1  ὣς οἳ μὲν στενάχοντο κατὰ πτόλιν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
2  ἐπεὶ δὴ νῆάς τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκοντο,
3  οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐσκίδναντο ἑὴν ἐπὶ νῆα ἕκαστος,
4  Μυρμιδόνας δʼ οὐκ εἴα ἀποσκίδνασθαι Ἀχιλλεύς,
5  ἀλλʼ ὅ γε οἷς ἑτάροισι φιλοπτολέμοισι μετηύδα·
6  Μυρμιδόνες ταχύπωλοι ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι
7  μὴ δή πω ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι λυώμεθα μώνυχας ἵππους,
8  ἀλλʼ αὐτοῖς ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν ἆσσον ἰόντες
9  Πάτροκλον κλαίωμεν· ὃ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.
10  αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο,
11  ἵππους λυσάμενοι δορπήσομεν ἐνθάδε πάντες.
12  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ᾤμωξαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δʼ Ἀχιλλεύς.
13  οἳ δὲ τρὶς περὶ νεκρὸν ἐΰτριχας ἤλασαν ἵππους
14  μυρόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφι Θέτις γόου ἵμερον ὦρσε.
15  δεύοντο ψάμαθοι, δεύοντο δὲ τεύχεα φωτῶν
16  δάκρυσι· τοῖον γὰρ πόθεον μήστωρα φόβοιο.
17  τοῖσι δὲ Πηλεΐδης ἁδινοῦ ἐξῆρχε γόοιο
18  χεῖρας ἐπʼ ἀνδροφόνους θέμενος στήθεσσιν ἑταίρου·
19  χαῖρέ μοι ὦ Πάτροκλε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι·
20  πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστην
21  Ἕκτορα δεῦρʼ ἐρύσας δώσειν κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι,
22  δώδεκα δὲ προπάροιθε πυρῆς ἀποδειροτομήσειν
23  Τρώων ἀγλαὰ τέκνα σέθεν κταμένοιο χολωθείς.
24  ἦ ῥα καὶ Ἕκτορα δῖον ἀεικέα μήδετο ἔργα
25  πρηνέα πὰρ λεχέεσσι Μενοιτιάδαο τανύσσας
26  ἐν κονίῃς· οἳ δʼ ἔντεʼ ἀφωπλίζοντο ἕκαστος
27  χάλκεα μαρμαίροντα, λύον δʼ ὑψηχέας ἵππους,
28  κὰδ δʼ ἷζον παρὰ νηῒ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
29  μυρίοι· αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι τάφον μενοεικέα δαίνυ.
30  πολλοὶ μὲν βόες ἀργοὶ ὀρέχθεον ἀμφὶ σιδήρῳ
31  σφαζόμενοι, πολλοὶ δʼ ὄϊες καὶ μηκάδες αἶγες·
32  πολλοὶ δʼ ἀργιόδοντες ὕες θαλέθοντες ἀλοιφῇ
33  εὑόμενοι τανύοντο διὰ φλογὸς Ἡφαίστοιο·
34  πάντῃ δʼ ἀμφὶ νέκυν κοτυλήρυτον ἔρρεεν αἷμα.
35  αὐτὰρ τόν γε ἄνακτα ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα
36  εἰς Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον ἄγον βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν
37  σπουδῇ παρπεπιθόντες ἑταίρου χωόμενον κῆρ.
38  οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος ἷξον ἰόντες,
39  αὐτίκα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσαν
40  ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν, εἰ πεπίθοιεν
41  Πηλεΐδην λούσασθαι ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα.
42  αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἠρνεῖτο στερεῶς, ἐπὶ δʼ ὅρκον ὄμοσσεν·
43  οὐ μὰ Ζῆνʼ, ὅς τίς τε θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος,
44  οὐ θέμις ἐστὶ λοετρὰ καρήατος ἆσσον ἱκέσθαι
45  πρίν γʼ ἐνὶ Πάτροκλον θέμεναι πυρὶ σῆμά τε χεῦαι
46  κείρασθαί τε κόμην, ἐπεὶ οὔ μʼ ἔτι δεύτερον ὧδε
47  ἵξετʼ ἄχος κραδίην ὄφρα ζωοῖσι μετείω.
48  ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μὲν στυγερῇ πειθώμεθα δαιτί·
49  ἠῶθεν δʼ ὄτρυνον ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον
50  ὕλην τʼ ἀξέμεναι παρά τε σχεῖν ὅσσʼ ἐπιεικὲς
51  νεκρὸν ἔχοντα νέεσθαι ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα,
52  ὄφρʼ ἤτοι τοῦτον μὲν ἐπιφλέγῃ ἀκάματον πῦρ
53  θᾶσσον ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν, λαοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα τράπωνται.
54  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο.
55  ἐσσυμένως δʼ ἄρα δόρπον ἐφοπλίσσαντες ἕκαστοι
56  δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.
57  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
58  οἳ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν κλισίην δὲ ἕκαστος,
59  Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης
60  κεῖτο βαρὺ στενάχων πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν
61  ἐν καθαρῷ, ὅθι κύματʼ ἐπʼ ἠϊόνος κλύζεσκον·
62  εὖτε τὸν ὕπνος ἔμαρπτε λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦ
63  νήδυμος ἀμφιχυθείς· μάλα γὰρ κάμε φαίδιμα γυῖα
64  Ἕκτορʼ ἐπαΐσσων προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν·
65  ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο
66  πάντʼ αὐτῷ μέγεθός τε καὶ ὄμματα κάλʼ ἐϊκυῖα
67  καὶ φωνήν, καὶ τοῖα περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο·
68  στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
69  εὕδεις, αὐτὰρ ἐμεῖο λελασμένος ἔπλευ Ἀχιλλεῦ.
70  οὐ μέν μευ ζώοντος ἀκήδεις, ἀλλὰ θανόντος·
71  θάπτέ με ὅττι τάχιστα πύλας Ἀΐδαο περήσω.
72  τῆλέ με εἴργουσι ψυχαὶ εἴδωλα καμόντων,
73  οὐδέ μέ πω μίσγεσθαι ὑπὲρ ποταμοῖο ἐῶσιν,
74  ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἀλάλημαι ἀνʼ εὐρυπυλὲς Ἄϊδος δῶ.
75  καί μοι δὸς τὴν χεῖρʼ· ὀλοφύρομαι, οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ αὖτις
76  νίσομαι ἐξ Ἀΐδαο, ἐπήν με πυρὸς λελάχητε.
77  οὐ μὲν γὰρ ζωοί γε φίλων ἀπάνευθεν ἑταίρων
78  βουλὰς ἑζόμενοι βουλεύσομεν, ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν κὴρ
79  ἀμφέχανε στυγερή, ἥ περ λάχε γιγνόμενόν περ·
80  καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ μοῖρα, θεοῖς ἐπιείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,
81  τείχει ὕπο Τρώων εὐηφενέων ἀπολέσθαι.
82  ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐφήσομαι αἴ κε πίθηαι·
83  μὴ ἐμὰ σῶν ἀπάνευθε τιθήμεναι ὀστέʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,
84  ἀλλʼ ὁμοῦ ὡς ἐτράφημεν ἐν ὑμετέροισι δόμοισιν,
85  εὖτέ με τυτθὸν ἐόντα Μενοίτιος ἐξ Ὀπόεντος
86  ἤγαγεν ὑμέτερόνδʼ ἀνδροκτασίης ὕπο λυγρῆς,
87  ἤματι τῷ ὅτε παῖδα κατέκτανον Ἀμφιδάμαντος
88  νήπιος οὐκ ἐθέλων ἀμφʼ ἀστραγάλοισι χολωθείς·
89  ἔνθά με δεξάμενος ἐν δώμασιν ἱππότα Πηλεὺς
90  ἔτραφέ τʼ ἐνδυκέως καὶ σὸν θεράποντʼ ὀνόμηνεν·
91  ὣς δὲ καὶ ὀστέα νῶϊν ὁμὴ σορὸς ἀμφικαλύπτοι
92  χρύσεος ἀμφιφορεύς, τόν τοι πόρε πότνια μήτηρ.
93  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
94  τίπτέ μοι ἠθείη κεφαλὴ δεῦρʼ εἰλήλουθας
95  καί μοι ταῦτα ἕκαστʼ ἐπιτέλλεαι; αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοι
96  πάντα μάλʼ ἐκτελέω καὶ πείσομαι ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.
97  ἀλλά μοι ἆσσον στῆθι· μίνυνθά περ ἀμφιβαλόντε
98  ἀλλήλους ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο.
99  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ὠρέξατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν
100  οὐδʼ ἔλαβε· ψυχὴ δὲ κατὰ χθονὸς ἠΰτε καπνὸς
101  ᾤχετο τετριγυῖα· ταφὼν δʼ ἀνόρουσεν Ἀχιλλεὺς
102  χερσί τε συμπλατάγησεν, ἔπος δʼ ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπεν·
103  ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι
104  ψυχὴ καὶ εἴδωλον, ἀτὰρ φρένες οὐκ ἔνι πάμπαν·
105  παννυχίη γάρ μοι Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο
106  ψυχὴ ἐφεστήκει γοόωσά τε μυρομένη τε,
107  καί μοι ἕκαστʼ ἐπέτελλεν, ἔϊκτο δὲ θέσκελον αὐτῷ.
108  ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο·
109  μυρομένοισι δὲ τοῖσι φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠὼς
110  ἀμφὶ νέκυν ἐλεεινόν. ἀτὰρ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
111  οὐρῆάς τʼ ὄτρυνε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀξέμεν ὕλην
112  πάντοθεν ἐκ κλισιῶν· ἐπὶ δʼ ἀνὴρ ἐσθλὸς ὀρώρει
113  Μηριόνης θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.
114  οἳ δʼ ἴσαν ὑλοτόμους πελέκεας ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες
115  σειράς τʼ εὐπλέκτους· πρὸ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐρῆες κίον αὐτῶν.
116  πολλὰ δʼ ἄναντα κάταντα πάραντά τε δόχμιά τʼ ἦλθον·
117  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κνημοὺς προσέβαν πολυπίδακος Ἴδης,
118  αὐτίκʼ ἄρα δρῦς ὑψικόμους ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ
119  τάμνον ἐπειγόμενοι· ταὶ δὲ μεγάλα κτυπέουσαι
120  πῖπτον· τὰς μὲν ἔπειτα διαπλήσσοντες Ἀχαιοὶ
121  ἔκδεον ἡμιόνων· ταὶ δὲ χθόνα ποσσὶ δατεῦντο
122  ἐλδόμεναι πεδίοιο διὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνά.
123  πάντες δʼ ὑλοτόμοι φιτροὺς φέρον· ὡς γὰρ ἀνώγει
124  Μηριόνης θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.
125  κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς βάλλον ἐπισχερώ, ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
126  φράσσατο Πατρόκλῳ μέγα ἠρίον ἠδὲ οἷ αὐτῷ.
127  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πάντῃ παρακάββαλον ἄσπετον ὕλην
128  ἥατʼ ἄρʼ αὖθι μένοντες ἀολλέες. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
129  αὐτίκα Μυρμιδόνεσσι φιλοπτολέμοισι κέλευσε
130  χαλκὸν ζώννυσθαι, ζεῦξαι δʼ ὑπʼ ὄχεσφιν ἕκαστον
131  ἵππους· οἳ δʼ ὄρνυντο καὶ ἐν τεύχεσσιν ἔδυνον,
132  ἂν δʼ ἔβαν ἐν δίφροισι παραιβάται ἡνίοχοί τε,
133  πρόσθε μὲν ἱππῆες, μετὰ δὲ νέφος εἵπετο πεζῶν
134  μυρίοι· ἐν δὲ μέσοισι φέρον Πάτροκλον ἑταῖροι.
135  θριξὶ δὲ πάντα νέκυν καταείνυσαν, ἃς ἐπέβαλλον
136  κειρόμενοι· ὄπιθεν δὲ κάρη ἔχε δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
137  ἀχνύμενος· ἕταρον γὰρ ἀμύμονα πέμπʼ Ἄϊδος δέ.
138  οἳ δʼ ὅτε χῶρον ἵκανον ὅθί σφισι πέφραδʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
139  κάτθεσαν, αἶψα δέ οἱ μενοεικέα νήεον ὕλην.
140  ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
141  στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς ξανθὴν ἀπεκείρατο χαίτην,
142  τήν ῥα Σπερχειῷ ποταμῷ τρέφε τηλεθόωσαν·
143  ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἰδὼν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον·
144  Σπερχείʼ ἄλλως σοί γε πατὴρ ἠρήσατο Πηλεὺς
145  κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
146  σοί τε κόμην κερέειν ῥέξειν θʼ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην,
147  πεντήκοντα δʼ ἔνορχα παρʼ αὐτόθι μῆλʼ ἱερεύσειν
148  ἐς πηγάς, ὅθι τοι τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.
149  ὣς ἠρᾶθʼ ὃ γέρων, σὺ δέ οἱ νόον οὐκ ἐτέλεσσας.
150  νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὐ νέομαί γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
151  Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ κόμην ὀπάσαιμι φέρεσθαι.
152  ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ κόμην ἑτάροιο φίλοιο
153  θῆκεν, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο.
154  καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο
155  εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αἶψʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι εἶπε παραστάς·
156  Ἀτρεΐδη, σοὶ γάρ τε μάλιστά γε λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν
157  πείσονται μύθοισι, γόοιο μὲν ἔστι καὶ ἆσαι,
158  νῦν δʼ ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς σκέδασον καὶ δεῖπνον ἄνωχθι
159  ὅπλεσθαι· τάδε δʼ ἀμφὶ πονησόμεθʼ οἷσι μάλιστα
160  κήδεός ἐστι νέκυς· παρὰ δʼ οἵ τʼ ἀγοὶ ἄμμι μενόντων.
161  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,
162  αὐτίκα λαὸν μὲν σκέδασεν κατὰ νῆας ἐΐσας,
163  κηδεμόνες δὲ παρʼ αὖθι μένον καὶ νήεον ὕλην,
164  ποίησαν δὲ πυρὴν ἑκατόμπεδον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
165  ἐν δὲ πυρῇ ὑπάτῃ νεκρὸν θέσαν ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.
166  πολλὰ δὲ ἴφια μῆλα καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς
167  πρόσθε πυρῆς ἔδερόν τε καὶ ἄμφεπον· ἐκ δʼ ἄρα πάντων
168  δημὸν ἑλὼν ἐκάλυψε νέκυν μεγάθυμος Ἀχιλλεὺς
169  ἐς πόδας ἐκ κεφαλῆς, περὶ δὲ δρατὰ σώματα νήει.
170  ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει μέλιτος καὶ ἀλείφατος ἀμφιφορῆας
171  πρὸς λέχεα κλίνων· πίσυρας δʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππους
172  ἐσσυμένως ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ μεγάλα στεναχίζων.
173  ἐννέα τῷ γε ἄνακτι τραπεζῆες κύνες ἦσαν,
174  καὶ μὲν τῶν ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ δύο δειροτομήσας,
175  δώδεκα δὲ Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺς
176  χαλκῷ δηϊόων· κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ μήδετο ἔργα·
177  ἐν δὲ πυρὸς μένος ἧκε σιδήρεον ὄφρα νέμοιτο.
178  ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα, φίλον δʼ ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον·
179  χαῖρέ μοι ὦ Πάτροκλε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι·
180  πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστην,
181  δώδεκα μὲν Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺς
182  τοὺς ἅμα σοὶ πάντας πῦρ ἐσθίει· Ἕκτορα δʼ οὔ τι
183  δώσω Πριαμίδην πυρὶ δαπτέμεν, ἀλλὰ κύνεσσιν.
184  ὣς φάτʼ ἀπειλήσας· τὸν δʼ οὐ κύνες ἀμφεπένοντο,
185  ἀλλὰ κύνας μὲν ἄλαλκε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη
186  ἤματα καὶ νύκτας, ῥοδόεντι δὲ χρῖεν ἐλαίῳ
187  ἀμβροσίῳ, ἵνα μή μιν ἀποδρύφοι ἑλκυστάζων.
188  τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ κυάνεον νέφος ἤγαγε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
189  οὐρανόθεν πεδίον δέ, κάλυψε δὲ χῶρον ἅπαντα
190  ὅσσον ἐπεῖχε νέκυς, μὴ πρὶν μένος ἠελίοιο
191  σκήλειʼ ἀμφὶ περὶ χρόα ἴνεσιν ἠδὲ μέλεσσιν.
192  οὐδὲ πυρὴ Πατρόκλου ἐκαίετο τεθνηῶτος·
193  ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἀλλʼ ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
194  στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς δοιοῖς ἠρᾶτʼ ἀνέμοισι
195  Βορέῃ καὶ Ζεφύρῳ, καὶ ὑπίσχετο ἱερὰ καλά·
196  πολλὰ δὲ καὶ σπένδων χρυσέῳ δέπαϊ λιτάνευεν
197  ἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα πυρὶ φλεγεθοίατο νεκροί,
198  ὕλη τε σεύαιτο καήμεναι. ὦκα δὲ Ἶρις
199  ἀράων ἀΐουσα μετάγγελος ἦλθʼ ἀνέμοισιν.
200  οἳ μὲν ἄρα Ζεφύροιο δυσαέος ἀθρόοι ἔνδον
201  εἰλαπίνην δαίνυντο· θέουσα δὲ Ἶρις ἐπέστη
202  βηλῷ ἔπι λιθέῳ· τοὶ δʼ ὡς ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι
203  πάντες ἀνήϊξαν, κάλεόν τέ μιν εἰς ἓ ἕκαστος·
204  ἣ δʼ αὖθʼ ἕζεσθαι μὲν ἀνήνατο, εἶπε δὲ μῦθον·
205  οὐχ ἕδος· εἶμι γὰρ αὖτις ἐπʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥέεθρα
206  Αἰθιόπων ἐς γαῖαν, ὅθι ῥέζουσʼ ἑκατόμβας
207  ἀθανάτοις, ἵνα δὴ καὶ ἐγὼ μεταδαίσομαι ἱρῶν.
208  ἀλλʼ Ἀχιλεὺς Βορέην ἠδὲ Ζέφυρον κελαδεινὸν
209  ἐλθεῖν ἀρᾶται, καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἱερὰ καλά,
210  ὄφρα πυρὴν ὄρσητε καήμεναι, ᾗ ἔνι κεῖται
211  Πάτροκλος, τὸν πάντες ἀναστενάχουσιν Ἀχαιοί.
212  ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπεβήσετο, τοὶ δʼ ὀρέοντο
213  ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ νέφεα κλονέοντε πάροιθεν.
214  αἶψα δὲ πόντον ἵκανον ἀήμεναι, ὦρτο δὲ κῦμα
215  πνοιῇ ὕπο λιγυρῇ· Τροίην δʼ ἐρίβωλον ἱκέσθην,
216  ἐν δὲ πυρῇ πεσέτην, μέγα δʼ ἴαχε θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ.
217  παννύχιοι δʼ ἄρα τοί γε πυρῆς ἄμυδις φλόγʼ ἔβαλλον
218  φυσῶντες λιγέως· ὃ δὲ πάννυχος ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς
219  χρυσέου ἐκ κρητῆρος ἑλὼν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον
220  οἶνον ἀφυσσόμενος χαμάδις χέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν
221  ψυχὴν κικλήσκων Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο.
222  ὡς δὲ πατὴρ οὗ παιδὸς ὀδύρεται ὀστέα καίων
223  νυμφίου, ὅς τε θανὼν δειλοὺς ἀκάχησε τοκῆας,
224  ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς ἑτάροιο ὀδύρετο ὀστέα καίων,
225  ἑρπύζων παρὰ πυρκαϊὴν ἁδινὰ στεναχίζων.
226  ἦμος δʼ ἑωσφόρος εἶσι φόως ἐρέων ἐπὶ γαῖαν,
227  ὅν τε μέτα κροκόπεπλος ὑπεὶρ ἅλα κίδναται ἠώς,
228  τῆμος πυρκαϊὴ ἐμαραίνετο, παύσατο δὲ φλόξ.
229  οἳ δʼ ἄνεμοι πάλιν αὖτις ἔβαν οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι
230  Θρηΐκιον κατὰ πόντον· ὃ δʼ ἔστενεν οἴδματι θύων.
231  Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς ἑτέρωσε λιασθεὶς
232  κλίνθη κεκμηώς, ἐπὶ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ὄρουσεν·
233  οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀτρεΐωνα ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο·
234  τῶν μιν ἐπερχομένων ὅμαδος καὶ δοῦπος ἔγειρεν,
235  ἕζετο δʼ ὀρθωθεὶς καί σφεας πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
236  Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,
237  πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσατʼ αἴθοπι οἴνῳ
238  πᾶσαν, ὁπόσσον ἐπέσχε πυρὸς μένος· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
239  ὀστέα Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο λέγωμεν
240  εὖ διαγιγνώσκοντες· ἀριφραδέα δὲ τέτυκται·
241  ἐν μέσσῃ γὰρ ἔκειτο πυρῇ, τοὶ δʼ ἄλλοι ἄνευθεν
242  ἐσχατιῇ καίοντʼ ἐπιμὶξ ἵπποι τε καὶ ἄνδρες.
243  καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν χρυσέῃ φιάλῃ καὶ δίπλακι δημῷ
244  θείομεν, εἰς ὅ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼν Ἄϊδι κεύθωμαι.
245  τύμβον δʼ οὐ μάλα πολλὸν ἐγὼ πονέεσθαι ἄνωγα,
246  ἀλλʼ ἐπιεικέα τοῖον· ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀχαιοὶ
247  εὐρύν θʼ ὑψηλόν τε τιθήμεναι, οἵ κεν ἐμεῖο
248  δεύτεροι ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι λίπησθε.
249  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἐπίθοντο ποδώκεϊ Πηλεΐωνι.
250  πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσαν αἴθοπι οἴνῳ
251  ὅσσον ἐπὶ φλὸξ ἦλθε, βαθεῖα δὲ κάππεσε τέφρη·
252  κλαίοντες δʼ ἑτάροιο ἐνηέος ὀστέα λευκὰ
253  ἄλλεγον ἐς χρυσέην φιάλην καὶ δίπλακα δημόν,
254  ἐν κλισίῃσι δὲ θέντες ἑανῷ λιτὶ κάλυψαν·
255  τορνώσαντο δὲ σῆμα θεμείλιά τε προβάλοντο
256  ἀμφὶ πυρήν· εἶθαρ δὲ χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν,
257  χεύαντες δὲ τὸ σῆμα πάλιν κίον. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
258  αὐτοῦ λαὸν ἔρυκε καὶ ἵζανεν εὐρὺν ἀγῶνα,
259  νηῶν δʼ ἔκφερʼ ἄεθλα λέβητάς τε τρίποδάς τε
260  ἵππους θʼ ἡμιόνους τε βοῶν τʼ ἴφθιμα κάρηνα,
261  ἠδὲ γυναῖκας ἐϋζώνους πολιόν τε σίδηρον.
262  ἱππεῦσιν μὲν πρῶτα ποδώκεσιν ἀγλάʼ ἄεθλα
263  θῆκε γυναῖκα ἄγεσθαι ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυῖαν
264  καὶ τρίποδʼ ὠτώεντα δυωκαιεικοσίμετρον
265  τῷ πρώτῳ· ἀτὰρ αὖ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἵππον ἔθηκεν
266  ἑξέτεʼ ἀδμήτην βρέφος ἡμίονον κυέουσαν·
267  αὐτὰρ τῷ τριτάτῳ ἄπυρον κατέθηκε λέβητα
268  καλὸν τέσσαρα μέτρα κεχανδότα λευκὸν ἔτʼ αὔτως·
269  τῷ δὲ τετάρτῳ θῆκε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,
270  πέμπτῳ δʼ ἀμφίθετον φιάλην ἀπύρωτον ἔθηκε.
271  στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
272  Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
273  ἱππῆας τάδʼ ἄεθλα δεδεγμένα κεῖτʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι.
274  εἰ μὲν νῦν ἐπὶ ἄλλῳ ἀεθλεύοιμεν Ἀχαιοὶ
275  ἦ τʼ ἂν ἐγὼ τὰ πρῶτα λαβὼν κλισίην δὲ φεροίμην.
276  ἴστε γὰρ ὅσσον ἐμοὶ ἀρετῇ περιβάλλετον ἵπποι·
277  ἀθάνατοί τε γάρ εἰσι, Ποσειδάων δὲ πόρʼ αὐτοὺς
278  πατρὶ ἐμῷ Πηλῆϊ, ὃ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμοὶ ἐγγυάλιξεν.
279  ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ μενέω καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι·
280  τοίου γὰρ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσαν ἡνιόχοιο
281  ἠπίου, ὅς σφωϊν μάλα πολλάκις ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον
282  χαιτάων κατέχευε λοέσσας ὕδατι λευκῷ.
283  τὸν τώ γʼ ἑσταότες πενθείετον, οὔδεϊ δέ σφι
284  χαῖται ἐρηρέδαται, τὼ δʼ ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.
285  ἄλλοι δὲ στέλλεσθε κατὰ στρατόν, ὅς τις Ἀχαιῶν
286  ἵπποισίν τε πέποιθε καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν.
287  ὣς φάτο Πηλεΐδης, ταχέες δʼ ἱππῆες ἄγερθεν.
288  ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Εὔμηλος
289  Ἀδμήτου φίλος υἱός, ὃς ἱπποσύνῃ ἐκέκαστο·
290  τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης,
291  ἵππους δὲ Τρῳοὺς ὕπαγε ζυγόν, οὕς ποτʼ ἀπηύρα
292  Αἰνείαν, ἀτὰρ αὐτὸν ὑπεξεσάωσεν Ἀπόλλων.
293  τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ὦρτο ξανθὸς Μενέλαος
294  διογενής, ὑπὸ δὲ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ὠκέας ἵππους
295  Αἴθην τὴν Ἀγαμεμνονέην τὸν ἑόν τε Πόδαργον·
296  τὴν Ἀγαμέμνονι δῶκʼ Ἀγχισιάδης Ἐχέπωλος
297  δῶρʼ, ἵνα μή οἱ ἕποιθʼ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν,
298  ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ τέρποιτο μένων· μέγα γάρ οἱ ἔδωκε
299  Ζεὺς ἄφενος, ναῖεν δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Σικυῶνι·
300  τὴν ὅ γʼ ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἦγε μέγα δρόμου ἰσχανόωσαν.
301  Ἀντίλοχος δὲ τέταρτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθʼ ἵππους,
302  Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς ὑπερθύμοιο ἄνακτος
303  τοῦ Νηληϊάδαο· Πυλοιγενέες δέ οἱ ἵπποι
304  ὠκύποδες φέρον ἅρμα· πατὴρ δέ οἱ ἄγχι παραστὰς
305  μυθεῖτʼ εἰς ἀγαθὰ φρονέων νοέοντι καὶ αὐτῷ·
306  Ἀντίλοχʼ ἤτοι μέν σε νέον περ ἐόντʼ ἐφίλησαν
307  Ζεύς τε Ποσειδάων τε, καὶ ἱπποσύνας ἐδίδαξαν
308  παντοίας· τὼ καί σε διδασκέμεν οὔ τι μάλα χρεώ·
309  οἶσθα γὰρ εὖ περὶ τέρμαθʼ ἑλισσέμεν· ἀλλά τοι ἵπποι
310  βάρδιστοι θείειν· τώ τʼ οἴω λοίγιʼ ἔσεσθαι.
311  τῶν δʼ ἵπποι μὲν ἔασιν ἀφάρτεροι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοὶ
312  πλείονα ἴσασιν σέθεν αὐτοῦ μητίσασθαι.
313  ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ σὺ φίλος μῆτιν ἐμβάλλεο θυμῷ
314  παντοίην, ἵνα μή σε παρεκπροφύγῃσιν ἄεθλα.
315  μήτι τοι δρυτόμος μέγʼ ἀμείνων ἠὲ βίηφι·
316  μήτι δʼ αὖτε κυβερνήτης ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ
317  νῆα θοὴν ἰθύνει ἐρεχθομένην ἀνέμοισι·
318  μήτι δʼ ἡνίοχος περιγίγνεται ἡνιόχοιο.
319  ἀλλʼ ὃς μέν θʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν οἷσι πεποιθὼς
320  ἀφραδέως ἐπὶ πολλὸν ἑλίσσεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
321  ἵπποι δὲ πλανόωνται ἀνὰ δρόμον, οὐδὲ κατίσχει·
322  ὃς δέ κε κέρδεα εἰδῇ ἐλαύνων ἥσσονας ἵππους,
323  αἰεὶ τέρμʼ ὁρόων στρέφει ἐγγύθεν, οὐδέ ἑ λήθει
324  ὅππως τὸ πρῶτον τανύσῃ βοέοισιν ἱμᾶσιν,
325  ἀλλʼ ἔχει ἀσφαλέως καὶ τὸν προὔχοντα δοκεύει.
326  σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλʼ ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει.
327  ἕστηκε ξύλον αὖον ὅσον τʼ ὄργυιʼ ὑπὲρ αἴης
328  ἢ δρυὸς ἢ πεύκης· τὸ μὲν οὐ καταπύθεται ὄμβρῳ,
329  λᾶε δὲ τοῦ ἑκάτερθεν ἐρηρέδαται δύο λευκὼ
330  ἐν ξυνοχῇσιν ὁδοῦ, λεῖος δʼ ἱππόδρομος ἀμφὶς
331  ἤ τευ σῆμα βροτοῖο πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,
332  ἢ τό γε νύσσα τέτυκτο ἐπὶ προτέρων ἀνθρώπων,
333  καὶ νῦν τέρματʼ ἔθηκε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
334  τῷ σὺ μάλʼ ἐγχρίμψας ἐλάαν σχεδὸν ἅρμα καὶ ἵππους,
335  αὐτὸς δὲ κλινθῆναι ἐϋπλέκτῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ
336  ἦκʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ τοῖιν· ἀτὰρ τὸν δεξιὸν ἵππον
337  κένσαι ὁμοκλήσας, εἶξαί τέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν.
338  ἐν νύσσῃ δέ τοι ἵππος ἀριστερὸς ἐγχριμφθήτω,
339  ὡς ἄν τοι πλήμνη γε δοάσσεται ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι
340  κύκλου ποιητοῖο· λίθου δʼ ἀλέασθαι ἐπαυρεῖν,
341  μή πως ἵππους τε τρώσῃς κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξῃς·
342  χάρμα δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοισιν, ἐλεγχείη δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ
343  ἔσσεται· ἀλλὰ φίλος φρονέων πεφυλαγμένος εἶναι.
344  εἰ γάρ κʼ ἐν νύσσῃ γε παρεξελάσῃσθα διώκων,
345  οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅς κέ σʼ ἕλῃσι μετάλμενος οὐδὲ παρέλθῃ,
346  οὐδʼ εἴ κεν μετόπισθεν Ἀρίονα δῖον ἐλαύνοι
347  Ἀδρήστου ταχὺν ἵππον, ὃς ἐκ θεόφιν γένος ἦεν,
348  ἢ τοὺς Λαομέδοντος, οἳ ἐνθάδε γʼ ἔτραφεν ἐσθλοί.
349  ὣς εἰπὼν Νέστωρ Νηλήϊος ἂψ ἐνὶ χώρῃ
350  ἕζετʼ, ἐπεὶ ᾧ παιδὶ ἑκάστου πείρατʼ ἔειπε.
351  Μηριόνης δʼ ἄρα πέμπτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθʼ ἵππους.
352  ἂν δʼ ἔβαν ἐς δίφρους, ἐν δὲ κλήρους ἐβάλοντο·
353  πάλλʼ Ἀχιλεύς, ἐκ δὲ κλῆρος θόρε Νεστορίδαο
354  Ἀντιλόχου· μετὰ τὸν δʼ ἔλαχε κρείων Εὔμηλος·
355  τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης δουρὶ κλειτὸς Μενέλαος,
356  τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Μηριόνης λάχʼ ἐλαυνέμεν· ὕστατος αὖτε
357  Τυδεΐδης ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἐὼν λάχʼ ἐλαυνέμεν ἵππους.
358  στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί, σήμηνε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
359  τηλόθεν ἐν λείῳ πεδίῳ· παρὰ δὲ σκοπὸν εἷσεν
360  ἀντίθεον Φοίνικα ὀπάονα πατρὸς ἑοῖο,
361  ὡς μεμνέῳτο δρόμους καὶ ἀληθείην ἀποείποι.
362  οἳ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἐφʼ ἵπποιιν μάστιγας ἄειραν,
363  πέπληγόν θʼ ἱμᾶσιν, ὁμόκλησάν τʼ ἐπέεσσιν
364  ἐσσυμένως· οἳ δʼ ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο
365  νόσφι νεῶν ταχέως· ὑπὸ δὲ στέρνοισι κονίη
366  ἵστατʼ ἀειρομένη ὥς τε νέφος ἠὲ θύελλα,
367  χαῖται δʼ ἐρρώοντο μετὰ πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.
368  ἅρματα δʼ ἄλλοτε μὲν χθονὶ πίλνατο πουλυβοτείρῃ,
369  ἄλλοτε δʼ ἀΐξασκε μετήορα· τοὶ δʼ ἐλατῆρες
370  ἕστασαν ἐν δίφροισι, πάτασσε δὲ θυμὸς ἑκάστου
371  νίκης ἱεμένων· κέκλοντο δὲ οἷσιν ἕκαστος
372  ἵπποις, οἳ δʼ ἐπέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.
373  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον ὠκέες ἵπποι
374  ἂψ ἐφʼ ἁλὸς πολιῆς, τότε δὴ ἀρετή γε ἑκάστου
375  φαίνετʼ, ἄφαρ δʼ ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος· ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτα
376  αἳ Φηρητιάδαο ποδώκεες ἔκφερον ἵπποι.
377  τὰς δὲ μετʼ ἐξέφερον Διομήδεος ἄρσενες ἵπποι
378  Τρώϊοι, οὐδέ τι πολλὸν ἄνευθʼ ἔσαν, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐγγύς·
379  αἰεὶ γὰρ δίφρου ἐπιβησομένοισιν ἐΐκτην,
380  πνοιῇ δʼ Εὐμήλοιο μετάφρενον εὐρέε τʼ ὤμω
381  θέρμετʼ· ἐπʼ αὐτῷ γὰρ κεφαλὰς καταθέντε πετέσθην.
382  καί νύ κεν ἢ παρέλασσʼ ἢ ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν,
383  εἰ μὴ Τυδέος υἷϊ κοτέσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
384  ὅς ῥά οἱ ἐκ χειρῶν ἔβαλεν μάστιγα φαεινήν.
385  τοῖο δʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν χύτο δάκρυα χωομένοιο,
386  οὕνεκα τὰς μὲν ὅρα ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἰούσας,
387  οἳ δέ οἱ ἐβλάφθησαν ἄνευ κέντροιο θέοντες.
388  οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθηναίην ἐλεφηράμενος λάθʼ Ἀπόλλων
389  Τυδεΐδην, μάλα δʼ ὦκα μετέσσυτο ποιμένα λαῶν,
390  δῶκε δέ οἱ μάστιγα, μένος δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐνῆκεν·
391  ἣ δὲ μετʼ Ἀδμήτου υἱὸν κοτέουσʼ ἐβεβήκει,
392  ἵππειον δέ οἱ ἦξε θεὰ ζυγόν· αἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι
393  ἀμφὶς ὁδοῦ δραμέτην, ῥυμὸς δʼ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἐλύσθη.
394  αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο παρὰ τροχὸν ἐξεκυλίσθη,
395  ἀγκῶνάς τε περιδρύφθη στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε,
396  θρυλίχθη δὲ μέτωπον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι· τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
397  δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.
398  Τυδεΐδης δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους,
399  πολλὸν τῶν ἄλλων ἐξάλμενος· ἐν γὰρ Ἀθήνη
400  ἵπποις ἧκε μένος καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκε.
401  τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εἶχε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
402  Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο πατρὸς ἑοῖο·
403  ἔμβητον καὶ σφῶϊ· τιταίνετον ὅττι τάχιστα.
404  ἤτοι μὲν κείνοισιν ἐριζέμεν οὔ τι κελεύω
405  Τυδεΐδεω ἵπποισι δαΐφρονος, οἷσιν Ἀθήνη
406  νῦν ὤρεξε τάχος καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκεν·
407  ἵππους δʼ Ἀτρεΐδαο κιχάνετε, μὴ δὲ λίπησθον,
408  καρπαλίμως, μὴ σφῶϊν ἐλεγχείην καταχεύῃ
409  Αἴθη θῆλυς ἐοῦσα· τί ἢ λείπεσθε φέριστοι;
410  ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
411  οὐ σφῶϊν κομιδὴ παρὰ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶν
412  ἔσσεται, αὐτίκα δʼ ὔμμε κατακτενεῖ ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
413  αἴ κʼ ἀποκηδήσαντε φερώμεθα χεῖρον ἄεθλον.
414  ἀλλʼ ἐφομαρτεῖτον καὶ σπεύδετον ὅττι τάχιστα·
415  ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς τεχνήσομαι ἠδὲ νοήσω
416  στεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ παραδύμεναι, οὐδέ με λήσει.
417  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν
418  μᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην ὀλίγον χρόνον· αἶψα δʼ ἔπειτα
419  στεῖνος ὁδοῦ κοίλης ἴδεν Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμης.
420  ῥωχμὸς ἔην γαίης, ᾗ χειμέριον ἀλὲν ὕδωρ
421  ἐξέρρηξεν ὁδοῖο, βάθυνε δὲ χῶρον ἅπαντα·
422  τῇ ῥʼ εἶχεν Μενέλαος ἁματροχιὰς ἀλεείνων.
423  Ἀντίλοχος δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους
424  ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, ὀλίγον δὲ παρακλίνας ἐδίωκεν.
425  Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἔδεισε καὶ Ἀντιλόχῳ ἐγεγώνει·
426  Ἀντίλοχʼ ἀφραδέως ἱππάζεαι, ἀλλʼ ἄνεχʼ ἵππους·
427  στεινωπὸς γὰρ ὁδός, τάχα δʼ εὐρυτέρη παρελάσσαι·
428  μή πως ἀμφοτέρους δηλήσεαι ἅρματι κύρσας.
429  ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἔλαυνε
430  κέντρῳ ἐπισπέρχων ὡς οὐκ ἀΐοντι ἐοικώς.
431  ὅσσα δὲ δίσκου οὖρα κατωμαδίοιο πέλονται,
432  ὅν τʼ αἰζηὸς ἀφῆκεν ἀνὴρ πειρώμενος ἥβης,
433  τόσσον ἐπιδραμέτην· αἳ δʼ ἠρώησαν ὀπίσσω
434  Ἀτρεΐδεω· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἑκὼν μεθέηκεν ἐλαύνειν
435  μή πως συγκύρσειαν ὁδῷ ἔνι μώνυχες ἵπποι,
436  δίφρους τʼ ἀνστρέψειαν ἐϋπλεκέας, κατὰ δʼ αὐτοὶ
437  ἐν κονίῃσι πέσοιεν ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης.
438  τὸν καὶ νεικείων προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
439  Ἀντίλοχʼ οὔ τις σεῖο βροτῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·
440  ἔρρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ σʼ ἔτυμόν γε φάμεν πεπνῦσθαι Ἀχαιοί.
441  ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν οὐδʼ ὧς ἄτερ ὅρκου οἴσῃ ἄεθλον.
442  ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο φώνησέν τε·
443  μή μοι ἐρύκεσθον μὴ δʼ ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.
444  φθήσονται τούτοισι πόδες καὶ γοῦνα καμόντα
445  ἢ ὑμῖν· ἄμφω γὰρ ἀτέμβονται νεότητος.
446  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν
447  μᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην, τάχα δέ σφισιν ἄγχι γένοντο.
448  Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσορόωντο
449  ἵππους· τοὶ δὲ πέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.
450  πρῶτος δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἐφράσαθʼ ἵππους·
451  ἧστο γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἀγῶνος ὑπέρτατος ἐν περιωπῇ·
452  τοῖο δʼ ἄνευθεν ἐόντος ὁμοκλητῆρος ἀκούσας
453  ἔγνω, φράσσατο δʼ ἵππον ἀριπρεπέα προὔχοντα,
454  ὃς τὸ μὲν ἄλλο τόσον φοῖνιξ ἦν, ἐν δὲ μετώπῳ
455  λευκὸν σῆμα τέτυκτο περίτροχον ἠΰτε μήνη.
456  στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
457  ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
458  οἶος ἐγὼν ἵππους αὐγάζομαι ἦε καὶ ὑμεῖς;
459  ἄλλοι μοι δοκέουσι παροίτεροι ἔμμεναι ἵπποι,
460  ἄλλος δʼ ἡνίοχος ἰνδάλλεται· αἳ δέ που αὐτοῦ
461  ἔβλαβεν ἐν πεδίῳ, αἳ κεῖσέ γε φέρτεραι ἦσαν·
462  ἤτοι γὰρ τὰς πρῶτα ἴδον περὶ τέρμα βαλούσας,
463  νῦν δʼ οὔ πῃ δύναμαι ἰδέειν· πάντῃ δέ μοι ὄσσε
464  Τρωϊκὸν ἂμ πεδίον παπταίνετον εἰσορόωντι·
465  ἦε τὸν ἡνίοχον φύγον ἡνία, οὐδὲ δυνάσθη
466  εὖ σχεθέειν περὶ τέρμα καὶ οὐκ ἐτύχησεν ἑλίξας·
467  ἔνθά μιν ἐκπεσέειν ὀΐω σύν θʼ ἅρματα ἆξαι,
468  αἳ δʼ ἐξηρώησαν, ἐπεὶ μένος ἔλλαβε θυμόν.
469  ἀλλὰ ἴδεσθε καὶ ὔμμες ἀνασταδόν· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε
470  εὖ διαγιγνώσκω· δοκέει δέ μοι ἔμμεναι ἀνὴρ
471  Αἰτωλὸς γενεήν, μετὰ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἀνάσσει
472  Τυδέος ἱπποδάμου υἱὸς κρατερὸς Διομήδης.
473  τὸν δʼ αἰσχρῶς ἐνένιπεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας·
474  Ἰδομενεῦ τί πάρος λαβρεύεαι; αἳ δέ τʼ ἄνευθεν
475  ἵπποι ἀερσίποδες πολέος πεδίοιο δίενται.
476  οὔτε νεώτατός ἐσσι μετʼ Ἀργείοισι τοσοῦτον,
477  οὔτέ τοι ὀξύτατον κεφαλῆς ἐκδέρκεται ὄσσε·
478  ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ μύθοις λαβρεύεαι· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
479  λαβραγόρην ἔμεναι· πάρα γὰρ καὶ ἀμείνονες ἄλλοι.
480  ἵπποι δʼ αὐταὶ ἔασι παροίτεραι, αἳ τὸ πάρος περ,
481  Εὐμήλου, ἐν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχων εὔληρα βέβηκε.
482  τὸν δὲ χολωσάμενος Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
483  Αἶαν νεῖκος ἄριστε κακοφραδὲς ἄλλά τε πάντα
484  δεύεαι Ἀργείων, ὅτι τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής.
485  δεῦρό νυν ἢ τρίποδος περιδώμεθον ἠὲ λέβητος,
486  ἴστορα δʼ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα θείομεν ἄμφω,
487  ὁππότεραι πρόσθʼ ἵπποι, ἵνα γνώῃς ἀποτίνων.
488  ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας
489  χωόμενος χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείψασθαι ἐπέεσσι·
490  καί νύ κε δὴ προτέρω ἔτʼ ἔρις γένετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν,
491  εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ φάτο μῦθον·
492  μηκέτι νῦν χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείβεσθον ἐπέεσσιν
493  Αἶαν Ἰδομενεῦ τε κακοῖς, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε.
494  καὶ δʼ ἄλλῳ νεμεσᾶτον ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.
495  ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσοράασθε
496  ἵππους· οἳ δὲ τάχʼ αὐτοὶ ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης
497  ἐνθάδʼ ἐλεύσονται· τότε δὲ γνώσεσθε ἕκαστος
498  ἵππους Ἀργείων, οἳ δεύτεροι οἵ τε πάροιθεν.
499  ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἦλθε διώκων,
500  μάστι δʼ αἰὲν ἔλαυνε κατωμαδόν· οἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι
501  ὑψόσʼ ἀειρέσθην ῥίμφα πρήσσοντε κέλευθον.
502  αἰεὶ δʼ ἡνίοχον κονίης ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον,
503  ἅρματα δὲ χρυσῷ πεπυκασμένα κασσιτέρῳ τε
504  ἵπποις ὠκυπόδεσσιν ἐπέτρεχον· οὐδέ τι πολλὴ
505  γίγνετʼ ἐπισσώτρων ἁρματροχιὴ κατόπισθεν
506  ἐν λεπτῇ κονίῃ· τὼ δὲ σπεύδοντε πετέσθην.
507  στῆ δὲ μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι, πολὺς δʼ ἀνεκήκιεν ἱδρὼς
508  ἵππων ἔκ τε λόφων καὶ ἀπὸ στέρνοιο χαμᾶζε.
509  αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντος,
510  κλῖνε δʼ ἄρα μάστιγα ποτὶ ζυγόν· οὐδὲ μάτησεν
511  ἴφθιμος Σθένελος, ἀλλʼ ἐσσυμένως λάβʼ ἄεθλον,
512  δῶκε δʼ ἄγειν ἑτάροισιν ὑπερθύμοισι γυναῖκα
513  καὶ τρίποδʼ ὠτώεντα φέρειν· ὃ δʼ ἔλυεν ὑφʼ ἵππους.
514  τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀντίλοχος Νηλήϊος ἤλασεν ἵππους
515  κέρδεσιν, οὔ τι τάχει γε, παραφθάμενος Μενέλαον·
516  ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς Μενέλαος ἔχʼ ἐγγύθεν ὠκέας ἵππους.
517  ὅσσον δὲ τροχοῦ ἵππος ἀφίσταται, ὅς ῥα ἄνακτα
518  ἕλκῃσιν πεδίοιο τιταινόμενος σὺν ὄχεσφι·
519  τοῦ μέν τε ψαύουσιν ἐπισσώτρου τρίχες ἄκραι
520  οὐραῖαι· ὃ δέ τʼ ἄγχι μάλα τρέχει, οὐδέ τι πολλὴ
521  χώρη μεσσηγὺς πολέος πεδίοιο θέοντος·
522  τόσσον δὴ Μενέλαος ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο
523  λείπετʼ· ἀτὰρ τὰ πρῶτα καὶ ἐς δίσκουρα λέλειπτο,
524  ἀλλά μιν αἶψα κίχανεν· ὀφέλλετο γὰρ μένος ἠῢ
525  ἵππου τῆς Ἀγαμεμνονέης καλλίτριχος Αἴθης·
526  εἰ δέ κʼ ἔτι προτέρω γένετο δρόμος ἀμφοτέροισι,
527  τώ κέν μιν παρέλασσʼ οὐδʼ ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν.
528  αὐτὰρ Μηριόνης θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος
529  λείπετʼ ἀγακλῆος Μενελάου δουρὸς ἐρωήν·
530  βάρδιστοι μὲν γάρ οἱ ἔσαν καλλίτριχες ἵπποι,
531  ἤκιστος δʼ ἦν αὐτὸς ἐλαυνέμεν ἅρμʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι.
532  υἱὸς δʼ Ἀδμήτοιο πανύστατος ἤλυθεν ἄλλων
533  ἕλκων ἅρματα καλὰ ἐλαύνων πρόσσοθεν ἵππους.
534  τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτειρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
535  στὰς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Ἀργείοις ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευε·
536  λοῖσθος ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐλαύνει μώνυχας ἵππους·
537  ἀλλʼ ἄγε δή οἱ δῶμεν ἀέθλιον ὡς ἐπιεικὲς
538  δεύτερʼ· ἀτὰρ τὰ πρῶτα φερέσθω Τυδέος υἱός.
539  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ὡς ἐκέλευε.
540  καί νύ κέ οἱ πόρεν ἵππον, ἐπῄνησαν γὰρ Ἀχαιοί,
541  εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ Ἀντίλοχος μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς
542  Πηλεΐδην Ἀχιλῆα δίκῃ ἠμείψατʼ ἀναστάς·
543  ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ μάλα τοι κεχολώσομαι αἴ κε τελέσσῃς
544  τοῦτο ἔπος· μέλλεις γὰρ ἀφαιρήσεσθαι ἄεθλον
545  τὰ φρονέων ὅτι οἱ βλάβεν ἅρματα καὶ ταχέʼ ἵππω
546  αὐτός τʼ ἐσθλὸς ἐών· ἀλλʼ ὤφελεν ἀθανάτοισιν
547  εὔχεσθαι· τό κεν οὔ τι πανύστατος ἦλθε διώκων.
548  εἰ δέ μιν οἰκτίρεις καί τοι φίλος ἔπλετο θυμῷ
549  ἔστί τοι ἐν κλισίῃ χρυσὸς πολύς, ἔστι δὲ χαλκὸς
550  καὶ πρόβατʼ, εἰσὶ δέ τοι δμῳαὶ καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι·
551  τῶν οἱ ἔπειτʼ ἀνελὼν δόμεναι καὶ μεῖζον ἄεθλον
552  ἠὲ καὶ αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα σʼ αἰνήσωσιν Ἀχαιοί.
553  τὴν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐ δώσω· περὶ δʼ αὐτῆς πειρηθήτω
554  ἀνδρῶν ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν ἐμοὶ χείρεσσι μάχεσθαι.
555  ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
556  χαίρων Ἀντιλόχῳ, ὅτι οἱ φίλος ἦεν ἑταῖρος·
557  καί μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
558  Ἀντίλοχʼ, εἰ μὲν δή με κελεύεις οἴκοθεν ἄλλο
559  Εὐμήλῳ ἐπιδοῦναι, ἐγὼ δέ κε καὶ τὸ τελέσσω.
560  δώσω οἱ θώρηκα, τὸν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων
561  χάλκεον, ᾧ πέρι χεῦμα φαεινοῦ κασσιτέροιο
562  ἀμφιδεδίνηται· πολέος δέ οἱ ἄξιος ἔσται.
563  ἦ ῥα, καὶ Αὐτομέδοντι φίλῳ ἐκέλευσεν ἑταίρῳ
564  οἰσέμεναι κλισίηθεν· ὃ δʼ ᾤχετο καί οἱ ἔνεικεν,
565  Εὐμήλῳ δʼ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει· ὃ δὲ δέξατο χαίρων.
566  τοῖσι δὲ καὶ Μενέλαος ἀνίστατο θυμὸν ἀχεύων
567  Ἀντιλόχῳ ἄμοτον κεχολωμένος· ἐν δʼ ἄρα κῆρυξ
568  χειρὶ σκῆπτρον ἔθηκε, σιωπῆσαί τε κέλευσεν
569  Ἀργείους· ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα μετηύδα ἰσόθεος φώς·
570  Ἀντίλοχε πρόσθεν πεπνυμένε ποῖον ἔρεξας.
571  ᾔσχυνας μὲν ἐμὴν ἀρετήν, βλάψας δέ μοι ἵππους
572  τοὺς σοὺς πρόσθε βαλών, οἵ τοι πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν.
573  ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
574  ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέροισι δικάσσατε, μὴ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀρωγῇ,
575  μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·
576  Ἀντίλοχον ψεύδεσσι βιησάμενος Μενέλαος
577  οἴχεται ἵππον ἄγων, ὅτι οἱ πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν
578  ἵπποι, αὐτὸς δὲ κρείσσων ἀρετῇ τε βίῃ τε.
579  εἰ δʼ ἄγʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς δικάσω, καί μʼ οὔ τινά φημι
580  ἄλλον ἐπιπλήξειν Δαναῶν· ἰθεῖα γὰρ ἔσται.
581  Ἀντίλοχʼ εἰ δʼ ἄγε δεῦρο διοτρεφές, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,
582  στὰς ἵππων προπάροιθε καὶ ἅρματος, αὐτὰρ ἱμάσθλην
583  χερσὶν ἔχε ῥαδινήν, ᾗ περ τὸ πρόσθεν ἔλαυνες,
584  ἵππων ἁψάμενος γαιήοχον ἐννοσίγαιον
585  ὄμνυθι μὴ μὲν ἑκὼν τὸ ἐμὸν δόλῳ ἅρμα πεδῆσαι.
586  τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίλοχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
587  ἄνσχεο νῦν· πολλὸν γὰρ ἔγωγε νεώτερός εἰμι
588  σεῖο ἄναξ Μενέλαε, σὺ δὲ πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων.
589  οἶσθʼ οἷαι νέου ἀνδρὸς ὑπερβασίαι τελέθουσι·
590  κραιπνότερος μὲν γάρ τε νόος, λεπτὴ δέ τε μῆτις.
591  τώ τοι ἐπιτλήτω κραδίη· ἵππον δέ τοι αὐτὸς
592  δώσω, τὴν ἀρόμην. εἰ καί νύ κεν οἴκοθεν ἄλλο
593  μεῖζον ἐπαιτήσειας, ἄφαρ κέ τοι αὐτίκα δοῦναι
594  βουλοίμην ἢ σοί γε διοτρεφὲς ἤματα πάντα
595  ἐκ θυμοῦ πεσέειν καὶ δαίμοσιν εἶναι ἀλιτρός.
596  ἦ ῥα καὶ ἵππον ἄγων μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς
597  ἐν χείρεσσι τίθει Μενελάου· τοῖο δὲ θυμὸς
598  ἰάνθη ὡς εἴ τε περὶ σταχύεσσιν ἐέρση
599  ληΐου ἀλδήσκοντος, ὅτε φρίσσουσιν ἄρουραι·
600  ὣς ἄρα σοὶ Μενέλαε μετὰ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.
601  καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
602  Ἀντίλοχε νῦν μέν τοι ἐγὼν ὑποείξομαι αὐτὸς
603  χωόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι παρήορος οὐδʼ ἀεσίφρων
604  ἦσθα πάρος· νῦν αὖτε νόον νίκησε νεοίη.
605  δεύτερον αὖτʼ ἀλέασθαι ἀμείνονας ἠπεροπεύειν.
606  οὐ γάρ κέν με τάχʼ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ παρέπεισεν Ἀχαιῶν.
607  ἀλλὰ σὺ γὰρ δὴ πολλὰ πάθες καὶ πολλὰ μόγησας
608  σός τε πατὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ ἀδελφεὸς εἵνεκʼ ἐμεῖο·
609  τώ τοι λισσομένῳ ἐπιπείσομαι, ἠδὲ καὶ ἵππον
610  δώσω ἐμήν περ ἐοῦσαν, ἵνα γνώωσι καὶ οἵδε
611  ὡς ἐμὸς οὔ ποτε θυμὸς ὑπερφίαλος καὶ ἀπηνής.
612  ἦ ῥα, καὶ Ἀντιλόχοιο Νοήμονι δῶκεν ἑταίρῳ
613  ἵππον ἄγειν· ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα λέβηθʼ ἕλε παμφανόωντα.
614  Μηριόνης δʼ ἀνάειρε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα
615  τέτρατος, ὡς ἔλασεν. πέμπτον δʼ ὑπελείπετʼ ἄεθλον,
616  ἀμφίθετος φιάλη· τὴν Νέστορι δῶκεν Ἀχιλλεὺς
617  Ἀργείων ἀνʼ ἀγῶνα φέρων, καὶ ἔειπε παραστάς·
618  τῆ νῦν, καὶ σοὶ τοῦτο γέρον κειμήλιον ἔστω
619  Πατρόκλοιο τάφου μνῆμʼ ἔμμεναι· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ αὐτὸν
620  ὄψῃ ἐν Ἀργείοισι· δίδωμι δέ τοι τόδʼ ἄεθλον
621  αὔτως· οὐ γὰρ πύξ γε μαχήσεαι, οὐδὲ παλαίσεις,
622  οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀκοντιστὺν ἐσδύσεαι, οὐδὲ πόδεσσι
623  θεύσεαι· ἤδη γὰρ χαλεπὸν κατὰ γῆρας ἐπείγει.
624  ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει· ὃ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων,
625  καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
626  ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα τέκος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·
627  οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμπεδα γυῖα φίλος πόδες, οὐδέ τι χεῖρες
628  ὤμων ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐπαΐσσονται ἐλαφραί.
629  εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη
630  ὡς ὁπότε κρείοντʼ Ἀμαρυγκέα θάπτον Ἐπειοὶ
631  Βουπρασίῳ, παῖδες δʼ ἔθεσαν βασιλῆος ἄεθλα·
632  ἔνθʼ οὔ τίς μοι ὁμοῖος ἀνὴρ γένετʼ, οὔτʼ ἄρʼ Ἐπειῶν
633  οὔτʼ αὐτῶν Πυλίων οὔτʼ Αἰτωλῶν μεγαθύμων.
634  πὺξ μὲν ἐνίκησα Κλυτομήδεα Ἤνοπος υἱόν,
635  Ἀγκαῖον δὲ πάλῃ Πλευρώνιον, ὅς μοι ἀνέστη·
636  Ἴφικλον δὲ πόδεσσι παρέδραμον ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα,
637  δουρὶ δʼ ὑπειρέβαλον Φυλῆά τε καὶ Πολύδωρον.
638  οἴοισίν μʼ ἵπποισι παρήλασαν Ἀκτορίωνε
639  πλήθει πρόσθε βαλόντες ἀγασσάμενοι περὶ νίκης,
640  οὕνεκα δὴ τὰ μέγιστα παρʼ αὐτόθι λείπετʼ ἄεθλα.
641  οἳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔσαν δίδυμοι· ὃ μὲν ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευεν,
642  ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευʼ, ὃ δʼ ἄρα μάστιγι κέλευεν.
643  ὥς ποτʼ ἔον· νῦν αὖτε νεώτεροι ἀντιοώντων
644  ἔργων τοιούτων· ἐμὲ δὲ χρὴ γήραϊ λυγρῷ
645  πείθεσθαι, τότε δʼ αὖτε μετέπρεπον ἡρώεσσιν.
646  ἀλλʼ ἴθι καὶ σὸν ἑταῖρον ἀέθλοισι κτερέϊζε.
647  τοῦτο δʼ ἐγὼ πρόφρων δέχομαι, χαίρει δέ μοι ἦτορ,
648  ὥς μευ ἀεὶ μέμνησαι ἐνηέος, οὐδέ σε λήθω,
649  τιμῆς ἧς τέ μʼ ἔοικε τετιμῆσθαι μετʼ Ἀχαιοῖς.
650  σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τῶνδʼ ἀντὶ χάριν μενοεικέα δοῖεν.
651  ὣς φάτο, Πηλεΐδης δὲ πολὺν καθʼ ὅμιλον Ἀχαιῶν
652  ᾤχετʼ, ἐπεὶ πάντʼ αἶνον ἐπέκλυε Νηλεΐδαο.
653  αὐτὰρ ὃ πυγμαχίης ἀλεγεινῆς θῆκεν ἄεθλα·
654  ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κατέδησʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι
655  ἑξέτεʼ ἀδμήτην, ἥ τʼ ἀλγίστη δαμάσασθαι·
656  τῷ δʼ ἄρα νικηθέντι τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον.
657  στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
658  Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
659  ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,
660  πὺξ μάλʼ ἀνασχομένω πεπληγέμεν· ᾧ δέ κʼ Ἀπόλλων
661  δώῃ καμμονίην, γνώωσι δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,
662  ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κλισίην δὲ νεέσθω·
663  αὐτὰρ ὃ νικηθεὶς δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον.
664  ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε
665  εἰδὼς πυγμαχίης υἱὸς Πανοπῆος Ἐπειός,
666  ἅψατο δʼ ἡμιόνου ταλαεργοῦ φώνησέν τε·
667  ἆσσον ἴτω ὅς τις δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον·
668  ἡμίονον δʼ οὔ φημί τινʼ ἀξέμεν ἄλλον Ἀχαιῶν
669  πυγμῇ νικήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ εὔχομαι εἶναι ἄριστος.
670  ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὅττι μάχης ἐπιδεύομαι; οὐδʼ ἄρα πως ἦν
671  ἐν πάντεσσʼ ἔργοισι δαήμονα φῶτα γενέσθαι.
672  ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
673  ἀντικρὺ χρόα τε ῥήξω σύν τʼ ὀστέʼ ἀράξω.
674  κηδεμόνες δέ οἱ ἐνθάδʼ ἀολλέες αὖθι μενόντων,
675  οἵ κέ μιν ἐξοίσουσιν ἐμῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶ δαμέντα.
676  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.
677  Εὐρύαλος δέ οἱ οἶος ἀνίστατο ἰσόθεος φὼς
678  Μηκιστῆος υἱὸς Ταλαϊονίδαο ἄνακτος,
679  ὅς ποτε Θήβας δʼ ἦλθε δεδουπότος Οἰδιπόδαο
680  ἐς τάφον· ἔνθα δὲ πάντας ἐνίκα Καδμείωνας.
681  τὸν μὲν Τυδεΐδης δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἀμφεπονεῖτο
682  θαρσύνων ἔπεσιν, μέγα δʼ αὐτῷ βούλετο νίκην.
683  ζῶμα δέ οἱ πρῶτον παρακάββαλεν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
684  δῶκεν ἱμάντας ἐϋτμήτους βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο.
685  τὼ δὲ ζωσαμένω βήτην ἐς μέσσον ἀγῶνα,
686  ἄντα δʼ ἀνασχομένω χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν ἅμʼ ἄμφω
687  σύν ῥʼ ἔπεσον, σὺν δέ σφι βαρεῖαι χεῖρες ἔμιχθεν.
688  δεινὸς δὲ χρόμαδος γενύων γένετʼ, ἔρρεε δʼ ἱδρὼς
689  πάντοθεν ἐκ μελέων· ἐπὶ δʼ ὄρνυτο δῖος Ἐπειός,
690  κόψε δὲ παπτήναντα παρήϊον· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν
691  ἑστήκειν· αὐτοῦ γὰρ ὑπήριπε φαίδιμα γυῖα.
692  ὡς δʼ ὅθʼ ὑπὸ φρικὸς Βορέω ἀναπάλλεται ἰχθὺς
693  θίνʼ ἐν φυκιόεντι, μέλαν δέ ἑ κῦμα κάλυψεν,
694  ὣς πληγεὶς ἀνέπαλτʼ· αὐτὰρ μεγάθυμος Ἐπειὸς
695  χερσὶ λαβὼν ὤρθωσε· φίλοι δʼ ἀμφέσταν ἑταῖροι,
696  οἵ μιν ἄγον διʼ ἀγῶνος ἐφελκομένοισι πόδεσσιν
697  αἷμα παχὺ πτύοντα κάρη βάλλονθʼ ἑτέρωσε·
698  κὰδ δʼ ἀλλοφρονέοντα μετὰ σφίσιν εἷσαν ἄγοντες,
699  αὐτοὶ δʼ οἰχόμενοι κόμισαν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον.
700  Πηλεΐδης δʼ αἶψʼ ἄλλα κατὰ τρίτα θῆκεν ἄεθλα
701  δεικνύμενος Δαναοῖσι παλαισμοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς,
702  τῷ μὲν νικήσαντι μέγαν τρίποδʼ ἐμπυριβήτην,
703  τὸν δὲ δυωδεκάβοιον ἐνὶ σφίσι τῖον Ἀχαιοί·
704  ἀνδρὶ δὲ νικηθέντι γυναῖκʼ ἐς μέσσον ἔθηκε,
705  πολλὰ δʼ ἐπίστατο ἔργα, τίον δέ ἑ τεσσαράβοιον.
706  στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
707  ὄρνυσθʼ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθον.
708  ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
709  ἂν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις ἀνίστατο κέρδεα εἰδώς.
710  ζωσαμένω δʼ ἄρα τώ γε βάτην ἐς μέσσον ἀγῶνα,
711  ἀγκὰς δʼ ἀλλήλων λαβέτην χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν
712  ὡς ὅτʼ ἀμείβοντες, τούς τε κλυτὸς ἤραρε τέκτων
713  δώματος ὑψηλοῖο βίας ἀνέμων ἀλεείνων.
714  τετρίγει δʼ ἄρα νῶτα θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν
715  ἑλκόμενα στερεῶς· κατὰ δὲ νότιος ῥέεν ἱδρώς,
716  πυκναὶ δὲ σμώδιγγες ἀνὰ πλευράς τε καὶ ὤμους
717  αἵματι φοινικόεσσαι ἀνέδραμον· οἳ δὲ μάλʼ αἰεὶ
718  νίκης ἱέσθην τρίποδος πέρι ποιητοῖο·
719  οὔτʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δύνατο σφῆλαι οὔδει τε πελάσσαι,
720  οὔτʼ Αἴας δύνατο, κρατερὴ δʼ ἔχεν ἲς Ὀδυσῆος.
721  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἀνίαζον ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,
722  δὴ τότε μιν προσέειπε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·
723  διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ
724  ἤ μʼ ἀνάειρʼ, ἢ ἐγὼ σέ· τὰ δʼ αὖ Διὶ πάντα μελήσει.
725  ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνάειρε· δόλου δʼ οὐ λήθετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·
726  κόψʼ ὄπιθεν κώληπα τυχών, ὑπέλυσε δὲ γυῖα,
727  κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλʼ ἐξοπίσω· ἐπὶ δὲ στήθεσσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς
728  κάππεσε· λαοὶ δʼ αὖ θηεῦντό τε θάμβησάν τε.
729  δεύτερος αὖτʼ ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
730  κίνησεν δʼ ἄρα τυτθὸν ἀπὸ χθονός, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἄειρεν,
731  ἐν δὲ γόνυ γνάμψεν· ἐπὶ δὲ χθονὶ κάππεσον ἄμφω
732  πλησίοι ἀλλήλοισι, μιάνθησαν δὲ κονίῃ.
733  καί νύ κε τὸ τρίτον αὖτις ἀναΐξαντʼ ἐπάλαιον,
734  εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ κατέρυκε·
735  μηκέτʼ ἐρείδεσθον, μὴ δὲ τρίβεσθε κακοῖσι·
736  νίκη δʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν· ἀέθλια δʼ ἶσʼ ἀνελόντες
737  ἔρχεσθʼ, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλοι ἀεθλεύωσιν Ἀχαιοί.
738  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο,
739  καί ῥʼ ἀπομορξαμένω κονίην δύσαντο χιτῶνας.
740  Πηλεΐδης δʼ αἶψʼ ἄλλα τίθει ταχυτῆτος ἄεθλα
741  ἀργύρεον κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἓξ δʼ ἄρα μέτρα
742  χάνδανεν, αὐτὰρ κάλλει ἐνίκα πᾶσαν ἐπʼ αἶαν
743  πολλόν, ἐπεὶ Σιδόνες πολυδαίδαλοι εὖ ἤσκησαν,
744  Φοίνικες δʼ ἄγον ἄνδρες ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον,
745  στῆσαν δʼ ἐν λιμένεσσι, Θόαντι δὲ δῶρον ἔδωκαν·
746  υἷος δὲ Πριάμοιο Λυκάονος ὦνον ἔδωκε
747  Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ Ἰησονίδης Εὔνηος.
748  καὶ τὸν Ἀχιλλεὺς θῆκεν ἄεθλον οὗ ἑτάροιο,
749  ὅς τις ἐλαφρότατος ποσσὶ κραιπνοῖσι πέλοιτο·
750  δευτέρῳ αὖ βοῦν θῆκε μέγαν καὶ πίονα δημῷ,
751  ἡμιτάλαντον δὲ χρυσοῦ λοισθήϊʼ ἔθηκε.
752  στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
753  ὄρνυσθʼ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθε.
754  ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας,
755  ἂν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις, ἔπειτα δὲ Νέστορος υἱὸς
756  Ἀντίλοχος· ὃ γὰρ αὖτε νέους ποσὶ πάντας ἐνίκα.
757  στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί· σήμηνε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀχιλλεύς.
758  τοῖσι δʼ ἀπὸ νύσσης τέτατο δρόμος· ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτα
759  ἔκφερʼ Ὀϊλιάδης· ἐπὶ δʼ ὄρνυτο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
760  ἄγχι μάλʼ, ὡς ὅτε τίς τε γυναικὸς ἐϋζώνοιο
761  στήθεός ἐστι κανών, ὅν τʼ εὖ μάλα χερσὶ τανύσσῃ
762  πηνίον ἐξέλκουσα παρὲκ μίτον, ἀγχόθι δʼ ἴσχει
763  στήθεος· ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς θέεν ἐγγύθεν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν
764  ἴχνια τύπτε πόδεσσι πάρος κόνιν ἀμφιχυθῆναι·
765  κὰδ δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεφαλῆς χέʼ ἀϋτμένα δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
766  αἰεὶ ῥίμφα θέων· ἴαχον δʼ ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοὶ
767  νίκης ἱεμένῳ, μάλα δὲ σπεύδοντι κέλευον.
768  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον, αὐτίκʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
769  εὔχετʼ Ἀθηναίῃ γλαυκώπιδι ὃν κατὰ θυμόν·
770  κλῦθι θεά, ἀγαθή μοι ἐπίρροθος ἐλθὲ ποδοῖιν.
771  ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος· τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,
772  γυῖα δʼ ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρά, πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.
773  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλον ἐπαΐξασθαι ἄεθλον,
774  ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ὄλισθε θέων, βλάψεν γὰρ Ἀθήνη,
775  τῇ ῥα βοῶν κέχυτʼ ὄνθος ἀποκταμένων ἐριμύκων,
776  οὓς ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ πέφνεν πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
777  ἐν δʼ ὄνθου βοέου πλῆτο στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε·
778  κρητῆρʼ αὖτʼ ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
779  ὡς ἦλθε φθάμενος· ὃ δὲ βοῦν ἕλε φαίδιμος Αἴας.
780  στῆ δὲ κέρας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο
781  ὄνθον ἀποπτύων, μετὰ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
782  ὢ πόποι ἦ μʼ ἔβλαψε θεὰ πόδας, ἣ τὸ πάρος περ
783  μήτηρ ὣς Ὀδυσῆϊ παρίσταται ἠδʼ ἐπαρήγει.
784  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν.
785  Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἄρα δὴ λοισθήϊον ἔκφερʼ ἄεθλον
786  μειδιόων, καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
787  εἰδόσιν ὔμμʼ ἐρέω πᾶσιν φίλοι, ὡς ἔτι καὶ νῦν
788  ἀθάνατοι τιμῶσι παλαιοτέρους ἀνθρώπους.
789  Αἴας μὲν γὰρ ἐμεῖʼ ὀλίγον προγενέστερός ἐστιν,
790  οὗτος δὲ προτέρης γενεῆς προτέρων τʼ ἀνθρώπων·
791  ὠμογέροντα δέ μίν φασʼ ἔμμεναι· ἀργαλέον δὲ
792  ποσσὶν ἐριδήσασθαι Ἀχαιοῖς, εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεῖ.
793  ὣς φάτο, κύδηνεν δὲ ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα.
794  τὸν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
795  Ἀντίλοχʼ οὐ μέν τοι μέλεος εἰρήσεται αἶνος,
796  ἀλλά τοι ἡμιτάλαντον ἐγὼ χρυσοῦ ἐπιθήσω.
797  ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὃ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων.
798  αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος
799  θῆκʼ ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων, κατὰ δʼ ἀσπίδα καὶ τρυφάλειαν
800  τεύχεα Σαρπήδοντος, ἅ μιν Πάτροκλος ἀπηύρα.
801  στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
802  ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,
803  τεύχεα ἑσσαμένω ταμεσίχροα χαλκὸν ἑλόντε
804  ἀλλήλων προπάροιθεν ὁμίλου πειρηθῆναι.
805  ὁππότερός κε φθῇσιν ὀρεξάμενος χρόα καλόν,
806  ψαύσῃ δʼ ἐνδίνων διά τʼ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα,
807  τῷ μὲν ἐγὼ δώσω τόδε φάσγανον ἀργυρόηλον
808  καλὸν Θρηΐκιον, τὸ μὲν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων·
809  τεύχεα δʼ ἀμφότεροι ξυνήϊα ταῦτα φερέσθων·
810  καί σφιν δαῖτʼ ἀγαθὴν παραθήσομεν ἐν κλισίῃσιν.
811  ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
812  ἂν δʼ ἄρα Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο, κρατερὸς Διομήδης.
813  οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν,
814  ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρω συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι
815  δεινὸν δερκομένω· θάμβος δʼ ἔχε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.
816  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
817  τρὶς μὲν ἐπήϊξαν, τρὶς δὲ σχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν.
818  ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ἔπειτα κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην
819  νύξʼ, οὐδὲ χρόʼ ἵκανεν· ἔρυτο γὰρ ἔνδοθι θώρηξ·
820  Τυδεΐδης δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα ὑπὲρ σάκεος μεγάλοιο
821  αἰὲν ἐπʼ αὐχένι κῦρε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ.
822  καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ Αἴαντι περιδείσαντες Ἀχαιοὶ
823  παυσαμένους ἐκέλευσαν ἀέθλια ἶσʼ ἀνελέσθαι.
824  αὐτὰρ Τυδεΐδῃ δῶκεν μέγα φάσγανον ἥρως
825  σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι.
826  αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης θῆκεν σόλον αὐτοχόωνον
827  ὃν πρὶν μὲν ῥίπτασκε μέγα σθένος Ἠετίωνος·
828  ἀλλʼ ἤτοι τὸν ἔπεφνε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
829  τὸν δʼ ἄγετʼ ἐν νήεσσι σὺν ἄλλοισι κτεάτεσσι.
830  στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
831  ὄρνυσθʼ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθε.
832  εἴ οἱ καὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἀπόπροθι πίονες ἀγροί,
833  ἕξει μιν καὶ πέντε περιπλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺς
834  χρεώμενος· οὐ μὲν γάρ οἱ ἀτεμβόμενός γε σιδήρου
835  ποιμὴν οὐδʼ ἀροτὴρ εἶσʼ ἐς πόλιν, ἀλλὰ παρέξει.
836  ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης,
837  ἂν δὲ Λεοντῆος κρατερὸν μένος ἀντιθέοιο,
838  ἂν δʼ Αἴας Τελαμωνιάδης καὶ δῖος Ἐπειός.
839  ἑξείης δʼ ἵσταντο, σόλον δʼ ἕλε δῖος Ἐπειός,
840  ἧκε δὲ δινήσας· γέλασαν δʼ ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοί.
841  δεύτερος αὖτʼ ἀφέηκε Λεοντεὺς ὄζος Ἄρηος·
842  τὸ τρίτον αὖτʼ ἔρριψε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας
843  χειρὸς ἄπο στιβαρῆς, καὶ ὑπέρβαλε σήματα πάντων.
844  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σόλον εἷλε μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης,
845  ὅσσόν τίς τʼ ἔρριψε καλαύροπα βουκόλος ἀνήρ,
846  ἣ δέ θʼ ἑλισσομένη πέτεται διὰ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
847  τόσσον παντὸς ἀγῶνος ὑπέρβαλε· τοὶ δὲ βόησαν.
848  ἀνστάντες δʼ ἕταροι Πολυποίταο κρατεροῖο
849  νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς ἔφερον βασιλῆος ἄεθλον.
850  αὐτὰρ ὃ τοξευτῇσι τίθει ἰόεντα σίδηρον,
851  κὰδ δʼ ἐτίθει δέκα μὲν πελέκεας, δέκα δʼ ἡμιπέλεκκα,
852  ἱστὸν δʼ ἔστησεν νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
853  τηλοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ἐκ δὲ τρήρωνα πέλειαν
854  λεπτῇ μηρίνθῳ δῆσεν ποδός, ἧς ἄρʼ ἀνώγει
855  τοξεύειν· ὃς μέν κε βάλῃ τρήρωνα πέλειαν,
856  πάντας ἀειράμενος πελέκεας οἶκον δὲ φερέσθω·
857  ὃς δέ κε μηρίνθοιο τύχῃ ὄρνιθος ἁμαρτών,
858  ἥσσων γὰρ δὴ κεῖνος, ὃ δʼ οἴσεται ἡμιπέλεκκα.
859  ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα βίη Τεύκροιο ἄνακτος,
860  ἂν δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος.
861  κλήρους δʼ ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλον ἑλόντες,
862  Τεῦκρος δὲ πρῶτος κλήρῳ λάχεν· αὐτίκα δʼ ἰὸν
863  ἧκεν ἐπικρατέως, οὐδʼ ἠπείλησεν ἄνακτι
864  ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην.
865  ὄρνιθος μὲν ἅμαρτε· μέγηρε γάρ οἱ τό γʼ Ἀπόλλων·
866  αὐτὰρ ὃ μήρινθον βάλε πὰρ πόδα, τῇ δέδετʼ ὄρνις·
867  ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἀπὸ μήρινθον τάμε πικρὸς ὀϊστός.
868  ἣ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἤϊξε πρὸς οὐρανόν, ἣ δὲ παρείθη
869  μήρινθος ποτὶ γαῖαν· ἀτὰρ κελάδησαν Ἀχαιοί.
870  σπερχόμενος δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης ἐξείρυσε χειρὸς
871  τόξον· ἀτὰρ δὴ ὀϊστὸν ἔχεν πάλαι, ὡς ἴθυνεν.
872  αὐτίκα δʼ ἠπείλησεν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι
873  ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην.
874  ὕψι δʼ ὑπὸ νεφέων εἶδε τρήρωνα πέλειαν·
875  τῇ ῥʼ ὅ γε δινεύουσαν ὑπὸ πτέρυγος βάλε μέσσην,
876  ἀντικρὺ δὲ διῆλθε βέλος· τὸ μὲν ἂψ ἐπὶ γαίῃ
877  πρόσθεν Μηριόναο πάγη ποδός· αὐτὰρ ἣ ὄρνις
878  ἱστῷ ἐφεζομένη νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
879  αὐχένʼ ἀπεκρέμασεν, σὺν δὲ πτερὰ πυκνὰ λίασθεν.
880  ὠκὺς δʼ ἐκ μελέων θυμὸς πτάτο, τῆλε δʼ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ
881  κάππεσε· λαοὶ δʼ αὖ θηεῦντό τε θάμβησάν τε.
882  ἂν δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης πελέκεας δέκα πάντας ἄειρε,
883  Τεῦκρος δʼ ἡμιπέλεκκα φέρεν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.
884  αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
885  κὰδ δὲ λέβητʼ ἄπυρον βοὸς ἄξιον ἀνθεμόεντα
886  θῆκʼ ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων· καί ῥʼ ἥμονες ἄνδρες ἀνέσταν·
887  ἂν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,
888  ἂν δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης, θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος.
889  τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
890  Ἀτρεΐδη· ἴδμεν γὰρ ὅσον προβέβηκας ἁπάντων
891  ἠδʼ ὅσσον δυνάμει τε καὶ ἥμασιν ἔπλευ ἄριστος·
892  ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν τόδʼ ἄεθλον ἔχων κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας
893  ἔρχευ, ἀτὰρ δόρυ Μηριόνῃ ἥρωϊ πόρωμεν,
894  εἰ σύ γε σῷ θυμῷ ἐθέλοις· κέλομαι γὰρ ἔγωγε.
895  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
896  δῶκε δὲ Μηριόνῃ δόρυ χάλκεον· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως
897  Ταλθυβίῳ κήρυκι δίδου περικαλλὲς ἄεθλον.


Priam ransoms the body of Hector—Hector’s funeral.

      The assembly now broke up and the people went their ways each to
      his own ship. There they made ready their supper, and then
      bethought them of the blessed boon of sleep; but Achilles still
      wept for thinking of his dear comrade, and sleep, before whom all
      things bow, could take no hold upon him. This way and that did he
      turn as he yearned after the might and manfulness of Patroclus;
      he thought of all they had done together, and all they had gone
      through both on the field of battle and on the waves of the weary
      sea. As he dwelt on these things he wept bitterly and lay now on
      his side, now on his back, and now face downwards, till at last
      he rose and went out as one distraught to wander upon the
      sea-shore. Then, when he saw dawn breaking over beach and sea, he
      yoked his horses to his chariot, and bound the body of Hector
      behind it that he might drag it about. Thrice did he drag it
      round the tomb of the son of Menoetius, and then went back into
      his tent, leaving the body on the ground full length and with its
      face downwards. But Apollo would not suffer it to be disfigured,
      for he pitied the man, dead though he now was; therefore he
      shielded him with his golden aegis continually, that he might
      take no hurt while Achilles was dragging him.

      Thus shamefully did Achilles in his fury dishonour Hector; but
      the blessed gods looked down in pity from heaven, and urged
      Mercury, slayer of Argus, to steal the body. All were of this
      mind save only Juno, Neptune, and Jove’s grey-eyed daughter, who
      persisted in the hate which they had ever borne towards Ilius
      with Priam and his people; for they forgave not the wrong done
      them by Alexandrus in disdaining the goddesses who came to him
      when he was in his sheepyards, and preferring her who had offered
      him a wanton to his ruin.

      When, therefore, the morning of the twelfth day had now come,
      Phoebus Apollo spoke among the immortals saying, “You gods ought
      to be ashamed of yourselves; you are cruel and hard-hearted. Did
      not Hector burn you thigh-bones of heifers and of unblemished
      goats? And now dare you not rescue even his dead body, for his
      wife to look upon, with his mother and child, his father Priam,
      and his people, who would forthwith commit him to the flames, and
      give him his due funeral rites? So, then, you would all be on the
      side of mad Achilles, who knows neither right nor ruth? He is
      like some savage lion that in the pride of his great strength and
      daring springs upon men’s flocks and gorges on them. Even so has
      Achilles flung aside all pity, and all that conscience which at
      once so greatly banes yet greatly boons him that will heed it. A
      man may lose one far dearer than Achilles has lost—a son, it may
      be, or a brother born from his own mother’s womb; yet when he has
      mourned him and wept over him he will let him bide, for it takes
      much sorrow to kill a man; whereas Achilles, now that he has
      slain noble Hector, drags him behind his chariot round the tomb
      of his comrade. It were better of him, and for him, that he
      should not do so, for brave though he be we gods may take it ill
      that he should vent his fury upon dead clay.”

      Juno spoke up in a rage. “This were well,” she cried, “O lord of
      the silver bow, if you would give like honour to Hector and to
      Achilles; but Hector was mortal and suckled at a woman’s breast,
      whereas Achilles is the offspring of a goddess whom I myself
      reared and brought up. I married her to Peleus, who is above
      measure dear to the immortals; you gods came all of you to her
      wedding; you feasted along with them yourself and brought your
      lyre—false, and fond of low company, that you have ever been.”

      Then said Jove, “Juno, be not so bitter. Their honour shall not
      be equal, but of all that dwell in Ilius, Hector was dearest to
      the gods, as also to myself, for his offerings never failed me.
      Never was my altar stinted of its dues, nor of the
      drink-offerings and savour of sacrifice which we claim of right.
      I shall therefore permit the body of mighty Hector to be stolen;
      and yet this may hardly be without Achilles coming to know it,
      for his mother keeps night and day beside him. Let some one of
      you, therefore, send Thetis to me, and I will impart my counsel
      to her, namely that Achilles is to accept a ransom from Priam,
      and give up the body.”

      On this Iris fleet as the wind went forth to carry his message.
      Down she plunged into the dark sea midway between Samos and rocky
      Imbrus; the waters hissed as they closed over her, and she sank
      into the bottom as the lead at the end of an ox-horn, that is
      sped to carry death to fishes. She found Thetis sitting in a
      great cave with the other sea-goddesses gathered round her; there
      she sat in the midst of them weeping for her noble son who was to
      fall far from his own land, on the rich plains of Troy. Iris went
      up to her and said, “Rise Thetis; Jove, whose counsels fail not,
      bids you come to him.” And Thetis answered, “Why does the mighty
      god so bid me? I am in great grief, and shrink from going in and
      out among the immortals. Still, I will go, and the word that he
      may speak shall not be spoken in vain.”

      The goddess took her dark veil, than which there can be no robe
      more sombre, and went forth with fleet Iris leading the way
      before her. The waves of the sea opened them a path, and when
      they reached the shore they flew up into the heavens, where they
      found the all-seeing son of Saturn with the blessed gods that
      live for ever assembled near him. Minerva gave up her seat to
      her, and she sat down by the side of father Jove. Juno then
      placed a fair golden cup in her hand, and spoke to her in words
      of comfort, whereon Thetis drank and gave her back the cup; and
      the sire of gods and men was the first to speak.

      “So, goddess,” said he, “for all your sorrow, and the grief that
      I well know reigns ever in your heart, you have come hither to
      Olympus, and I will tell you why I have sent for you. This nine
      days past the immortals have been quarrelling about Achilles
      waster of cities and the body of Hector. The gods would have
      Mercury slayer of Argus steal the body, but in furtherance of our
      peace and amity henceforward, I will concede such honour to your
      son as I will now tell you. Go, then, to the host and lay these
      commands upon him; say that the gods are angry with him, and that
      I am myself more angry than them all, in that he keeps Hector at
      the ships and will not give him up. He may thus fear me and let
      the body go. At the same time I will send Iris to great Priam to
      bid him go to the ships of the Achaeans, and ransom his son,
      taking with him such gifts for Achilles as may give him
      satisfaction.”

      Silver-footed Thetis did as the god had told her, and forthwith
      down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus. She went to
      her son’s tents where she found him grieving bitterly, while his
      trusty comrades round him were busy preparing their morning meal,
      for which they had killed a great woolly sheep. His mother sat
      down beside him and caressed him with her hand saying, “My son,
      how long will you keep on thus grieving and making moan? You are
      gnawing at your own heart, and think neither of food nor of
      woman’s embraces; and yet these too were well, for you have no
      long time to live, and death with the strong hand of fate are
      already close beside you. Now, therefore, heed what I say, for I
      come as a messenger from Jove; he says that the gods are angry
      with you, and himself more angry than them all, in that you keep
      Hector at the ships and will not give him up. Therefore let him
      go, and accept a ransom for his body.”

      And Achilles answered, “So be it. If Olympian Jove of his own
      motion thus commands me, let him that brings the ransom bear the
      body away.”

      Thus did mother and son talk together at the ships in long
      discourse with one another. Meanwhile the son of Saturn sent Iris
      to the strong city of Ilius. “Go,” said he, “fleet Iris, from the
      mansions of Olympus, and tell King Priam in Ilius, that he is to
      go to the ships of the Achaeans and free the body of his dear
      son. He is to take such gifts with him as shall give satisfaction
      to Achilles, and he is to go alone, with no other Trojan, save
      only some honoured servant who may drive his mules and waggon,
      and bring back the body of him whom noble Achilles has slain. Let
      him have no thought nor fear of death in his heart, for we will
      send the slayer of Argus to escort him, and bring him within the
      tent of Achilles. Achilles will not kill him nor let another do
      so, for he will take heed to his ways and sin not, and he will
      entreat a suppliant with all honourable courtesy.”

      On this Iris, fleet as the wind, sped forth to deliver her
      message. She went to Priam’s house, and found weeping and
      lamentation therein. His sons were seated round their father in
      the outer courtyard, and their raiment was wet with tears: the
      old man sat in the midst of them with his mantle wrapped close
      about his body, and his head and neck all covered with the filth
      which he had clutched as he lay grovelling in the mire. His
      daughters and his sons’ wives went wailing about the house, as
      they thought of the many and brave men who lay dead, slain by the
      Argives. The messenger of Jove stood by Priam and spoke softly to
      him, but fear fell upon him as she did so. “Take heart,” she
      said, “Priam offspring of Dardanus, take heart and fear not. I
      bring no evil tidings, but am minded well towards you. I come as
      a messenger from Jove, who though he be not near, takes thought
      for you and pities you. The lord of Olympus bids you go and
      ransom noble Hector, and take with you such gifts as shall give
      satisfaction to Achilles. You are to go alone, with no Trojan,
      save only some honoured servant who may drive your mules and
      waggon, and bring back to the city the body of him whom noble
      Achilles has slain. You are to have no thought, nor fear of
      death, for Jove will send the slayer of Argus to escort you. When
      he has brought you within Achilles’ tent, Achilles will not kill
      you nor let another do so, for he will take heed to his ways and
      sin not, and he will entreat a suppliant with all honourable
      courtesy.”

      Iris went her way when she had thus spoken, and Priam told his
      sons to get a mule-waggon ready, and to make the body of the
      waggon fast upon the top of its bed. Then he went down into his
      fragrant store-room, high-vaulted, and made of cedar-wood, where
      his many treasures were kept, and he called Hecuba his wife.
      “Wife,” said he, “a messenger has come to me from Olympus, and
      has told me to go to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom my dear
      son, taking with me such gifts as shall give satisfaction to
      Achilles. What think you of this matter? for my own part I am
      greatly moved to pass through the camps of the Achaeans and go to
      their ships.”

      His wife cried aloud as she heard him, and said, “Alas, what has
      become of that judgement for which you have been ever famous both
      among strangers and your own people? How can you venture alone to
      the ships of the Achaeans, and look into the face of him who has
      slain so many of your brave sons? You must have iron courage, for
      if the cruel savage sees you and lays hold on you, he will know
      neither respect nor pity. Let us then weep Hector from afar here
      in our own house, for when I gave him birth the threads of
      overruling fate were spun for him that dogs should eat his flesh
      far from his parents, in the house of that terrible man on whose
      liver I would fain fasten and devour it. Thus would I avenge my
      son, who showed no cowardice when Achilles slew him, and thought
      neither of flight nor of avoiding battle as he stood in defence
      of Trojan men and Trojan women.”

      Then Priam said, “I would go, do not therefore stay me nor be as
      a bird of ill omen in my house, for you will not move me. Had it
      been some mortal man who had sent me some prophet or priest who
      divines from sacrifice—I should have deemed him false and have
      given him no heed; but now I have heard the goddess and seen her
      face to face, therefore I will go and her saying shall not be in
      vain. If it be my fate to die at the ships of the Achaeans even
      so would I have it; let Achilles slay me, if I may but first have
      taken my son in my arms and mourned him to my heart’s
      comforting.”

      So saying he lifted the lids of his chests, and took out twelve
      goodly vestments. He took also twelve cloaks of single fold,
      twelve rugs, twelve fair mantles, and an equal number of shirts.
      He weighed out ten talents of gold, and brought moreover two
      burnished tripods, four cauldrons, and a very beautiful cup which
      the Thracians had given him when he had gone to them on an
      embassy; it was very precious, but he grudged not even this, so
      eager was he to ransom the body of his son. Then he chased all
      the Trojans from the court and rebuked them with words of anger.
      “Out,” he cried, “shame and disgrace to me that you are. Have you
      no grief in your own homes that you are come to plague me here?
      Is it a small thing, think you, that the son of Saturn has sent
      this sorrow upon me, to lose the bravest of my sons? Nay, you
      shall prove it in person, for now he is gone the Achaeans will
      have easier work in killing you. As for me, let me go down within
      the house of Hades, ere mine eyes behold the sacking and wasting
      of the city.”

      He drove the men away with his staff, and they went forth as the
      old man sped them. Then he called to his sons, upbraiding
      Helenus, Paris, noble Agathon, Pammon, Antiphonus, Polites of the
      loud battle-cry, Deiphobus, Hippothous, and Dius. These nine did
      the old man call near him. “Come to me at once,” he cried,
      “worthless sons who do me shame; would that you had all been
      killed at the ships rather than Hector. Miserable man that I am,
      I have had the bravest sons in all Troy—noble Nestor, Troilus the
      dauntless charioteer, and Hector who was a god among men, so that
      one would have thought he was son to an immortal—yet there is not
      one of them left. Mars has slain them and those of whom I am
      ashamed are alone left me. Liars, and light of foot, heroes of
      the dance, robbers of lambs and kids from your own people, why do
      you not get a waggon ready for me at once, and put all these
      things upon it that I may set out on my way?”

      Thus did he speak, and they feared the rebuke of their father.
      They brought out a strong mule-waggon, newly made, and set the
      body of the waggon fast on its bed. They took the mule-yoke from
      the peg on which it hung, a yoke of boxwood with a knob on the
      top of it and rings for the reins to go through. Then they
      brought a yoke-band eleven cubits long, to bind the yoke to the
      pole; they bound it on at the far end of the pole, and put the
      ring over the upright pin making it fast with three turns of the
      band on either side the knob, and bending the thong of the yoke
      beneath it. This done, they brought from the store-chamber the
      rich ransom that was to purchase the body of Hector, and they set
      it all orderly on the waggon; then they yoked the strong
      harness-mules which the Mysians had on a time given as a goodly
      present to Priam; but for Priam himself they yoked horses which
      the old king had bred, and kept for his own use.

      Thus heedfully did Priam and his servant see to the yolking of
      their cars at the palace. Then Hecuba came to them all sorrowful,
      with a golden goblet of wine in her right hand, that they might
      make a drink-offering before they set out. She stood in front of
      the horses and said, “Take this, make a drink-offering to father
      Jove, and since you are minded to go to the ships in spite of me,
      pray that you may come safely back from the hands of your
      enemies. Pray to the son of Saturn lord of the whirlwind, who
      sits on Ida and looks down over all Troy, pray him to send his
      swift messenger on your right hand, the bird of omen which is
      strongest and most dear to him of all birds, that you may see it
      with your own eyes and trust it as you go forth to the ships of
      the Danaans. If all-seeing Jove will not send you this messenger,
      however set upon it you may be, I would not have you go to the
      ships of the Argives.”

      And Priam answered, “Wife, I will do as you desire me; it is well
      to lift hands in prayer to Jove, if so be he may have mercy upon
      me.”

      With this the old man bade the serving-woman pour pure water over
      his hands, and the woman came, bearing the water in a bowl. He
      washed his hands and took the cup from his wife; then he made the
      drink-offering and prayed, standing in the middle of the
      courtyard and turning his eyes to heaven. “Father Jove,” he said,
      “that rulest from Ida, most glorious and most great, grant that I
      may be received kindly and compassionately in the tents of
      Achilles; and send your swift messenger upon my right hand, the
      bird of omen which is strongest and most dear to you of all
      birds, that I may see it with my own eyes and trust it as I go
      forth to the ships of the Danaans.”

      So did he pray, and Jove the lord of counsel heard his prayer.
      Forthwith he sent an eagle, the most unerring portent of all
      birds that fly, the dusky hunter that men also call the Black
      Eagle. His wings were spread abroad on either side as wide as the
      well-made and well-bolted door of a rich man’s chamber. He came
      to them flying over the city upon their right hands, and when
      they saw him they were glad and their hearts took comfort within
      them. The old man made haste to mount his chariot, and drove out
      through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the
      outer court. Before him went the mules drawing the four-wheeled
      waggon, and driven by wise Idaeus; behind these were the horses,
      which the old man lashed with his whip and drove swiftly through
      the city, while his friends followed after, wailing and lamenting
      for him as though he were on his road to death. As soon as they
      had come down from the city and had reached the plain, his sons
      and sons-in-law who had followed him went back to Ilius.

      But Priam and Idaeus as they showed out upon the plain did not
      escape the ken of all-seeing Jove, who looked down upon the old
      man and pitied him; then he spoke to his son Mercury and said,
      “Mercury, for it is you who are the most disposed to escort men
      on their way, and to hear those whom you will hear, go, and so
      conduct Priam to the ships of the Achaeans that no other of the
      Danaans shall see him nor take note of him until he reach the son
      of Peleus.”

      Thus he spoke and Mercury, guide and guardian, slayer of Argus,
      did as he was told. Forthwith he bound on his glittering golden
      sandals with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea;
      he took the wand with which he seals men’s eyes in sleep, or
      wakes them just as he pleases, and flew holding it in his hand
      till he came to Troy and to the Hellespont. To look at, he was
      like a young man of noble birth in the hey-day of his youth and
      beauty with the down just coming upon his face.

      Now when Priam and Idaeus had driven past the great tomb of
      Ilius, they stayed their mules and horses that they might drink
      in the river, for the shades of night were falling, when,
      therefore, Idaeus saw Mercury standing near them he said to
      Priam, “Take heed, descendant of Dardanus; here is matter which
      demands consideration. I see a man who I think will presently
      fall upon us; let us fly with our horses, or at least embrace his
      knees and implore him to take compassion upon us?”

      When he heard this the old man’s heart failed him, and he was in
      great fear; he stayed where he was as one dazed, and the hair
      stood on end over his whole body; but the bringer of good luck
      came up to him and took him by the hand, saying, “Whither,
      father, are you thus driving your mules and horses in the dead of
      night when other men are asleep? Are you not afraid of the fierce
      Achaeans who are hard by you, so cruel and relentless? Should
      some one of them see you bearing so much treasure through the
      darkness of the flying night, what would not your state then be?
      You are no longer young, and he who is with you is too old to
      protect you from those who would attack you. For myself, I will
      do you no harm, and I will defend you from any one else, for you
      remind me of my own father.”

      And Priam answered, “It is indeed as you say, my dear son;
      nevertheless some god has held his hand over me, in that he has
      sent such a wayfarer as yourself to meet me so opportunely; you
      are so comely in mien and figure, and your judgement is so
      excellent that you must come of blessed parents.”

      Then said the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, “Sir, all that
      you have said is right; but tell me and tell me true, are you
      taking this rich treasure to send it to a foreign people where it
      may be safe, or are you all leaving strong Ilius in dismay now
      that your son has fallen who was the bravest man among you and
      was never lacking in battle with the Achaeans?”

      And Priam said, “Who are you, my friend, and who are your
      parents, that you speak so truly about the fate of my unhappy
      son?”

      The slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, answered him, “Sir, you
      would prove me, that you question me about noble Hector. Many a
      time have I set eyes upon him in battle when he was driving the
      Argives to their ships and putting them to the sword. We stood
      still and marvelled, for Achilles in his anger with the son of
      Atreus suffered us not to fight. I am his squire, and came with
      him in the same ship. I am a Myrmidon, and my father’s name is
      Polyctor: he is a rich man and about as old as you are; he has
      six sons besides myself, and I am the seventh. We cast lots, and
      it fell upon me to sail hither with Achilles. I am now come from
      the ships on to the plain, for with daybreak the Achaeans will
      set battle in array about the city. They chafe at doing nothing,
      and are so eager that their princes cannot hold them back.”

      Then answered Priam, “If you are indeed the squire of Achilles
      son of Peleus, tell me now the whole truth. Is my son still at
      the ships, or has Achilles hewn him limb from limb, and given him
      to his hounds?”

      “Sir,” replied the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, “neither
      hounds nor vultures have yet devoured him; he is still just lying
      at the tents by the ship of Achilles, and though it is now twelve
      days that he has lain there, his flesh is not wasted nor have the
      worms eaten him although they feed on warriors. At daybreak
      Achilles drags him cruelly round the sepulchre of his dear
      comrade, but it does him no hurt. You should come yourself and
      see how he lies fresh as dew, with the blood all washed away, and
      his wounds every one of them closed though many pierced him with
      their spears. Such care have the blessed gods taken of your brave
      son, for he was dear to them beyond all measure.”

      The old man was comforted as he heard him and said, “My son, see
      what a good thing it is to have made due offerings to the
      immortals; for as sure as that he was born my son never forgot
      the gods that hold Olympus, and now they requite it to him even
      in death. Accept therefore at my hands this goodly chalice; guard
      me and with heaven’s help guide me till I come to the tent of the
      son of Peleus.”

      Then answered the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, “Sir, you
      are tempting me and playing upon my youth, but you shall not move
      me, for you are offering me presents without the knowledge of
      Achilles whom I fear and hold it great guilt to defraud, lest
      some evil presently befall me; but as your guide I would go with
      you even to Argos itself, and would guard you so carefully
      whether by sea or land, that no one should attack you through
      making light of him who was with you.”

      The bringer of good luck then sprang on to the chariot, and
      seizing the whip and reins he breathed fresh spirit into the
      mules and horses. When they reached the trench and the wall that
      was before the ships, those who were on guard had just been
      getting their suppers, and the slayer of Argus threw them all
      into a deep sleep. Then he drew back the bolts to open the gates,
      and took Priam inside with the treasure he had upon his waggon.
      Ere long they came to the lofty dwelling of the son of Peleus for
      which the Myrmidons had cut pine and which they had built for
      their king; when they had built it they thatched it with coarse
      tussock-grass which they had mown out on the plain, and all round
      it they made a large courtyard, which was fenced with stakes set
      close together. The gate was barred with a single bolt of pine
      which it took three men to force into its place, and three to
      draw back so as to open the gate, but Achilles could draw it by
      himself. Mercury opened the gate for the old man, and brought in
      the treasure that he was taking with him for the son of Peleus.
      Then he sprang from the chariot on to the ground and said, “Sir,
      it is I, immortal Mercury, that am come with you, for my father
      sent me to escort you. I will now leave you, and will not enter
      into the presence of Achilles, for it might anger him that a god
      should befriend mortal men thus openly. Go you within, and
      embrace the knees of the son of Peleus: beseech him by his
      father, his lovely mother, and his son; thus you may move him.”

      With these words Mercury went back to high Olympus. Priam sprang
      from his chariot to the ground, leaving Idaeus where he was, in
      charge of the mules and horses. The old man went straight into
      the house where Achilles, loved of the gods, was sitting. There
      he found him with his men seated at a distance from him: only
      two, the hero Automedon, and Alcimus of the race of Mars, were
      busy in attendance about his person, for he had but just done
      eating and drinking, and the table was still there. King Priam
      entered without their seeing him, and going right up to Achilles
      he clasped his knees and kissed the dread murderous hands that
      had slain so many of his sons.

      As when some cruel spite has befallen a man that he should have
      killed some one in his own country, and must fly to a great man’s
      protection in a land of strangers, and all marvel who see him,
      even so did Achilles marvel as he beheld Priam. The others looked
      one to another and marvelled also, but Priam besought Achilles
      saying, “Think of your father, O Achilles like unto the gods, who
      is such even as I am, on the sad threshold of old age. It may be
      that those who dwell near him harass him, and there is none to
      keep war and ruin from him. Yet when he hears of you being still
      alive, he is glad, and his days are full of hope that he shall
      see his dear son come home to him from Troy; but I, wretched man
      that I am, had the bravest in all Troy for my sons, and there is
      not one of them left. I had fifty sons when the Achaeans came
      here; nineteen of them were from a single womb, and the others
      were borne to me by the women of my household. The greater part
      of them has fierce Mars laid low, and Hector, him who was alone
      left, him who was the guardian of the city and ourselves, him
      have you lately slain; therefore I am now come to the ships of
      the Achaeans to ransom his body from you with a great ransom.
      Fear, O Achilles, the wrath of heaven; think on your own father
      and have compassion upon me, who am the more pitiable, for I have
      steeled myself as no man yet has ever steeled himself before me,
      and have raised to my lips the hand of him who slew my son.”

      Thus spoke Priam, and the heart of Achilles yearned as he
      bethought him of his father. He took the old man’s hand and moved
      him gently away. The two wept bitterly—Priam, as he lay at
      Achilles’ feet, weeping for Hector, and Achilles now for his
      father and now for Patroclus, till the house was filled with
      their lamentation. But when Achilles was now sated with grief and
      had unburthened the bitterness of his sorrow, he left his seat
      and raised the old man by the hand, in pity for his white hair
      and beard; then he said, “Unhappy man, you have indeed been
      greatly daring; how could you venture to come alone to the ships
      of the Achaeans, and enter the presence of him who has slain so
      many of your brave sons? You must have iron courage: sit now upon
      this seat, and for all our grief we will hide our sorrows in our
      hearts, for weeping will not avail us. The immortals know no
      care, yet the lot they spin for man is full of sorrow; on the
      floor of Jove’s palace there stand two urns, the one filled with
      evil gifts, and the other with good ones. He for whom Jove the
      lord of thunder mixes the gifts he sends, will meet now with good
      and now with evil fortune; but he to whom Jove sends none but
      evil gifts will be pointed at by the finger of scorn, the hand of
      famine will pursue him to the ends of the world, and he will go
      up and down the face of the earth, respected neither by gods nor
      men. Even so did it befall Peleus; the gods endowed him with all
      good things from his birth upwards, for he reigned over the
      Myrmidons excelling all men in prosperity and wealth, and mortal
      though he was they gave him a goddess for his bride. But even on
      him too did heaven send misfortune, for there is no race of royal
      children born to him in his house, save one son who is doomed to
      die all untimely; nor may I take care of him now that he is
      growing old, for I must stay here at Troy to be the bane of you
      and your children. And you too, O Priam, I have heard that you
      were aforetime happy. They say that in wealth and plenitude of
      offspring you surpassed all that is in Lesbos, the realm of Makar
      to the northward, Phrygia that is more inland, and those that
      dwell upon the great Hellespont; but from the day when the
      dwellers in heaven sent this evil upon you, war and slaughter
      have been about your city continually. Bear up against it, and
      let there be some intervals in your sorrow. Mourn as you may for
      your brave son, you will take nothing by it. You cannot raise him
      from the dead, ere you do so yet another sorrow shall befall
      you.”

      And Priam answered, “O king, bid me not be seated, while Hector
      is still lying uncared for in your tents, but accept the great
      ransom which I have brought you, and give him to me at once that
      I may look upon him. May you prosper with the ransom and reach
      your own land in safety, seeing that you have suffered me to live
      and to look upon the light of the sun.”

      Achilles looked at him sternly and said, “Vex me, sir, no longer;
      I am of myself minded to give up the body of Hector. My mother,
      daughter of the old man of the sea, came to me from Jove to bid
      me deliver it to you. Moreover I know well, O Priam, and you
      cannot hide it, that some god has brought you to the ships of the
      Achaeans, for else, no man however strong and in his prime would
      dare to come to our host; he could neither pass our guard unseen,
      nor draw the bolt of my gates thus easily; therefore, provoke me
      no further, lest I sin against the word of Jove, and suffer you
      not, suppliant though you are, within my tents.”

      The old man feared him and obeyed. Then the son of Peleus sprang
      like a lion through the door of his house, not alone, but with
      him went his two squires Automedon and Alcimus who were closer to
      him than any others of his comrades now that Patroclus was no
      more. These unyoked the horses and mules, and bade Priam’s herald
      and attendant be seated within the house. They lifted the ransom
      for Hector’s body from the waggon, but they left two mantles and
      a goodly shirt, that Achilles might wrap the body in them when he
      gave it to be taken home. Then he called to his servants and
      ordered them to wash the body and anoint it, but he first took it
      to a place where Priam should not see it, lest if he did so, he
      should break out in the bitterness of his grief, and enrage
      Achilles, who might then kill him and sin against the word of
      Jove. When the servants had washed the body and anointed it, and
      had wrapped it in a fair shirt and mantle, Achilles himself
      lifted it on to a bier, and he and his men then laid it on the
      waggon. He cried aloud as he did so and called on the name of his
      dear comrade, “Be not angry with me, Patroclus,” he said, “if you
      hear even in the house of Hades that I have given Hector to his
      father for a ransom. It has been no unworthy one, and I will
      share it equitably with you.”

      Achilles then went back into the tent and took his place on the
      richly inlaid seat from which he had risen, by the wall that was
      at right angles to the one against which Priam was sitting.
      “Sir,” he said, “your son is now laid upon his bier and is
      ransomed according to desire; you shall look upon him when you
      take him away at daybreak; for the present let us prepare our
      supper. Even lovely Niobe had to think about eating, though her
      twelve children—six daughters and six lusty sons—had been all
      slain in her house. Apollo killed the sons with arrows from his
      silver bow, to punish Niobe, and Diana slew the daughters,
      because Niobe had vaunted herself against Leto; she said Leto had
      borne two children only, whereas she had herself borne
      many—whereon the two killed the many. Nine days did they lie
      weltering, and there was none to bury them, for the son of Saturn
      turned the people into stone; but on the tenth day the gods in
      heaven themselves buried them, and Niobe then took food, being
      worn out with weeping. They say that somewhere among the rocks on
      the mountain pastures of Sipylus, where the nymphs live that
      haunt the river Achelous, there, they say, she lives in stone and
      still nurses the sorrows sent upon her by the hand of heaven.
      Therefore, noble sir, let us two now take food; you can weep for
      your dear son hereafter as you are bearing him back to Ilius—and
      many a tear will he cost you.”

      With this Achilles sprang from his seat and killed a sheep of
      silvery whiteness, which his followers skinned and made ready all
      in due order. They cut the meat carefully up into smaller pieces,
      spitted them, and drew them off again when they were well
      roasted. Automedon brought bread in fair baskets and served it
      round the table, while Achilles dealt out the meat, and they laid
      their hands on the good things that were before them. As soon as
      they had had enough to eat and drink, Priam, descendant of
      Dardanus, marvelled at the strength and beauty of Achilles for he
      was as a god to see, and Achilles marvelled at Priam as he
      listened to him and looked upon his noble presence. When they had
      gazed their fill Priam spoke first. “And now, O king,” he said,
      “take me to my couch that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed
      boon of sleep. Never once have my eyes been closed from the day
      your hands took the life of my son; I have grovelled without
      ceasing in the mire of my stable-yard, making moan and brooding
      over my countless sorrows. Now, moreover, I have eaten bread and
      drunk wine; hitherto I have tasted nothing.”

      As he spoke Achilles told his men and the women servants to set
      beds in the room that was in the gatehouse, and make them with
      good red rugs, and spread coverlets on the top of them with
      woollen cloaks for Priam and Idaeus to wear. So the maids went
      out carrying a torch and got the two beds ready in all haste.
      Then Achilles said laughingly to Priam, “Dear sir, you shall lie
      outside, lest some counsellor of those who in due course keep
      coming to advise with me should see you here in the darkness of
      the flying night, and tell it to Agamemnon. This might cause
      delay in the delivery of the body. And now tell me and tell me
      true, for how many days would you celebrate the funeral rites of
      noble Hector? Tell me, that I may hold aloof from war and
      restrain the host.”

      And Priam answered, “Since, then, you suffer me to bury my noble
      son with all due rites, do thus, Achilles, and I shall be
      grateful. You know how we are pent up within our city; it is far
      for us to fetch wood from the mountain, and the people live in
      fear. Nine days, therefore, will we mourn Hector in my house; on
      the tenth day we will bury him and there shall be a public feast
      in his honour; on the eleventh we will build a mound over his
      ashes, and on the twelfth, if there be need, we will fight.”

      And Achilles answered, “All, King Priam, shall be as you have
      said. I will stay our fighting for as long a time as you have
      named.”

      As he spoke he laid his hand on the old man’s right wrist, in
      token that he should have no fear; thus then did Priam and his
      attendant sleep there in the forecourt, full of thought, while
      Achilles lay in an inner room of the house, with fair Briseis by
      his side.

      And now both gods and mortals were fast asleep through the
      livelong night, but upon Mercury alone, the bringer of good luck,
      sleep could take no hold for he was thinking all the time how to
      get King Priam away from the ships without his being seen by the
      strong force of sentinels. He hovered therefore over Priam’s head
      and said, “Sir, now that Achilles has spared your life, you seem
      to have no fear about sleeping in the thick of your foes. You
      have paid a great ransom, and have received the body of your son;
      were you still alive and a prisoner the sons whom you have left
      at home would have to give three times as much to free you; and
      so it would be if Agamemnon and the other Achaeans were to know
      of your being here.”

      When he heard this the old man was afraid and roused his servant.
      Mercury then yoked their horses and mules, and drove them quickly
      through the host so that no man perceived them. When they came to
      the ford of eddying Xanthus, begotten of immortal Jove, Mercury
      went back to high Olympus, and dawn in robe of saffron began to
      break over all the land. Priam and Idaeus then drove on toward
      the city lamenting and making moan, and the mules drew the body
      of Hector. No one neither man nor woman saw them, till Cassandra,
      fair as golden Venus standing on Pergamus, caught sight of her
      dear father in his chariot, and his servant that was the city’s
      herald with him. Then she saw him that was lying upon the bier,
      drawn by the mules, and with a loud cry she went about the city
      saying, “Come hither Trojans, men and women, and look on Hector;
      if ever you rejoiced to see him coming from battle when he was
      alive, look now on him that was the glory of our city and all our
      people.”

      At this there was not man nor woman left in the city, so great a
      sorrow had possessed them. Hard by the gates they met Priam as he
      was bringing in the body. Hector’s wife and his mother were the
      first to mourn him: they flew towards the waggon and laid their
      hands upon his head, while the crowd stood weeping round them.
      They would have stayed before the gates, weeping and lamenting
      the livelong day to the going down of the sun, had not Priam
      spoken to them from the chariot and said, “Make way for the mules
      to pass you. Afterwards when I have taken the body home you shall
      have your fill of weeping.”

      On this the people stood asunder, and made a way for the waggon.
      When they had borne the body within the house they laid it upon a
      bed and seated minstrels round it to lead the dirge, whereon the
      women joined in the sad music of their lament. Foremost among
      them all Andromache led their wailing as she clasped the head of
      mighty Hector in her embrace. “Husband,” she cried, “you have
      died young, and leave me in your house a widow; he of whom we are
      the ill-starred parents is still a mere child, and I fear he may
      not reach manhood. Ere he can do so our city will be razed and
      overthrown, for you who watched over it are no more—you who were
      its saviour, the guardian of our wives and children. Our women
      will be carried away captives to the ships, and I among them;
      while you, my child, who will be with me will be put to some
      unseemly tasks, working for a cruel master. Or, may be, some
      Achaean will hurl you (O miserable death) from our walls, to
      avenge some brother, son, or father whom Hector slew; many of
      them have indeed bitten the dust at his hands, for your father’s
      hand in battle was no light one. Therefore do the people mourn
      him. You have left, O Hector, sorrow unutterable to your parents,
      and my own grief is greatest of all, for you did not stretch
      forth your arms and embrace me as you lay dying, nor say to me
      any words that might have lived with me in my tears night and day
      for evermore.”

      Bitterly did she weep the while, and the women joined in her
      lament. Hecuba in her turn took up the strains of woe. “Hector,”
      she cried, “dearest to me of all my children. So long as you were
      alive the gods loved you well, and even in death they have not
      been utterly unmindful of you; for when Achilles took any other
      of my sons, he would sell him beyond the seas, to Samos Imbrus or
      rugged Lemnos; and when he had slain you too with his sword, many
      a time did he drag you round the sepulchre of his comrade—though
      this could not give him life—yet here you lie all fresh as dew,
      and comely as one whom Apollo has slain with his painless
      shafts.”

      Thus did she too speak through her tears with bitter moan, and
      then Helen for a third time took up the strain of lamentation.
      “Hector,” said she, “dearest of all my brothers-in-law—for I am
      wife to Alexandrus who brought me hither to Troy—would that I had
      died ere he did so—twenty years are come and gone since I left my
      home and came from over the sea, but I have never heard one word
      of insult or unkindness from you. When another would chide with
      me, as it might be one of your brothers or sisters or of your
      brothers’ wives, or my mother-in-law—for Priam was as kind to me
      as though he were my own father—you would rebuke and check them
      with words of gentleness and goodwill. Therefore my tears flow
      both for you and for my unhappy self, for there is no one else in
      Troy who is kind to me, but all shrink and shudder as they go by
      me.”

      She wept as she spoke and the vast crowd that was gathered round
      her joined in her lament. Then King Priam spoke to them saying,
      “Bring wood, O Trojans, to the city, and fear no cunning ambush
      of the Argives, for Achilles when he dismissed me from the ships
      gave me his word that they should not attack us until the morning
      of the twelfth day.”

      Forthwith they yoked their oxen and mules and gathered together
      before the city. Nine days long did they bring in great heaps of
      wood, and on the morning of the tenth day with many tears they
      took brave Hector forth, laid his dead body upon the summit of
      the pile, and set the fire thereto. Then when the child of
      morning, rosy-fingered dawn, appeared on the eleventh day, the
      people again assembled, round the pyre of mighty Hector. When
      they were got together, they first quenched the fire with wine
      wherever it was burning, and then his brothers and comrades with
      many a bitter tear gathered his white bones, wrapped them in soft
      robes of purple, and laid them in a golden urn, which they placed
      in a grave and covered over with large stones set close together.
      Then they built a barrow hurriedly over it keeping guard on every
      side lest the Achaeans should attack them before they had
      finished. When they had heaped up the barrow they went back again
      into the city, and being well assembled they held high feast in
      the house of Priam their king.

      Thus, then, did they celebrate the funeral of Hector tamer of
      horses.