among the
      Argives shall be without one. This is not well; for you behold,
      all of you, that my prize is to go elsewhither.”

      And Achilles answered, “Most noble son of Atreus, covetous beyond
      all mankind, how shall the Achaeans find you another prize? We
      have no common store from which to take one. Those we took from
      the cities have been awarded; we cannot disallow the awards that
      have been made already. Give this girl, therefore, to the god,
      and if ever Jove grants us to sack the city of Troy we will
      requite you three and fourfold.”

      Then Agamemnon said, “Achilles, valiant though you be, you shall
      not thus outwit me. You shall not overreach and you shall not
      persuade me. Are you to keep your own prize, while I sit tamely
      under my loss and give up the girl at your bidding? Let the
      Achaeans find me a prize in fair exchange to my liking, or I will
      come and take your own, or that of Ajax or of Ulysses; and he to
      whomsoever I may come shall rue my coming. But of this we will
      take thought hereafter; for the present, let us draw a ship into
      the sea, and find a crew for her expressly; let us put a hecatomb
      on board, and let us send Chryseis also; further, let some chief
      man among us be in command, either Ajax, or Idomeneus, or
      yourself, son of Peleus, mighty warrior that you are, that we may
      offer sacrifice and appease the anger of the god.”

      Achilles scowled at him and answered, “You are steeped in
      insolence and lust of gain. With what heart can any of the
      Achaeans do your bidding, either on foray or in open fighting? I
      came not warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me. I have
      no quarrel with them. They have not raided my cattle nor my
      horses, nor cut down my harvests on the rich plains of Phthia;
      for between me and them there is a great space, both mountain and
      sounding sea. We have followed you, Sir Insolence! for your
      pleasure, not ours—to gain satisfaction from the Trojans for your
      shameless self and for Menelaus. You forget this, and threaten to
      rob me of the prize for which I have toiled, and which the sons
      of the Achaeans have given me. Never when the Achaeans sack any
      rich city of the Trojans do I receive so good a prize as you do,
      though it is my hands that do the better part of the fighting.
      When the sharing comes, your share is far the largest, and I,
      forsooth, must go back to my ships, take what I can get and be
      thankful, when my labour of fighting is done. Now, therefore, I
      shall go back to Phthia; it will be much better for me to return
      home with my ships, for I will not stay here dishonoured to
      gather gold and substance for you.”

      And Agamemnon answered, “Fly if you will, I shall make you no
      prayers to stay you. I have others here who will do me honour,
      and above all Jove, the lord of counsel. There is no king here so
      hateful to me as you are, for you are ever quarrelsome and
      ill-affected. What though you be brave? Was it not heaven that
      made you so? Go home, then, with your ships and comrades to lord
      it over the Myrmidons. I care neither for you nor for your anger;
      and thus will I do: since Phoebus Apollo is taking Chryseis from
      me, I shall send her with my ship and my followers, but I shall
      come to your tent and take your own prize Briseis, that you may
      learn how much stronger I am than you are, and that another may
      fear to set himself up as equal or comparable with me.”

      The son of Peleus was furious, and his heart within his shaggy
      breast was divided whether to draw his sword, push the others
      aside, and kill the son of Atreus, or to restrain himself and
      check his anger. While he was thus in two minds, and was drawing
      his mighty sword from its scabbard, Minerva came down from heaven
      (for Juno had sent her in the love she bore to them both), and
      seized the son of Peleus by his yellow hair, visible to him
      alone, for of the others no man could see her. Achilles turned in
      amaze, and by the fire that flashed from her eyes at once knew
      that she was Minerva. “Why are you here,” said he, “daughter of
      aegis-bearing Jove? To see the pride of Agamemnon, son of Atreus?
      Let me tell you—and it shall surely be—he shall pay for this
      insolence with his life.”

      And Minerva said, “I come from heaven, if you will hear me, to
      bid you stay your anger. Juno has sent me, who cares for both of
      you alike. Cease, then, this brawling, and do not draw your
      sword; rail at him if you will, and your railing will not be
      vain, for I tell you—and it shall surely be—that you shall
      hereafter receive gifts three times as splendid by reason of this
      present insult. Hold, therefore, and obey.”

      “Goddess,” answered Achilles, “however angry a man may be, he
      must do as you two command him. This will be best, for the gods
      ever hear the prayers of him who has obeyed them.”

      He stayed his hand on the silver hilt of his sword, and thrust it
      back into the scabbard as Minerva bade him. Then she went back to
      Olympus among the other gods, and to the house of aegis-bearing
      Jove.

      But the son of Peleus again began railing at the son of Atreus,
      for he was still in a rage. “Wine-bibber,” he cried, “with the
      face of a dog and the heart of a hind, you never dare to go out
      with the host in fight, nor yet with our chosen men in ambuscade.
      You shun this as you do death itself. You had rather go round and
      rob his prizes from any man who contradicts you. You devour your
      people, for you are king over a feeble folk; otherwise, son of
      Atreus, henceforward you would insult no man. Therefore I say,
      and swear it with a great oath—nay, by this my sceptre which
      shalt sprout neither leaf nor shoot, nor bud anew from the day on
      which it left its parent stem upon the mountains—for the axe
      stripped it of leaf and bark, and now the sons of the Achaeans
      bear it as judges and guardians of the decrees of heaven—so
      surely and solemnly do I swear that hereafter they shall look
      fondly for Achilles and shall not find him. In the day of your
      distress, when your men fall dying by the murderous hand of
      Hector, you shall not know how to help them, and shall rend your
      heart with rage for the hour when you offered insult to the
      bravest of the Achaeans.”

      With this the son of Peleus dashed his gold-bestudded sceptre on
      the ground and took his seat, while the son of Atreus was
      beginning fiercely from his place upon the other side. Then
      uprose smooth-tongued Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pylians,
      and the words fell from his lips sweeter than honey. Two
      generations of men born and bred in Pylos had passed away under
      his rule, and he was now reigning over the third. With all
      sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:—

      “Of a truth,” he said, “a great sorrow has befallen the Achaean
      land. Surely Priam with his sons would rejoice, and the Trojans
      be glad at heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two,
      who are so excellent in fight and counsel. I am older than either
      of you; therefore be guided by me. Moreover I have been the
      familiar friend of men even greater than you are, and they did
      not disregard my counsels. Never again can I behold such men as
      Pirithous and Dryas shepherd of his people, or as Caeneus,
      Exadius, godlike Polyphemus, and Theseus son of Aegeus, peer of
      the immortals. These were the mightiest men ever born upon this
      earth: mightiest were they, and when they fought the fiercest
      tribes of mountain savages they utterly overthrew them. I came
      from distant Pylos, and went about among them, for they would
      have me come, and I fought as it was in me to do. Not a man now
      living could withstand them, but they heard my words, and were
      persuaded by them. So be it also with yourselves, for this is the
      more excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon, though you be strong,
      take not this girl away, for the sons of the Achaeans have
      already given her to Achilles; and you, Achilles, strive not
      further with the king, for no man who by the grace of Jove wields
      a sceptre has like honour with Agamemnon. You are strong, and
      have a goddess for your mother; but Agamemnon is stronger than
      you, for he has more people under him. Son of Atreus, check your
      anger, I implore you; end this quarrel with Achilles, who in the
      day of battle is a tower of strength to the Achaeans.”

      And Agamemnon answered, “Sir, all that you have said is true, but
      this fellow must needs become our lord and master: he must be
      lord of all, king of all, and captain of all, and this shall
      hardly be. Granted that the gods have made him a great warrior,
      have they also given him the right to speak with railing?”

      Achilles interrupted him. “I should be a mean coward,” he cried,
      “were I to give in to you in all things. Order other people
      about, not me, for I shall obey no longer. Furthermore I say—and
      lay my saying to your heart—I shall fight neither you nor any man
      about this girl, for those that take were those also that gave.
      But of all else that is at my ship you shall carry away nothing
      by force. Try, that others may see; if you do, my spear shall be
      reddened with your blood.”

      When they had quarrelled thus angrily, they rose, and broke up
      the assembly at the ships of the Achaeans. The son of Peleus went
      back to his tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his
      company, while Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose a
      crew of twenty oarsmen. He escorted Chryseis on board and sent
      moreover a hecatomb for the god. And Ulysses went as captain.

      These, then, went on board and sailed their ways over the sea.
      But the son of Atreus bade the people purify themselves; so they
      purified themselves and cast their filth into the sea. Then they
      offered hecatombs of bulls and goats without blemish on the
      sea-shore, and the smoke with the savour of their sacrifice rose
      curling up towards heaven.

      Thus did they busy themselves throughout the host. But Agamemnon
      did not forget the threat that he had made Achilles, and called
      his trusty messengers and squires Talthybius and Eurybates. “Go,”
      said he, “to the tent of Achilles, son of Peleus; take Briseis by
      the hand and bring her hither; if he will not give her I shall
      come with others and take her—which will press him harder.”

      He charged them straightly further and dismissed them, whereon
      they went their way sorrowfully by the seaside, till they came to
      the tents and ships of the Myrmidons. They found Achilles sitting
      by his tent and his ships, and ill-pleased he was when he beheld
      them. They stood fearfully and reverently before him, and never a
      word did they speak, but he knew them and said, “Welcome,
      heralds, messengers of gods and men; draw near; my quarrel is not
      with you but with Agamemnon who has sent you for the girl
      Briseis. Therefore, Patroclus, bring her and give her to them,
      but let them be witnesses by the blessed gods, by mortal men, and
      by the fierceness of Agamemnon’s anger, that if ever again there
      be need of me to save the people from ruin, they shall seek and
      they shall not find. Agamemnon is mad with rage and knows not how
      to look before and after that the Achaeans may fight by their
      ships in safety.”

      Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him. He brought
      Briseis from the tent and gave her over to the heralds, who took
      her with them to the ships of the Achaeans—and the woman was loth
      to go. Then Achilles went all alone by the side of the hoar sea,
      weeping and looking out upon the boundless waste of waters. He
      raised his hands in prayer to his immortal mother, “Mother,” he
      cried, “you bore me doomed to live but for a little season;
      surely Jove, who thunders from Olympus, might have made that
      little glorious. It is not so. Agamemnon, son of Atreus, has done
      me dishonour, and has robbed me of my prize by force.”

      As he spoke he wept aloud, and his mother heard him where she was
      sitting in the depths of the sea hard by the old man her father.
      Forthwith she rose as it were a grey mist out of the waves, sat
      down before him as he stood weeping, caressed him with her hand,
      and said, “My son, why are you weeping? What is it that grieves
      you? Keep it not from me, but tell me, that we may know it
      together.”

      Achilles drew a deep sigh and said, “You know it; why tell you
      what you know well already? We went to Thebe the strong city of
      Eetion, sacked it, and brought hither the spoil. The sons of the
      Achaeans shared it duly among themselves, and chose lovely
      Chryseis as the meed of Agamemnon; but Chryses, priest of Apollo,
      came to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and
      brought with him a great ransom: moreover he bore in his hand the
      sceptre of Apollo, wreathed with a suppliant’s wreath, and he
      besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus who
      were their chiefs.

      “On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for
      respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered; but
      not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly
      away. So he went back in anger, and Apollo, who loved him dearly,
      heard his prayer. Then the god sent a deadly dart upon the
      Argives, and the people died thick on one another, for the arrows
      went everywhither among the wide host of the Achaeans. At last a
      seer in the fulness of his knowledge declared to us the oracles
      of Apollo, and I was myself first to say that we should appease
      him. Whereon the son of Atreus rose in anger, and threatened that
      which he has since done. The Achaeans are now taking the girl in
      a ship to Chryse, and sending gifts of sacrifice to the god; but
      the heralds have just taken from my tent the daughter of Briseus,
      whom the Achaeans had awarded to myself.

      “Help your brave son, therefore, if you are able. Go to Olympus,
      and if you have ever done him service in word or deed, implore
      the aid of Jove. Ofttimes in my father’s house have I heard you
      glory in that you alone of the immortals saved the son of Saturn
      from ruin, when the others, with Juno, Neptune, and Pallas
      Minerva would have put him in bonds. It was you, goddess, who
      delivered him by calling to Olympus the hundred-handed monster
      whom gods call Briareus, but men Aegaeon, for he is stronger even
      than his father; when therefore he took his seat all-glorious
      beside the son of Saturn, the other gods were afraid, and did not
      bind him. Go, then, to him, remind him of all this, clasp his
      knees, and bid him give succour to the Trojans. Let the Achaeans
      be hemmed in at the sterns of their ships, and perish on the
      sea-shore, that they may reap what joy they may of their king,
      and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult to
      the foremost of the Achaeans.”

      Thetis wept and answered, “My son, woe is me that I should have
      borne or suckled you. Would indeed that you had lived your span
      free from all sorrow at your ships, for it is all too brief;
      alas, that you should be at once short of life and long of sorrow
      above your peers: woe, therefore, was the hour in which I bore
      you; nevertheless I will go to the snowy heights of Olympus, and
      tell this tale to Jove, if he will hear our prayer: meanwhile
      stay where you are with your ships, nurse your anger against the
      Achaeans, and hold aloof from fight. For Jove went yesterday to
      Oceanus, to a feast among the Ethiopians, and the other gods went
      with him. He will return to Olympus twelve days hence; I will
      then go to his mansion paved with bronze and will beseech him;
      nor do I doubt that I shall be able to persuade him.”

      On this she left him, still furious at the loss of her that had
      been taken from him. Meanwhile Ulysses reached Chryse with the
      hecatomb. When they had come inside the harbour they furled the
      sails and laid them in the ship’s hold; they slackened the
      forestays, lowered the mast into its place, and rowed the ship to
      the place where they would have her lie; there they cast out
      their mooring-stones and made fast the hawsers. They then got out
      upon the sea-shore and landed the hecatomb for Apollo; Chryseis
      also left the ship, and Ulysses led her to the altar to deliver
      her into the hands of her father. “Chryses,” said he, “King
      Agamemnon has sent me to bring you back your child, and to offer
      sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaans, that we may
      propitiate the god, who has now brought sorrow upon the Argives.”

      So saying he gave the girl over to her father, who received her
      gladly, and they ranged the holy hecatomb all orderly round the
      altar of the god. They washed their hands and took up the
      barley-meal to sprinkle over the victims, while Chryses lifted up
      his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf. “Hear me,” he cried,
      “O god of the silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla,
      and rulest Tenedos with thy might. Even as thou didst hear me
      aforetime when I prayed, and didst press hardly upon the
      Achaeans, so hear me yet again, and stay this fearful pestilence
      from the Danaans.”

      Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. When they had done
      praying and sprinkling the barley-meal, they drew back the heads
      of the victims and killed and flayed them. They cut out the
      thigh-bones, wrapped them round in two layers of fat, set some
      pieces of raw meat on the top of them, and then Chryses laid them
      on the wood fire and poured wine over them, while the young men
      stood near him with five-pronged spits in their hands. When the
      thigh-bones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats,
      they cut the rest up small, put the pieces upon the spits,
      roasted them till they were done, and drew them off: then, when
      they had finished their work and the feast was ready, they ate
      it, and every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied.
      As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, pages filled the
      mixing-bowl with wine and water and handed it round, after giving
      every man his drink-offering.

      Thus all day long the young men worshipped the god with song,
      hymning him and chaunting the joyous paean, and the god took
      pleasure in their voices; but when the sun went down, and it came
      on dark, they laid themselves down to sleep by the stern cables
      of the ship, and when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn,
      appeared they again set sail for the host of the Achaeans. Apollo
      sent them a fair wind, so they raised their mast and hoisted
      their white sails aloft. As the sail bellied with the wind the
      ship flew through the deep blue water, and the foam hissed
      against her bows as she sped onward. When they reached the
      wide-stretching host of the Achaeans, they drew the vessel
      ashore, high and dry upon the sands, set her strong props beneath
      her, and went their ways to their own tents and ships.

      But Achilles abode at his ships and nursed his anger. He went not
      to the honourable assembly, and sallied not forth to fight, but
      gnawed at his own heart, pining for battle and the war-cry.

      Now after twelve days the immortal gods came back in a body to
      Olympus, and Jove led the way. Thetis was not unmindful of the
      charge her son had laid upon her, so she rose from under the sea
      and went through great heaven with early morning to Olympus,
      where she found the mighty son of Saturn sitting all alone upon
      its topmost ridges. She sat herself down before him, and with her
      left hand seized his knees, while with her right she caught him
      under the chin, and besought him, saying:—

      “Father Jove, if I ever did you service in word or deed among the
      immortals, hear my prayer, and do honour to my son, whose life is
      to be cut short so early. King Agamemnon has dishonoured him by
      taking his prize and keeping her. Honour him then yourself,
      Olympian lord of counsel, and grant victory to the Trojans, till
      the Achaeans give my son his due and load him with riches in
      requital.”

      Jove sat for a while silent, and without a word, but Thetis still
      kept firm hold of his knees, and besought him a second time.
      “Incline your head,” said she, “and promise me surely, or else
      deny me—for you have nothing to fear—that I may learn how greatly
      you disdain me.”

      At this Jove was much troubled and answered, “I shall have
      trouble if you set me quarrelling with Juno, for she will provoke
      me with her taunting speeches; even now she is always railing at
      me before the other gods and accusing me of giving aid to the
      Trojans. Go back now, lest she should find out. I will consider
      the matter, and will bring it about as you wish. See, I incline
      my head that you may believe me. This is the most solemn promise
      that I can give to any god. I never recall my word, or deceive,
      or fail to do what I say, when I have nodded my head.”

      As he spoke the son of Saturn bowed his dark brows, and the
      ambrosial locks swayed on his immortal head, till vast Olympus
      reeled.

      When the pair had thus laid their plans, they parted—Jove to his
      house, while the goddess quitted the splendour of Olympus, and
      plunged into the depths of the sea. The gods rose from their
      seats, before the coming of their sire. Not one of them dared to
      remain sitting, but all stood up as he came among them. There,
      then, he took his seat. But Juno, when she saw him, knew that he
      and the old merman’s daughter, silver-footed Thetis, had been
      hatching mischief, so she at once began to upbraid him.
      “Trickster,” she cried, “which of the gods have you been taking
      into your counsels now? You are always settling matters in secret
      behind my back, and have never yet told me, if you could help it,
      one word of your intentions.”

      “Juno,” replied the sire of gods and men, “you must not expect to
      be informed of all my counsels. You are my wife, but you would
      find it hard to understand them. When it is proper for you to
      hear, there is no one, god or man, who will be told sooner, but
      when I mean to keep a matter to myself, you must not pry nor ask
      questions.”

      “Dread son of Saturn,” answered Juno, “what are you talking
      about? I? Pry and ask questions? Never. I let you have your own
      way in everything. Still, I have a strong misgiving that the old
      merman’s daughter Thetis has been talking you over, for she was
      with you and had hold of your knees this self-same morning. I
      believe, therefore, that you have been promising her to give
      glory to Achilles, and to kill much people at the ships of the
      Achaeans.”

      “Wife,” said Jove, “I can do nothing but you suspect me and find
      it out. You will take nothing by it, for I shall only dislike you
      the more, and it will go harder with you. Granted that it is as
      you say; I mean to have it so; sit down and hold your tongue as I
      bid you for if I once begin to lay my hands about you, though all
      heaven were on your side it would profit you nothing.”

      On this Juno was frightened, so she curbed her stubborn will and
      sat down in silence. But the heavenly beings were disquieted
      throughout the house of Jove, till the cunning workman Vulcan
      began to try and pacify his mother Juno. “It will be
      intolerable,” said he, “if you two fall to wrangling and setting
      heaven in an uproar about a pack of mortals. If such ill counsels
      are to prevail, we shall have no pleasure at our banquet. Let me
      then advise my mother—and she must herself know that it will be
      better—to make friends with my dear father Jove, lest he again
      scold her and disturb our feast. If the Olympian Thunderer wants
      to hurl us all from our seats, he can do so, for he is far the
      strongest, so give him fair words, and he will then soon be in a
      good humour with us.”

      As he spoke, he took a double cup of nectar, and placed it in his
      mother’s hand. “Cheer up, my dear mother,” said he, “and make the
      best of it. I love you dearly, and should be very sorry to see
      you get a thrashing; however grieved I might be, I could not
      help, for there is no standing against Jove. Once before when I
      was trying to help you, he caught me by the foot and flung me
      from the heavenly threshold. All day long from morn till eve, was
      I falling, till at sunset I came to ground in the island of
      Lemnos, and there I lay, with very little life left in me, till
      the Sintians came and tended me.”

      Juno smiled at this, and as she smiled she took the cup from her
      son’s hands. Then Vulcan drew sweet nectar from the mixing-bowl,
      and served it round among the gods, going from left to right; and
      the blessed gods laughed out a loud applause as they saw him
      bustling about the heavenly mansion.

      Thus through the livelong day to the going down of the sun they
      feasted, and every one had his full share, so that all were
      satisfied. Apollo struck his lyre, and the Muses lifted up their
      sweet voices, calling and answering one another. But when the
      sun’s glorious light had faded, they went home to bed, each in
      his own abode, which lame Vulcan with his consummate skill had
      fashioned for them. So Jove, the Olympian Lord of Thunder, hied
      him to the bed in which he always slept; and when he had got on
      to it he went to sleep, with Juno of the golden throne by his
      side.


1  μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
2  οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρίʼ Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγεʼ ἔθηκε,
3  πολλὰς δʼ ἰφθίμους ψυχὰς Ἄϊδι προΐαψεν
4  ἡρώων, αὐτοὺς δὲ ἑλώρια τεῦχε κύνεσσιν
5  οἰωνοῖσί τε πᾶσι, Διὸς δʼ ἐτελείετο βουλή,
6  ἐξ οὗ δὴ τὰ πρῶτα διαστήτην ἐρίσαντε
7  Ἀτρεΐδης τε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
8  τίς τʼ ἄρ σφωε θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι;
9  Λητοῦς καὶ Διὸς υἱός· ὃ γὰρ βασιλῆϊ χολωθεὶς
10  νοῦσον ἀνὰ στρατὸν ὄρσε κακήν, ὀλέκοντο δὲ λαοί,
11  οὕνεκα τὸν Χρύσην ἠτίμασεν ἀρητῆρα
12  Ἀτρεΐδης· ὃ γὰρ ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
13  λυσόμενός τε θύγατρα φέρων τʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα,
14  στέμματʼ ἔχων ἐν χερσὶν ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος
15  χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ, καὶ λίσσετο πάντας Ἀχαιούς,
16  Ἀτρεΐδα δὲ μάλιστα δύω, κοσμήτορε λαῶν·
17  Ἀτρεΐδαι τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί,
18  ὑμῖν μὲν θεοὶ δοῖεν Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες
19  ἐκπέρσαι Πριάμοιο πόλιν, εὖ δʼ οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι·
20  παῖδα δʼ ἐμοὶ λύσαιτε φίλην, τὰ δʼ ἄποινα δέχεσθαι,
21  ἁζόμενοι Διὸς υἱὸν ἑκηβόλον Ἀπόλλωνα.
22  ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ
23  αἰδεῖσθαί θʼ ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα·
24  ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἥνδανε θυμῷ,
25  ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δʼ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε·
26  μή σε γέρον κοίλῃσιν ἐγὼ παρὰ νηυσὶ κιχείω
27  ἢ νῦν δηθύνοντʼ ἢ ὕστερον αὖτις ἰόντα,
28  μή νύ τοι οὐ χραίσμῃ σκῆπτρον καὶ στέμμα θεοῖο·
29  τὴν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐ λύσω· πρίν μιν καὶ γῆρας ἔπεισιν
30  ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ ἐν Ἄργεϊ τηλόθι πάτρης
31  ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένην καὶ ἐμὸν λέχος ἀντιόωσαν·
32  ἀλλʼ ἴθι μή μʼ ἐρέθιζε σαώτερος ὥς κε νέηαι.
33  ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δʼ ὃ γέρων καὶ ἐπείθετο μύθῳ·
34  βῆ δʼ ἀκέων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης·
35  πολλὰ δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἠρᾶθʼ ὁ γεραιὸς
36  Ἀπόλλωνι ἄνακτι, τὸν ἠΰκομος τέκε Λητώ·
37  κλῦθί μευ ἀργυρότοξʼ, ὃς Χρύσην ἀμφιβέβηκας
38  Κίλλαν τε ζαθέην Τενέδοιό τε ἶφι ἀνάσσεις,
39  Σμινθεῦ εἴ ποτέ τοι χαρίεντʼ ἐπὶ νηὸν ἔρεψα,
40  ἢ εἰ δή ποτέ τοι κατὰ πίονα μηρίʼ ἔκηα
41  ταύρων ἠδʼ αἰγῶν, τὸ δέ μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·
42  τίσειαν Δαναοὶ ἐμὰ δάκρυα σοῖσι βέλεσσιν.
43  ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
44  βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων χωόμενος κῆρ,
45  τόξʼ ὤμοισιν ἔχων ἀμφηρεφέα τε φαρέτρην·
46  ἔκλαγξαν δʼ ἄρʼ ὀϊστοὶ ἐπʼ ὤμων χωομένοιο,
47  αὐτοῦ κινηθέντος· ὃ δʼ ἤϊε νυκτὶ ἐοικώς.
48  ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπάνευθε νεῶν, μετὰ δʼ ἰὸν ἕηκε·
49  δεινὴ δὲ κλαγγὴ γένετʼ ἀργυρέοιο βιοῖο·
50  οὐρῆας μὲν πρῶτον ἐπῴχετο καὶ κύνας ἀργούς,
51  αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ αὐτοῖσι βέλος ἐχεπευκὲς ἐφιεὶς
52  βάλλʼ· αἰεὶ δὲ πυραὶ νεκύων καίοντο θαμειαί.
53  ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ἀνὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο κῆλα θεοῖο,
54  τῇ δεκάτῃ δʼ ἀγορὴν δὲ καλέσσατο λαὸν Ἀχιλλεύς·
55  τῷ γὰρ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη·
56  κήδετο γὰρ Δαναῶν, ὅτι ῥα θνήσκοντας ὁρᾶτο.
57  οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τε γένοντο,
58  τοῖσι δʼ ἀνιστάμενος μετέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
59  Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν ἄμμε παλιμπλαγχθέντας ὀΐω
60  ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἴ κεν θάνατόν γε φύγοιμεν,
61  εἰ δὴ ὁμοῦ πόλεμός τε δαμᾷ καὶ λοιμὸς Ἀχαιούς·
62  ἀλλʼ ἄγε δή τινα μάντιν ἐρείομεν ἢ ἱερῆα
63  ἢ καὶ ὀνειροπόλον, καὶ γάρ τʼ ὄναρ ἐκ Διός ἐστιν,
64  ὅς κʼ εἴποι ὅ τι τόσσον ἐχώσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
65  εἴτʼ ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται ἠδʼ ἑκατόμβης,
66  αἴ κέν πως ἀρνῶν κνίσης αἰγῶν τε τελείων
67  βούλεται ἀντιάσας ἡμῖν ἀπὸ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι.
68  ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη
69  Κάλχας Θεστορίδης οἰωνοπόλων ὄχʼ ἄριστος,
70  ὃς ᾔδη τά τʼ ἐόντα τά τʼ ἐσσόμενα πρό τʼ ἐόντα,
71  καὶ νήεσσʼ ἡγήσατʼ Ἀχαιῶν Ἴλιον εἴσω
72  ἣν διὰ μαντοσύνην, τήν οἱ πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·
73  ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
74  ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ κέλεαί με Διῒ φίλε μυθήσασθαι
75  μῆνιν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκατηβελέταο ἄνακτος·
76  τοὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω· σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μοι ὄμοσσον
77  ἦ μέν μοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν·
78  ἦ γὰρ ὀΐομαι ἄνδρα χολωσέμεν, ὃς μέγα πάντων
79  Ἀργείων κρατέει καί οἱ πείθονται Ἀχαιοί·
80  κρείσσων γὰρ βασιλεὺς ὅτε χώσεται ἀνδρὶ χέρηϊ·
81  εἴ περ γάρ τε χόλον γε καὶ αὐτῆμαρ καταπέψῃ,
82  ἀλλά τε καὶ μετόπισθεν ἔχει κότον, ὄφρα τελέσσῃ,
83  ἐν στήθεσσιν ἑοῖσι· σὺ δὲ φράσαι εἴ με σαώσεις.
84  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
85  θαρσήσας μάλα εἰπὲ θεοπρόπιον ὅ τι οἶσθα·
86  οὐ μὰ γὰρ Ἀπόλλωνα Διῒ φίλον, ᾧ τε σὺ Κάλχαν
87  εὐχόμενος Δαναοῖσι θεοπροπίας ἀναφαίνεις,
88  οὔ τις ἐμεῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο
89  σοὶ κοίλῃς παρὰ νηυσί βαρείας χεῖρας ἐποίσει
90  συμπάντων Δαναῶν, οὐδʼ ἢν Ἀγαμέμνονα εἴπῃς,
91  ὃς νῦν πολλὸν ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν εὔχεται εἶναι.
92  καὶ τότε δὴ θάρσησε καὶ ηὔδα μάντις ἀμύμων·
93  οὔ τʼ ἄρ ὅ γʼ εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται οὐδʼ ἑκατόμβης,
94  ἀλλʼ ἕνεκʼ ἀρητῆρος ὃν ἠτίμησʼ Ἀγαμέμνων,
95  οὐδʼ ἀπέλυσε θύγατρα καὶ οὐκ ἀπεδέξατʼ ἄποινα,
96  τοὔνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἄλγεʼ ἔδωκεν ἑκηβόλος ἠδʼ ἔτι δώσει·
97  οὐδʼ ὅ γε πρὶν Δαναοῖσιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀπώσει
98  πρίν γʼ ἀπὸ πατρὶ φίλῳ δόμεναι ἑλικώπιδα κούρην
99  ἀπριάτην ἀνάποινον, ἄγειν θʼ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην
100  ἐς Χρύσην· τότε κέν μιν ἱλασσάμενοι πεπίθοιμεν.
101  ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη
102  ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
103  ἀχνύμενος· μένεος δὲ μέγα φρένες ἀμφιμέλαιναι
104  πίμπλαντʼ, ὄσσε δέ οἱ πυρὶ λαμπετόωντι ἐΐκτην·
105  Κάλχαντα πρώτιστα κάκʼ ὀσσόμενος προσέειπε·
106  μάντι κακῶν οὐ πώ ποτέ μοι τὸ κρήγυον εἶπας·
107  αἰεί τοι τὰ κάκʼ ἐστὶ φίλα φρεσὶ μαντεύεσθαι,
108  ἐσθλὸν δʼ οὔτέ τί πω εἶπας ἔπος οὔτʼ ἐτέλεσσας·
109  καὶ νῦν ἐν Δαναοῖσι θεοπροπέων ἀγορεύεις
110  ὡς δὴ τοῦδʼ ἕνεκά σφιν ἑκηβόλος ἄλγεα τεύχει,
111  οὕνεκʼ ἐγὼ κούρης Χρυσηΐδος ἀγλάʼ ἄποινα
112  οὐκ ἔθελον δέξασθαι, ἐπεὶ πολὺ βούλομαι αὐτὴν
113  οἴκοι ἔχειν· καὶ γάρ ῥα Κλυταιμνήστρης προβέβουλα
114  κουριδίης ἀλόχου, ἐπεὶ οὔ ἑθέν ἐστι χερείων,
115  οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, οὔτʼ ἂρ φρένας οὔτέ τι ἔργα.
116  ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἐθέλω δόμεναι πάλιν εἰ τό γʼ ἄμεινον·
117  βούλομʼ ἐγὼ λαὸν σῶν ἔμμεναι ἢ ἀπολέσθαι·
118  αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ γέρας αὐτίχʼ ἑτοιμάσατʼ ὄφρα μὴ οἶος
119  Ἀργείων ἀγέραστος ἔω, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε·
120  λεύσσετε γὰρ τό γε πάντες ὅ μοι γέρας ἔρχεται ἄλλῃ.
121  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
122  Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε φιλοκτεανώτατε πάντων,
123  πῶς γάρ τοι δώσουσι γέρας μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοί;
124  οὐδέ τί που ἴδμεν ξυνήϊα κείμενα πολλά·
125  ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν πολίων ἐξεπράθομεν, τὰ δέδασται,
126  λαοὺς δʼ οὐκ ἐπέοικε παλίλλογα ταῦτʼ ἐπαγείρειν.
127  ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν τήνδε θεῷ πρόες· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
128  τριπλῇ τετραπλῇ τʼ ἀποτείσομεν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς
129  δῷσι πόλιν Τροίην εὐτείχεον ἐξαλαπάξαι.
130  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
131  μὴ δʼ οὕτως ἀγαθός περ ἐὼν θεοείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ
132  κλέπτε νόῳ, ἐπεὶ οὐ παρελεύσεαι οὐδέ με πείσεις.
133  ἦ ἐθέλεις ὄφρʼ αὐτὸς ἔχῃς γέρας, αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ αὔτως
134  ἧσθαι δευόμενον, κέλεαι δέ με τήνδʼ ἀποδοῦναι;
135  ἀλλʼ εἰ μὲν δώσουσι γέρας μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοὶ
136  ἄρσαντες κατὰ θυμὸν ὅπως ἀντάξιον ἔσται·
137  εἰ δέ κε μὴ δώωσιν ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαι
138  ἢ τεὸν ἢ Αἴαντος ἰὼν γέρας, ἢ Ὀδυσῆος
139  ἄξω ἑλών· ὃ δέ κεν κεχολώσεται ὅν κεν ἵκωμαι.
140  ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα μεταφρασόμεσθα καὶ αὖτις,
141  νῦν δʼ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,
142  ἐν δʼ ἐρέτας ἐπιτηδὲς ἀγείρομεν, ἐς δʼ ἑκατόμβην
143  θείομεν, ἂν δʼ αὐτὴν Χρυσηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον
144  βήσομεν· εἷς δέ τις ἀρχὸς ἀνὴρ βουληφόρος ἔστω,
145  ἢ Αἴας ἢ Ἰδομενεὺς ἢ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
146  ἠὲ σὺ Πηλεΐδη πάντων ἐκπαγλότατʼ ἀνδρῶν,
147  ὄφρʼ ἥμιν ἑκάεργον ἱλάσσεαι ἱερὰ ῥέξας.
148  τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
149  ὤ μοι ἀναιδείην ἐπιειμένε κερδαλεόφρον
150  πῶς τίς τοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν πείθηται Ἀχαιῶν
151  ἢ ὁδὸν ἐλθέμεναι ἢ ἀνδράσιν ἶφι μάχεσθαι;
152  οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ Τρώων ἕνεκʼ ἤλυθον αἰχμητάων
153  δεῦρο μαχησόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ τί μοι αἴτιοί εἰσιν·
154  οὐ γὰρ πώποτʼ ἐμὰς βοῦς ἤλασαν οὐδὲ μὲν ἵππους,
155  οὐδέ ποτʼ ἐν Φθίῃ ἐριβώλακι βωτιανείρῃ
156  καρπὸν ἐδηλήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ μάλα πολλὰ μεταξὺ
157  οὔρεά τε σκιόεντα θάλασσά τε ἠχήεσσα·
158  ἀλλὰ σοὶ ὦ μέγʼ ἀναιδὲς ἅμʼ ἑσπόμεθʼ ὄφρα σὺ χαίρῃς,
159  τιμὴν ἀρνύμενοι Μενελάῳ σοί τε κυνῶπα
160  πρὸς Τρώων· τῶν οὔ τι μετατρέπῃ οὐδʼ ἀλεγίζεις·
161  καὶ δή μοι γέρας αὐτὸς ἀφαιρήσεσθαι ἀπειλεῖς,
162  ᾧ ἔπι πολλὰ μόγησα, δόσαν δέ μοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
163  οὐ μὲν σοί ποτε ἶσον ἔχω γέρας ὁππότʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
164  Τρώων ἐκπέρσωσʼ εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθρον·
165  ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν πλεῖον πολυάϊκος πολέμοιο
166  χεῖρες ἐμαὶ διέπουσʼ· ἀτὰρ ἤν ποτε δασμὸς ἵκηται,
167  σοὶ τὸ γέρας πολὺ μεῖζον, ἐγὼ δʼ ὀλίγον τε φίλον τε
168  ἔρχομʼ ἔχων ἐπὶ νῆας, ἐπεί κε κάμω πολεμίζων.
169  νῦν δʼ εἶμι Φθίην δʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστιν
170  οἴκαδʼ ἴμεν σὺν νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν, οὐδέ σʼ ὀΐω
171  ἐνθάδʼ ἄτιμος ἐὼν ἄφενος καὶ πλοῦτον ἀφύξειν.
172  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
173  φεῦγε μάλʼ εἴ τοι θυμὸς ἐπέσσυται, οὐδέ σʼ ἔγωγε
174  λίσσομαι εἵνεκʼ ἐμεῖο μένειν· πάρʼ ἔμοιγε καὶ ἄλλοι
175  οἵ κέ με τιμήσουσι, μάλιστα δὲ μητίετα Ζεύς.
176  ἔχθιστος δέ μοί ἐσσι διοτρεφέων βασιλήων·
177  αἰεὶ γάρ τοι ἔρις τε φίλη πόλεμοί τε μάχαι τε·
178  εἰ μάλα καρτερός ἐσσι, θεός που σοὶ τό γʼ ἔδωκεν·
179  οἴκαδʼ ἰὼν σὺν νηυσί τε σῇς καὶ σοῖς ἑτάροισι
180  Μυρμιδόνεσσιν ἄνασσε, σέθεν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἀλεγίζω,
181  οὐδʼ ὄθομαι κοτέοντος· ἀπειλήσω δέ τοι ὧδε·
182  ὡς ἔμʼ ἀφαιρεῖται Χρυσηΐδα Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
183  τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ σὺν νηΐ τʼ ἐμῇ καὶ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισι
184  πέμψω, ἐγὼ δέ κʼ ἄγω Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον
185  αὐτὸς ἰὼν κλισίην δὲ τὸ σὸν γέρας ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῇς
186  ὅσσον φέρτερός εἰμι σέθεν, στυγέῃ δὲ καὶ ἄλλος
187  ἶσον ἐμοὶ φάσθαι καὶ ὁμοιωθήμεναι ἄντην.
188  ὣς φάτο· Πηλεΐωνι δʼ ἄχος γένετʼ, ἐν δέ οἱ ἦτορ
189  στήθεσσιν λασίοισι διάνδιχα μερμήριξεν,
190  ἢ ὅ γε φάσγανον ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
191  τοὺς μὲν ἀναστήσειεν, ὃ δʼ Ἀτρεΐδην ἐναρίζοι,
192  ἦε χόλον παύσειεν ἐρητύσειέ τε θυμόν.
193  ἧος ὃ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
194  ἕλκετο δʼ ἐκ κολεοῖο μέγα ξίφος, ἦλθε δʼ Ἀθήνη
195  οὐρανόθεν· πρὸ γὰρ ἧκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη
196  ἄμφω ὁμῶς θυμῷ φιλέουσά τε κηδομένη τε·
197  στῆ δʼ ὄπιθεν, ξανθῆς δὲ κόμης ἕλε Πηλεΐωνα
198  οἴῳ φαινομένη· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ τις ὁρᾶτο·
199  θάμβησεν δʼ Ἀχιλεύς, μετὰ δʼ ἐτράπετʼ, αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνω
200  Παλλάδʼ Ἀθηναίην· δεινὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε φάανθεν·
201  καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
202  τίπτʼ αὖτʼ αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος εἰλήλουθας;
203  ἦ ἵνα ὕβριν ἴδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο;
204  ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τελέεσθαι ὀΐω·
205  ᾗς ὑπεροπλίῃσι τάχʼ ἄν ποτε θυμὸν ὀλέσσῃ.
206  τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
207  ἦλθον ἐγὼ παύσουσα τὸ σὸν μένος, αἴ κε πίθηαι,
208  οὐρανόθεν· πρὸ δέ μʼ ἧκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη
209  ἄμφω ὁμῶς θυμῷ φιλέουσά τε κηδομένη τε·
210  ἀλλʼ ἄγε λῆγʼ ἔριδος, μηδὲ ξίφος ἕλκεο χειρί·
211  ἀλλʼ ἤτοι ἔπεσιν μὲν ὀνείδισον ὡς ἔσεταί περ·
212  ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
213  καί ποτέ τοι τρὶς τόσσα παρέσσεται ἀγλαὰ δῶρα
214  ὕβριος εἵνεκα τῆσδε· σὺ δʼ ἴσχεο, πείθεο δʼ ἡμῖν.
215  τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
216  χρὴ μὲν σφωΐτερόν γε θεὰ ἔπος εἰρύσσασθαι
217  καὶ μάλα περ θυμῷ κεχολωμένον· ὧς γὰρ ἄμεινον·
218  ὅς κε θεοῖς ἐπιπείθηται μάλα τʼ ἔκλυον αὐτοῦ.
219  ἦ καὶ ἐπʼ ἀργυρέῃ κώπῃ σχέθε χεῖρα βαρεῖαν,
220  ἂψ δʼ ἐς κουλεὸν ὦσε μέγα ξίφος, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε
221  μύθῳ Ἀθηναίης· ἣ δʼ Οὔλυμπον δὲ βεβήκει
222  δώματʼ ἐς αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς μετὰ δαίμονας ἄλλους.
223  Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἐξαῦτις ἀταρτηροῖς ἐπέεσσιν
224  Ἀτρεΐδην προσέειπε, καὶ οὔ πω λῆγε χόλοιο·
225  οἰνοβαρές, κυνὸς ὄμματʼ ἔχων, κραδίην δʼ ἐλάφοιο,
226  οὔτέ ποτʼ ἐς πόλεμον ἅμα λαῷ θωρηχθῆναι
227  οὔτε λόχον δʼ ἰέναι σὺν ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν
228  τέτληκας θυμῷ· τὸ δέ τοι κὴρ εἴδεται εἶναι.
229  ἦ πολὺ λώϊόν ἐστι κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν
230  δῶρʼ ἀποαιρεῖσθαι ὅς τις σέθεν ἀντίον εἴπῃ·
231  δημοβόρος βασιλεὺς ἐπεὶ οὐτιδανοῖσιν ἀνάσσεις·
232  ἦ γὰρ ἂν Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν ὕστατα λωβήσαιο.
233  ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμοῦμαι·
234  ναὶ μὰ τόδε σκῆπτρον, τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτε φύλλα καὶ ὄζους
235  φύσει, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα τομὴν ἐν ὄρεσσι λέλοιπεν,
236  οὐδʼ ἀναθηλήσει· περὶ γάρ ῥά ἑ χαλκὸς ἔλεψε
237  φύλλά τε καὶ φλοιόν· νῦν αὖτέ μιν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
238  ἐν παλάμῃς φορέουσι δικασπόλοι, οἵ τε θέμιστας
239  πρὸς Διὸς εἰρύαται· ὃ δέ τοι μέγας ἔσσεται ὅρκος·
240  ἦ ποτʼ Ἀχιλλῆος ποθὴ ἵξεται υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
241  σύμπαντας· τότε δʼ οὔ τι δυνήσεαι ἀχνύμενός περ
242  χραισμεῖν, εὖτʼ ἂν πολλοὶ ὑφʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο
243  θνήσκοντες πίπτωσι· σὺ δʼ ἔνδοθι θυμὸν ἀμύξεις
244  χωόμενος ὅ τʼ ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισας.
245  ὣς φάτο Πηλεΐδης, ποτὶ δὲ σκῆπτρον βάλε γαίῃ
246  χρυσείοις ἥλοισι πεπαρμένον, ἕζετο δʼ αὐτός·
247  Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐμήνιε· τοῖσι δὲ Νέστωρ
248  ἡδυεπὴς ἀνόρουσε λιγὺς Πυλίων ἀγορητής,
249  τοῦ καὶ ἀπὸ γλώσσης μέλιτος γλυκίων ῥέεν αὐδή·
250  τῷ δʼ ἤδη δύο μὲν γενεαὶ μερόπων ἀνθρώπων
251  ἐφθίαθʼ, οἵ οἱ πρόσθεν ἅμα τράφεν ἠδʼ ἐγένοντο
252  ἐν Πύλῳ ἠγαθέῃ, μετὰ δὲ τριτάτοισιν ἄνασσεν·
253  ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
254  ὦ πόποι ἦ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν ἱκάνει·
255  ἦ κεν γηθήσαι Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες
256  ἄλλοι τε Τρῶες μέγα κεν κεχαροίατο θυμῷ
257  εἰ σφῶϊν τάδε πάντα πυθοίατο μαρναμένοιϊν,
258  οἳ περὶ μὲν βουλὴν Δαναῶν, περὶ δʼ ἐστὲ μάχεσθαι.
259  ἀλλὰ πίθεσθʼ· ἄμφω δὲ νεωτέρω ἐστὸν ἐμεῖο·
260  ἤδη γάρ ποτʼ ἐγὼ καὶ ἀρείοσιν ἠέ περ ὑμῖν
261  ἀνδράσιν ὡμίλησα, καὶ οὔ ποτέ μʼ οἵ γʼ ἀθέριζον.
262  οὐ γάρ πω τοίους ἴδον ἀνέρας οὐδὲ ἴδωμαι,
263  οἷον Πειρίθοόν τε Δρύαντά τε ποιμένα λαῶν
264  Καινέα τʼ Ἐξάδιόν τε καὶ ἀντίθεον Πολύφημον
265  Θησέα τʼ Αἰγεΐδην, ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν·
266  κάρτιστοι δὴ κεῖνοι ἐπιχθονίων τράφεν ἀνδρῶν·
267  κάρτιστοι μὲν ἔσαν καὶ καρτίστοις ἐμάχοντο
268  φηρσὶν ὀρεσκῴοισι καὶ ἐκπάγλως ἀπόλεσσαν.
269  καὶ μὲν τοῖσιν ἐγὼ μεθομίλεον ἐκ Πύλου ἐλθὼν
270  τηλόθεν ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης· καλέσαντο γὰρ αὐτοί·
271  καὶ μαχόμην κατʼ ἔμʼ αὐτὸν ἐγώ· κείνοισι δʼ ἂν οὔ τις
272  τῶν οἳ νῦν βροτοί εἰσιν ἐπιχθόνιοι μαχέοιτο·
273  καὶ μέν μευ βουλέων ξύνιεν πείθοντό τε μύθῳ·
274  ἀλλὰ πίθεσθε καὶ ὔμμες, ἐπεὶ πείθεσθαι ἄμεινον·
275  μήτε σὺ τόνδʼ ἀγαθός περ ἐὼν ἀποαίρεο κούρην,
276  ἀλλʼ ἔα ὥς οἱ πρῶτα δόσαν γέρας υἷες Ἀχαιῶν·
277  μήτε σὺ Πηλείδη ἔθελʼ ἐριζέμεναι βασιλῆϊ
278  ἀντιβίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ ποθʼ ὁμοίης ἔμμορε τιμῆς
279  σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, ᾧ τε Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκεν.
280  εἰ δὲ σὺ καρτερός ἐσσι θεὰ δέ σε γείνατο μήτηρ,
281  ἀλλʼ ὅ γε φέρτερός ἐστιν ἐπεὶ πλεόνεσσιν ἀνάσσει.
282  Ἀτρεΐδη σὺ δὲ παῦε τεὸν μένος· αὐτὰρ ἔγωγε
283  λίσσομʼ Ἀχιλλῆϊ μεθέμεν χόλον, ὃς μέγα πᾶσιν
284  ἕρκος Ἀχαιοῖσιν πέλεται πολέμοιο κακοῖο.
285  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
286  ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα γέρον κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·
287  ἀλλʼ ὅδʼ ἀνὴρ ἐθέλει περὶ πάντων ἔμμεναι ἄλλων,
288  πάντων μὲν κρατέειν ἐθέλει, πάντεσσι δʼ ἀνάσσειν,
289  πᾶσι δὲ σημαίνειν, ἅ τινʼ οὐ πείσεσθαι ὀΐω·
290  εἰ δέ μιν αἰχμητὴν ἔθεσαν θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες
291  τοὔνεκά οἱ προθέουσιν ὀνείδεα μυθήσασθαι;
292  τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑποβλήδην ἠμείβετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
293  ἦ γάρ κεν δειλός τε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς καλεοίμην
294  εἰ δὴ σοὶ πᾶν ἔργον ὑπείξομαι ὅττί κεν εἴπῃς·
295  ἄλλοισιν δὴ ταῦτʼ ἐπιτέλλεο, μὴ γὰρ ἔμοιγε
296  σήμαινʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγʼ ἔτι σοὶ πείσεσθαι ὀΐω.
297  ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσι·
298  χερσὶ μὲν οὔ τοι ἔγωγε μαχήσομαι εἵνεκα κούρης
299  οὔτε σοὶ οὔτέ τῳ ἄλλῳ, ἐπεί μʼ ἀφέλεσθέ γε δόντες·
300  τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ἅ μοί ἐστι θοῇ παρὰ νηῒ μελαίνῃ
301  τῶν οὐκ ἄν τι φέροις ἀνελὼν ἀέκοντος ἐμεῖο·
302  εἰ δʼ ἄγε μὴν πείρησαι ἵνα γνώωσι καὶ οἵδε·
303  αἶψά τοι αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐρωήσει περὶ δουρί.
304  ὣς τώ γʼ ἀντιβίοισι μαχεσσαμένω ἐπέεσσιν
305  ἀνστήτην, λῦσαν δʼ ἀγορὴν παρὰ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν·
306  Πηλεΐδης μὲν ἐπὶ κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἐΐσας
307  ἤϊε σύν τε Μενοιτιάδῃ καὶ οἷς ἑτάροισιν·
308  Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἄρα νῆα θοὴν ἅλα δὲ προέρυσσεν,
309  ἐν δʼ ἐρέτας ἔκρινεν ἐείκοσιν, ἐς δʼ ἑκατόμβην
310  βῆσε θεῷ, ἀνὰ δὲ Χρυσηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον
311  εἷσεν ἄγων· ἐν δʼ ἀρχὸς ἔβη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς.
312  οἳ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα,
313  λαοὺς δʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ἀπολυμαίνεσθαι ἄνωγεν·
314  οἳ δʼ ἀπελυμαίνοντο καὶ εἰς ἅλα λύματα βάλλον,
315  ἕρδον δʼ Ἀπόλλωνι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας
316  ταύρων ἠδʼ αἰγῶν παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο·
317  κνίση δʼ οὐρανὸν ἷκεν ἑλισσομένη περὶ καπνῷ.
318  ὣς οἳ μὲν τὰ πένοντο κατὰ στρατόν· οὐδʼ Ἀγαμέμνων
319  λῆγʼ ἔριδος τὴν πρῶτον ἐπηπείλησʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ,
320  ἀλλʼ ὅ γε Ταλθύβιόν τε καὶ Εὐρυβάτην προσέειπε,
321  τώ οἱ ἔσαν κήρυκε καὶ ὀτρηρὼ θεράποντε·
322  ἔρχεσθον κλισίην Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος·
323  χειρὸς ἑλόντʼ ἀγέμεν Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον·
324  εἰ δέ κε μὴ δώῃσιν ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαι
325  ἐλθὼν σὺν πλεόνεσσι· τό οἱ καὶ ῥίγιον ἔσται.
326  ὣς εἰπὼν προΐει, κρατερὸν δʼ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε·
327  τὼ δʼ ἀέκοντε βάτην παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο,
328  Μυρμιδόνων δʼ ἐπί τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἱκέσθην,
329  τὸν δʼ εὗρον παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ
330  ἥμενον· οὐδʼ ἄρα τώ γε ἰδὼν γήθησεν Ἀχιλλεύς.
331  τὼ μὲν ταρβήσαντε καὶ αἰδομένω βασιλῆα
332  στήτην, οὐδέ τί μιν προσεφώνεον οὐδʼ ἐρέοντο·
333  αὐτὰρ ὃ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φώνησέν τε·
334  χαίρετε κήρυκες Διὸς ἄγγελοι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν,
335  ἆσσον ἴτʼ· οὔ τί μοι ὔμμες ἐπαίτιοι ἀλλʼ Ἀγαμέμνων,
336  ὃ σφῶϊ προΐει Βρισηΐδος εἵνεκα κούρης.
337  ἀλλʼ ἄγε διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες ἔξαγε κούρην
338  καί σφωϊν δὸς ἄγειν· τὼ δʼ αὐτὼ μάρτυροι ἔστων
339  πρός τε θεῶν μακάρων πρός τε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων
340  καὶ πρὸς τοῦ βασιλῆος ἀπηνέος εἴ ποτε δʼ αὖτε
341  χρειὼ ἐμεῖο γένηται ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι
342  τοῖς ἄλλοις· ἦ γὰρ ὅ γʼ ὀλοιῇσι φρεσὶ θύει,
343  οὐδέ τι οἶδε νοῆσαι ἅμα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω,
344  ὅππως οἱ παρὰ νηυσὶ σόοι μαχέοιντο Ἀχαιοί.
345  ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθεθʼ ἑταίρῳ,
346  ἐκ δʼ ἄγαγε κλισίης Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον,
347  δῶκε δʼ ἄγειν· τὼ δʼ αὖτις ἴτην παρὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν·
348  ἣ δʼ ἀέκουσʼ ἅμα τοῖσι γυνὴ κίεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
349  δακρύσας ἑτάρων ἄφαρ ἕζετο νόσφι λιασθείς,
350  θῖνʼ ἔφʼ ἁλὸς πολιῆς, ὁρόων ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα πόντον·
351  πολλὰ δὲ μητρὶ φίλῃ ἠρήσατο χεῖρας ὀρεγνύς·
352  μῆτερ ἐπεί μʼ ἔτεκές γε μινυνθάδιόν περ ἐόντα,
353  τιμήν πέρ μοι ὄφελλεν Ὀλύμπιος ἐγγυαλίξαι
354  Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης· νῦν δʼ οὐδέ με τυτθὸν ἔτισεν·
355  ἦ γάρ μʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
356  ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.
357  ὣς φάτο δάκρυ χέων, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε πότνια μήτηρ
358  ἡμένη ἐν βένθεσσιν ἁλὸς παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντι·
359  καρπαλίμως δʼ ἀνέδυ πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἠΰτʼ ὀμίχλη,
360  καί ῥα πάροιθʼ αὐτοῖο καθέζετο δάκρυ χέοντος,
361  χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
362  τέκνον τί κλαίεις; τί δέ σε φρένας ἵκετο πένθος;
363  ἐξαύδα, μὴ κεῦθε νόῳ, ἵνα εἴδομεν ἄμφω.
364  τὴν δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
365  οἶσθα· τί ἤ τοι ταῦτα ἰδυίῃ πάντʼ ἀγορεύω;
366  ᾠχόμεθʼ ἐς Θήβην ἱερὴν πόλιν Ἠετίωνος,
367  τὴν δὲ διεπράθομέν τε καὶ ἤγομεν ἐνθάδε πάντα·
368  καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ δάσσαντο μετὰ σφίσιν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
369  ἐκ δʼ ἕλον Ἀτρεΐδῃ Χρυσηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον.
370  Χρύσης δʼ αὖθʼ ἱερεὺς ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος
371  ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
372  λυσόμενός τε θύγατρα φέρων τʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα,
373  στέμματʼ ἔχων ἐν χερσὶν ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος
374  χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ, καὶ λίσσετο πάντας Ἀχαιούς,
375  Ἀτρεΐδα δὲ μάλιστα δύω κοσμήτορε λαῶν.
376  ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ
377  αἰδεῖσθαί θʼ ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα·
378  ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἥνδανε θυμῷ,
379  ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δʼ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε·
380  χωόμενος δʼ ὁ γέρων πάλιν ᾤχετο· τοῖο δʼ Ἀπόλλων
381  εὐξαμένου ἤκουσεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα οἱ φίλος ἦεν,
382  ἧκε δʼ ἐπʼ Ἀργείοισι κακὸν βέλος· οἳ δέ νυ λαοὶ
383  θνῇσκον ἐπασσύτεροι, τὰ δʼ ἐπῴχετο κῆλα θεοῖο
384  πάντῃ ἀνὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν· ἄμμι δὲ μάντις
385  εὖ εἰδὼς ἀγόρευε θεοπροπίας ἑκάτοιο.
386  αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼ πρῶτος κελόμην θεὸν ἱλάσκεσθαι·
387  Ἀτρεΐωνα δʼ ἔπειτα χόλος λάβεν, αἶψα δʼ ἀναστὰς
388  ἠπείλησεν μῦθον ὃ δὴ τετελεσμένος ἐστί·
389  τὴν μὲν γὰρ σὺν νηῒ θοῇ ἑλίκωπες Ἀχαιοὶ
390  ἐς Χρύσην πέμπουσιν, ἄγουσι δὲ δῶρα ἄνακτι·
391  τὴν δὲ νέον κλισίηθεν ἔβαν κήρυκες ἄγοντες
392  κούρην Βρισῆος τήν μοι δόσαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
393  ἀλλὰ σὺ εἰ δύνασαί γε περίσχεο παιδὸς ἑῆος·
394  ἐλθοῦσʼ Οὔλυμπον δὲ Δία λίσαι, εἴ ποτε δή τι
395  ἢ ἔπει ὤνησας κραδίην Διὸς ἠὲ καὶ ἔργῳ.
396  πολλάκι γάρ σεο πατρὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄκουσα
397  εὐχομένης ὅτʼ ἔφησθα κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίωνι
398  οἴη ἐν ἀθανάτοισιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι,
399  ὁππότε μιν ξυνδῆσαι Ὀλύμπιοι ἤθελον ἄλλοι
400  Ἥρη τʼ ἠδὲ Ποσειδάων καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη·
401  ἀλλὰ σὺ τόν γʼ ἐλθοῦσα θεὰ ὑπελύσαο δεσμῶν,
402  ὦχʼ ἑκατόγχειρον καλέσασʼ ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,
403  ὃν Βριάρεων καλέουσι θεοί, ἄνδρες δέ τε πάντες
404  Αἰγαίωνʼ, ὃ γὰρ αὖτε βίην οὗ πατρὸς ἀμείνων·
405  ὅς ῥα παρὰ Κρονίωνι καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίων·
406  τὸν καὶ ὑπέδεισαν μάκαρες θεοὶ οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔδησαν.
407  τῶν νῦν μιν μνήσασα παρέζεο καὶ λαβὲ γούνων
408  αἴ κέν πως ἐθέλῃσιν ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρῆξαι,
409  τοὺς δὲ κατὰ πρύμνας τε καὶ ἀμφʼ ἅλα ἔλσαι Ἀχαιοὺς
410  κτεινομένους, ἵνα πάντες ἐπαύρωνται βασιλῆος,
411  γνῷ δὲ καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
412  ἣν ἄτην ὅ τʼ ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισεν.
413  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Θέτις κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα·
414  ὤ μοι τέκνον ἐμόν, τί νύ σʼ ἔτρεφον αἰνὰ τεκοῦσα;
415  αἴθʼ ὄφελες παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀδάκρυτος καὶ ἀπήμων
416  ἧσθαι, ἐπεί νύ τοι αἶσα μίνυνθά περ οὔ τι μάλα δήν·
417  νῦν δʼ ἅμα τʼ ὠκύμορος καὶ ὀϊζυρὸς περὶ πάντων
418  ἔπλεο· τώ σε κακῇ αἴσῃ τέκον ἐν μεγάροισι.
419  τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέουσα ἔπος Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
420  εἶμʼ αὐτὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἀγάννιφον αἴ κε πίθηται.
421  ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν νηυσὶ παρήμενος ὠκυπόροισι
422  μήνιʼ Ἀχαιοῖσιν, πολέμου δʼ ἀποπαύεο πάμπαν·
423  Ζεὺς γὰρ ἐς Ὠκεανὸν μετʼ ἀμύμονας Αἰθιοπῆας
424  χθιζὸς ἔβη κατὰ δαῖτα, θεοὶ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἕποντο·
425  δωδεκάτῃ δέ τοι αὖτις ἐλεύσεται Οὔλυμπον δέ,
426  καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτά τοι εἶμι Διὸς ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ,
427  καί μιν γουνάσομαι καί μιν πείσεσθαι ὀΐω.
428  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἀπεβήσετο, τὸν δὲ λίπʼ αὐτοῦ
429  χωόμενον κατὰ θυμὸν ἐϋζώνοιο γυναικὸς
430  τήν ῥα βίῃ ἀέκοντος ἀπηύρων· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
431  ἐς Χρύσην ἵκανεν ἄγων ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην.
432  οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντὸς ἵκοντο
433  ἱστία μὲν στείλαντο, θέσαν δʼ ἐν νηῒ μελαίνῃ,
434  ἱστὸν δʼ ἱστοδόκῃ πέλασαν προτόνοισιν ὑφέντες
435  καρπαλίμως, τὴν δʼ εἰς ὅρμον προέρεσσαν ἐρετμοῖς.
436  ἐκ δʼ εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔδησαν·
437  ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης,
438  ἐκ δʼ ἑκατόμβην βῆσαν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι·
439  ἐκ δὲ Χρυσηῒς νηὸς βῆ ποντοπόροιο.
440  τὴν μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ βωμὸν ἄγων πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεὺς
441  πατρὶ φίλῳ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει καί μιν προσέειπεν·
442  ὦ Χρύση, πρό μʼ ἔπεμψεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
443  παῖδά τε σοὶ ἀγέμεν, Φοίβῳ θʼ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην
444  ῥέξαι ὑπὲρ Δαναῶν ὄφρʼ ἱλασόμεσθα ἄνακτα,
445  ὃς νῦν Ἀργείοισι πολύστονα κήδεʼ ἐφῆκεν.
446  ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὃ δὲ δέξατο χαίρων
447  παῖδα φίλην· τοὶ δʼ ὦκα θεῷ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην
448  ἑξείης ἔστησαν ἐΰδμητον περὶ βωμόν,
449  χερνίψαντο δʼ ἔπειτα καὶ οὐλοχύτας ἀνέλοντο.
450  τοῖσιν δὲ Χρύσης μεγάλʼ εὔχετο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·
451  κλῦθί μευ ἀργυρότοξʼ, ὃς Χρύσην ἀμφιβέβηκας
452  Κίλλαν τε ζαθέην Τενέδοιό τε ἶφι ἀνάσσεις·
453  ἦ μὲν δή ποτʼ ἐμεῦ πάρος ἔκλυες εὐξαμένοιο,
454  τίμησας μὲν ἐμέ, μέγα δʼ ἴψαο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·
455  ἠδʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦν μοι τόδʼ ἐπικρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·
456  ἤδη νῦν Δαναοῖσιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἄμυνον.
457  ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.
458  αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο,
459  αὐέρυσαν μὲν πρῶτα καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν,
460  μηρούς τʼ ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν
461  δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπʼ αὐτῶν δʼ ὠμοθέτησαν·
462  καῖε δʼ ἐπὶ σχίζῃς ὁ γέρων, ἐπὶ δʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον
463  λεῖβε· νέοι δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν ἔχον πεμπώβολα χερσίν.
464  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρε κάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,
465  μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,
466  ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.
467  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα
468  δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.
469  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
470  κοῦροι μὲν κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,
471  νώμησαν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν·
472  οἳ δὲ πανημέριοι μολπῇ θεὸν ἱλάσκοντο
473  καλὸν ἀείδοντες παιήονα κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν
474  μέλποντες ἑκάεργον· ὃ δὲ φρένα τέρπετʼ ἀκούων.
475  ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,
476  δὴ τότε κοιμήσαντο παρὰ πρυμνήσια νηός·
477  ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
478  καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνάγοντο μετὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν·
479  τοῖσιν δʼ ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·
480  οἳ δʼ ἱστὸν στήσαντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν,
481  ἐν δʼ ἄνεμος πρῆσεν μέσον ἱστίον, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα
482  στείρῃ πορφύρεον μεγάλʼ ἴαχε νηὸς ἰούσης·
483  ἣ δʼ ἔθεεν κατὰ κῦμα διαπρήσσουσα κέλευθον.
484  αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκοντο κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν,
485  νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἐπʼ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν
486  ὑψοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ὑπὸ δʼ ἕρματα μακρὰ τάνυσσαν·
487  αὐτοὶ δʼ ἐσκίδναντο κατὰ κλισίας τε νέας τε.
488  αὐτὰρ ὃ μήνιε νηυσὶ παρήμενος ὠκυπόροισι
489  διογενὴς Πηλῆος υἱὸς πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
490  οὔτέ ποτʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν πωλέσκετο κυδιάνειραν
491  οὔτέ ποτʼ ἐς πόλεμον, ἀλλὰ φθινύθεσκε φίλον κῆρ
492  αὖθι μένων, ποθέεσκε δʼ ἀϋτήν τε πτόλεμόν τε.
493  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐκ τοῖο δυωδεκάτη γένετʼ ἠώς,
494  καὶ τότε δὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἴσαν θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες
495  πάντες ἅμα, Ζεὺς δʼ ἦρχε· Θέτις δʼ οὐ λήθετʼ ἐφετμέων
496  παιδὸς ἑοῦ, ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ ἀνεδύσετο κῦμα θαλάσσης.
497  ἠερίη δʼ ἀνέβη μέγαν οὐρανὸν Οὔλυμπόν τε.
498  εὗρεν δʼ εὐρύοπα Κρονίδην ἄτερ ἥμενον ἄλλων
499  ἀκροτάτῃ κορυφῇ πολυδειράδος Οὐλύμποιο·
500  καί ῥα πάροιθʼ αὐτοῖο καθέζετο, καὶ λάβε γούνων
501  σκαιῇ, δεξιτερῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπʼ ἀνθερεῶνος ἑλοῦσα
502  λισσομένη προσέειπε Δία Κρονίωνα ἄνακτα·
503  Ζεῦ πάτερ εἴ ποτε δή σε μετʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ὄνησα
504  ἢ ἔπει ἢ ἔργῳ, τόδε μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·
505  τίμησόν μοι υἱὸν ὃς ὠκυμορώτατος ἄλλων
506  ἔπλετʼ· ἀτάρ μιν νῦν γε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
507  ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.
508  ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μιν τῖσον Ὀλύμπιε μητίετα Ζεῦ·
509  τόφρα δʼ ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι τίθει κράτος ὄφρʼ ἂν Ἀχαιοὶ
510  υἱὸν ἐμὸν τίσωσιν ὀφέλλωσίν τέ ἑ τιμῇ.
511  ὣς φάτο· τὴν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,
512  ἀλλʼ ἀκέων δὴν ἧστο· Θέτις δʼ ὡς ἥψατο γούνων
513  ὣς ἔχετʼ ἐμπεφυυῖα, καὶ εἴρετο δεύτερον αὖτις·
514  νημερτὲς μὲν δή μοι ὑπόσχεο καὶ κατάνευσον
515  ἢ ἀπόειπʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἔπι δέος, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδέω
516  ὅσσον ἐγὼ μετὰ πᾶσιν ἀτιμοτάτη θεός εἰμι.
517  τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
518  ἦ δὴ λοίγια ἔργʼ ὅ τέ μʼ ἐχθοδοπῆσαι ἐφήσεις
519  Ἥρῃ ὅτʼ ἄν μʼ ἐρέθῃσιν ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν·
520  ἣ δὲ καὶ αὔτως μʼ αἰεὶ ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι
521  νεικεῖ, καί τέ μέ φησι μάχῃ Τρώεσσιν ἀρήγειν.
522  ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν αὖτις ἀπόστιχε μή τι νοήσῃ
523  Ἥρη· ἐμοὶ δέ κε ταῦτα μελήσεται ὄφρα τελέσσω·
524  εἰ δʼ ἄγε τοι κεφαλῇ κατανεύσομαι ὄφρα πεποίθῃς·
525  τοῦτο γὰρ ἐξ ἐμέθεν γε μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι μέγιστον
526  τέκμωρ· οὐ γὰρ ἐμὸν παλινάγρετον οὐδʼ ἀπατηλὸν
527  οὐδʼ ἀτελεύτητον ὅ τί κεν κεφαλῇ κατανεύσω.
528  ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων·
529  ἀμβρόσιαι δʼ ἄρα χαῖται ἐπερρώσαντο ἄνακτος
530  κρατὸς ἀπʼ ἀθανάτοιο· μέγαν δʼ ἐλέλιξεν Ὄλυμπον.
531  τώ γʼ ὣς βουλεύσαντε διέτμαγεν· ἣ μὲν ἔπειτα
532  εἰς ἅλα ἆλτο βαθεῖαν ἀπʼ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου,
533  Ζεὺς δὲ ἑὸν πρὸς δῶμα· θεοὶ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἀνέσταν
534  ἐξ ἑδέων σφοῦ πατρὸς ἐναντίον· οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
535  μεῖναι ἐπερχόμενον, ἀλλʼ ἀντίοι ἔσταν ἅπαντες.
536  ὣς ὃ μὲν ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου· οὐδέ μιν Ἥρη
537  ἠγνοίησεν ἰδοῦσʼ ὅτι οἱ συμφράσσατο βουλὰς
538  ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος.
539  αὐτίκα κερτομίοισι Δία Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·
540  τίς δʼ αὖ τοι δολομῆτα θεῶν συμφράσσατο βουλάς;
541  αἰεί τοι φίλον ἐστὶν ἐμεῦ ἀπὸ νόσφιν ἐόντα
542  κρυπτάδια φρονέοντα δικαζέμεν· οὐδέ τί πώ μοι
543  πρόφρων τέτληκας εἰπεῖν ἔπος ὅττι νοήσῃς.
544  τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·
545  Ἥρη μὴ δὴ πάντας ἐμοὺς ἐπιέλπεο μύθους
546  εἰδήσειν· χαλεποί τοι ἔσοντʼ ἀλόχῳ περ ἐούσῃ·
547  ἀλλʼ ὃν μέν κʼ ἐπιεικὲς ἀκουέμεν οὔ τις ἔπειτα
548  οὔτε θεῶν πρότερος τὸν εἴσεται οὔτʼ ἀνθρώπων·
549  ὃν δέ κʼ ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε θεῶν ἐθέλωμι νοῆσαι
550  μή τι σὺ ταῦτα ἕκαστα διείρεο μηδὲ μετάλλα.
551  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·
552  αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες;
553  καὶ λίην σε πάρος γʼ οὔτʼ εἴρομαι οὔτε μεταλλῶ,
554  ἀλλὰ μάλʼ εὔκηλος τὰ φράζεαι ἅσσʼ ἐθέλῃσθα.
555  νῦν δʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα μή σε παρείπῃ
556  ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος·
557  ἠερίη γὰρ σοί γε παρέζετο καὶ λάβε γούνων·
558  τῇ σʼ ὀΐω κατανεῦσαι ἐτήτυμον ὡς Ἀχιλῆα
559  τιμήσῃς, ὀλέσῃς δὲ πολέας ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.
560  τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
561  δαιμονίη αἰεὶ μὲν ὀΐεαι οὐδέ σε λήθω·
562  πρῆξαι δʼ ἔμπης οὔ τι δυνήσεαι, ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ θυμοῦ
563  μᾶλλον ἐμοὶ ἔσεαι· τὸ δέ τοι καὶ ῥίγιον ἔσται.
564  εἰ δʼ οὕτω τοῦτʼ ἐστὶν ἐμοὶ μέλλει φίλον εἶναι·
565  ἀλλʼ ἀκέουσα κάθησο, ἐμῷ δʼ ἐπιπείθεο μύθῳ,
566  μή νύ τοι οὐ χραίσμωσιν ὅσοι θεοί εἰσʼ ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ
567  ἆσσον ἰόνθʼ, ὅτε κέν τοι ἀάπτους χεῖρας ἐφείω.
568  ὣς ἔφατʼ ἔδεισεν δὲ βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη,
569  καί ῥʼ ἀκέουσα καθῆστο ἐπιγνάμψασα φίλον κῆρ·
570  ὄχθησαν δʼ ἀνὰ δῶμα Διὸς θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες·
571  τοῖσιν δʼ Ἥφαιστος κλυτοτέχνης ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν
572  μητρὶ φίλῃ ἐπίηρα φέρων λευκωλένῳ Ἥρῃ·
573  ἦ δὴ λοίγια ἔργα τάδʼ ἔσσεται οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀνεκτά,
574  εἰ δὴ σφὼ ἕνεκα θνητῶν ἐριδαίνετον ὧδε,
575  ἐν δὲ θεοῖσι κολῳὸν ἐλαύνετον· οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς
576  ἐσθλῆς ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ τὰ χερείονα νικᾷ.
577  μητρὶ δʼ ἐγὼ παράφημι καὶ αὐτῇ περ νοεούσῃ
578  πατρὶ φίλῳ ἐπίηρα φέρειν Διί, ὄφρα μὴ αὖτε
579  νεικείῃσι πατήρ, σὺν δʼ ἡμῖν δαῖτα ταράξῃ.
580  εἴ περ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητὴς
581  ἐξ ἑδέων στυφελίξαι· ὃ γὰρ πολὺ φέρτατός ἐστιν.
582  ἀλλὰ σὺ τὸν ἐπέεσσι καθάπτεσθαι μαλακοῖσιν·
583  αὐτίκʼ ἔπειθʼ ἵλαος Ὀλύμπιος ἔσσεται ἡμῖν.
584  ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη καὶ ἀναΐξας δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον
585  μητρὶ φίλῃ ἐν χειρὶ τίθει καί μιν προσέειπε·
586  τέτλαθι μῆτερ ἐμή, καὶ ἀνάσχεο κηδομένη περ,
587  μή σε φίλην περ ἐοῦσαν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδωμαι
588  θεινομένην, τότε δʼ οὔ τι δυνήσομαι ἀχνύμενός περ
589  χραισμεῖν· ἀργαλέος γὰρ Ὀλύμπιος ἀντιφέρεσθαι·
590  ἤδη γάρ με καὶ ἄλλοτʼ ἀλεξέμεναι μεμαῶτα
591  ῥῖψε ποδὸς τεταγὼν ἀπὸ βηλοῦ θεσπεσίοιο,
592  πᾶν δʼ ἦμαρ φερόμην, ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι
593  κάππεσον ἐν Λήμνῳ, ὀλίγος δʼ ἔτι θυμὸς ἐνῆεν·
594  ἔνθά με Σίντιες ἄνδρες ἄφαρ κομίσαντο πεσόντα.
595  ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,
596  μειδήσασα δὲ παιδὸς ἐδέξατο χειρὶ κύπελλον·
597  αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖς ἄλλοισι θεοῖς ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν
598  οἰνοχόει γλυκὺ νέκταρ ἀπὸ κρητῆρος ἀφύσσων·
599  ἄσβεστος δʼ ἄρʼ ἐνῶρτο γέλως μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν
600  ὡς ἴδον Ἥφαιστον διὰ δώματα ποιπνύοντα.
601  ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
602  δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης,
603  οὐ μὲν φόρμιγγος περικαλλέος ἣν ἔχʼ Ἀπόλλων,
604  Μουσάων θʼ αἳ ἄειδον ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ.
605  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατέδυ λαμπρὸν φάος ἠελίοιο,
606  οἳ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκον δὲ ἕκαστος,
607  ἧχι ἑκάστῳ δῶμα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις
608  Ἥφαιστος ποίησεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι·
609  Ζεὺς δὲ πρὸς ὃν λέχος ἤϊʼ Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητής,
610  ἔνθα πάρος κοιμᾶθʼ ὅτε μιν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι·
611  ἔνθα καθεῦδʼ ἀναβάς, παρὰ δὲ χρυσόθρονος Ἥρη.