Jove awakes, tells Apollo to heal Hector, and the Trojans again
      become victorious.

      But when their flight had taken them past the trench and the set
      stakes, and many had fallen by the hands of the Danaans, the
      Trojans made a halt on reaching their chariots, routed and pale
      with fear. Jove now woke on the crests of Ida, where he was lying
      with golden-throned Juno by his side, and starting to his feet he
      saw the Trojans and Achaeans, the one thrown into confusion, and
      the others driving them pell-mell before them with King Neptune
      in their midst. He saw Hector lying on the ground with his
      comrades gathered round him, gasping for breath, wandering in
      mind and vomiting blood, for it was not the feeblest of the
      Achaeans who struck him.

      The sire of gods and men had pity on him, and looked fiercely on
      Juno. “I see, Juno,” said he, “you mischief-making trickster,
      that your cunning has stayed Hector from fighting and has caused
      the rout of his host. I am in half a mind to thrash you, in which
      case you will be the first to reap the fruits of your scurvy
      knavery. Do you not remember how once upon a time I had you
      hanged? I fastened two anvils on to your feet, and bound your
      hands in a chain of gold which none might break, and you hung in
      mid-air among the clouds. All the gods in Olympus were in a fury,
      but they could not reach you to set you free; when I caught any
      one of them I gripped him and hurled him from the heavenly
      threshold till he came fainting down to earth; yet even this did
      not relieve my mind from the incessant anxiety which I felt about
      noble Hercules whom you and Boreas had spitefully conveyed beyond
      the seas to Cos, after suborning the tempests; but I rescued him,
      and notwithstanding all his mighty labours I brought him back
      again to Argos. I would remind you of this that you may learn to
      leave off being so deceitful, and discover how much you are
      likely to gain by the embraces out of which you have come here to
      trick me.”

      Juno trembled as he spoke, and said, “May heaven above and earth
      below be my witnesses, with the waters of the river Styx—and this
      is the most solemn oath that a blessed god can take—nay, I swear
      also by your own almighty head and by our bridal bed—things over
      which I could never possibly perjure myself—that Neptune is not
      punishing Hector and the Trojans and helping the Achaeans through
      any doing of mine; it is all of his own mere motion because he
      was sorry to see the Achaeans hard pressed at their ships: if I
      were advising him, I should tell him to do as you bid him.”

      The sire of gods and men smiled and answered, “If you, Juno, were
      always to support me when we sit in council of the gods, Neptune,
      like it or no, would soon come round to your and my way of
      thinking. If, then, you are speaking the truth and mean what you
      say, go among the rank and file of the gods, and tell Iris and
      Apollo lord of the bow, that I want them—Iris, that she may go to
      the Achaean host and tell Neptune to leave off fighting and go
      home, and Apollo, that he may send Hector again into battle and
      give him fresh strength; he will thus forget his present
      sufferings, and drive the Achaeans back in confusion till they
      fall among the ships of Achilles son of Peleus. Achilles will
      then send his comrade Patroclus into battle, and Hector will kill
      him in front of Ilius after he has slain many warriors, and among
      them my own noble son Sarpedon. Achilles will kill Hector to
      avenge Patroclus, and from that time I will bring it about that
      the Achaeans shall persistently drive the Trojans back till they
      fulfil the counsels of Minerva and take Ilius. But I will not
      stay my anger, nor permit any god to help the Danaans till I have
      accomplished the desire of the son of Peleus, according to the
      promise I made by bowing my head on the day when Thetis touched
      my knees and besought me to give him honour.”

      Juno heeded his words and went from the heights of Ida to great
      Olympus. Swift as the thought of one whose fancy carries him over
      vast continents, and he says to himself, “Now I will be here, or
      there,” and he would have all manner of things—even so swiftly
      did Juno wing her way till she came to high Olympus and went in
      among the gods who were gathered in the house of Jove. When they
      saw her they all of them came up to her, and held out their cups
      to her by way of greeting. She let the others be, but took the
      cup offered her by lovely Themis, who was first to come running
      up to her. “Juno,” said she, “why are you here? And you seem
      troubled—has your husband the son of Saturn been frightening
      you?”

      And Juno answered, “Themis, do not ask me about it. You know what
      a proud and cruel disposition my husband has. Lead the gods to
      table, where you and all the immortals can hear the wicked
      designs which he has avowed. Many a one, mortal and immortal,
      will be angered by them, however peaceably he may be feasting
      now.”

      On this Juno sat down, and the gods were troubled throughout the
      house of Jove. Laughter sat on her lips but her brow was furrowed
      with care, and she spoke up in a rage. “Fools that we are,” she
      cried, “to be thus madly angry with Jove; we keep on wanting to
      go up to him and stay him by force or by persuasion, but he sits
      aloof and cares for nobody, for he knows that he is much stronger
      than any other of the immortals. Make the best, therefore, of
      whatever ills he may choose to send each one of you; Mars, I take
      it, has had a taste of them already, for his son Ascalaphus has
      fallen in battle—the man whom of all others he loved most dearly
      and whose father he owns himself to be.”

      When he heard this Mars smote his two sturdy thighs with the flat
      of his hands, and said in anger, “Do not blame me, you gods that
      dwell in heaven, if I go to the ships of the Achaeans and avenge
      the death of my son, even though it end in my being struck by
      Jove’s lightning and lying in blood and dust among the corpses.”

      As he spoke he gave orders to yoke his horses Panic and Rout,
      while he put on his armour. On this, Jove would have been roused
      to still more fierce and implacable enmity against the other
      immortals, had not Minerva, alarmed for the safety of the gods,
      sprung from her seat and hurried outside. She tore the helmet
      from his head and the shield from his shoulders, and she took the
      bronze spear from his strong hand and set it on one side; then
      she said to Mars, “Madman, you are undone; you have ears that
      hear not, or you have lost all judgement and understanding; have
      you not heard what Juno has said on coming straight from the
      presence of Olympian Jove? Do you wish to go through all kinds of
      suffering before you are brought back sick and sorry to Olympus,
      after having caused infinite mischief to all us others? Jove
      would instantly leave the Trojans and Achaeans to themselves; he
      would come to Olympus to punish us, and would grip us up one
      after another, guilty or not guilty. Therefore lay aside your
      anger for the death of your son; better men than he have either
      been killed already or will fall hereafter, and one cannot
      protect every one’s whole family.”

      With these words she took Mars back to his seat. Meanwhile Juno
      called Apollo outside, with Iris the messenger of the gods.
      “Jove,” she said to them, “desires you to go to him at once on
      Mt. Ida; when you have seen him you are to do as he may then bid
      you.”

      Thereon Juno left them and resumed her seat inside, while Iris
      and Apollo made all haste on their way. When they reached
      many-fountained Ida, mother of wild beasts, they found Jove
      seated on topmost Gargarus with a fragrant cloud encircling his
      head as with a diadem. They stood before his presence, and he was
      pleased with them for having been so quick in obeying the orders
      his wife had given them.

      He spoke to Iris first. “Go,” said he, “fleet Iris, tell King
      Neptune what I now bid you—and tell him true. Bid him leave off
      fighting, and either join the company of the gods, or go down
      into the sea. If he takes no heed and disobeys me, let him
      consider well whether he is strong enough to hold his own against
      me if I attack him. I am older and much stronger than he is; yet
      he is not afraid to set himself up as on a level with myself, of
      whom all the other gods stand in awe.”

      Iris, fleet as the wind, obeyed him, and as the cold hail or
      snow-flakes that fly from out the clouds before the blast of
      Boreas, even so did she wing her way till she came close up to
      the great shaker of the earth. Then she said, “I have come, O
      dark-haired king that holds the world in his embrace, to bring
      you a message from Jove. He bids you leave off fighting, and
      either join the company of the gods or go down into the sea; if,
      however, you take no heed and disobey him, he says he will come
      down here and fight you. He would have you keep out of his reach,
      for he is older and much stronger than you are, and yet you are
      not afraid to set yourself up as on a level with himself, of whom
      all the other gods stand in awe.”

      Neptune was very angry and said, “Great heavens! strong as Jove
      may be, he has said more than he can do if he has threatened
      violence against me, who am of like honour with himself. We were
      three brothers whom Rhea bore to Saturn—Jove, myself, and Hades
      who rules the world below. Heaven and earth were divided into
      three parts, and each of us was to have an equal share. When we
      cast lots, it fell to me to have my dwelling in the sea for
      evermore; Hades took the darkness of the realms under the earth,
      while air and sky and clouds were the portion that fell to Jove;
      but earth and great Olympus are the common property of all.
      Therefore I will not walk as Jove would have me. For all his
      strength, let him keep to his own third share and be contented
      without threatening to lay hands upon me as though I were nobody.
      Let him keep his bragging talk for his own sons and daughters,
      who must perforce obey him.”

      Iris fleet as the wind then answered, “Am I really, Neptune, to
      take this daring and unyielding message to Jove, or will you
      reconsider your answer? Sensible people are open to argument, and
      you know that the Erinyes always range themselves on the side of
      the older person.”

      Neptune answered, “Goddess Iris, your words have been spoken in
      season. It is well when a messenger shows so much discretion.
      Nevertheless it cuts me to the very heart that any one should
      rebuke so angrily another who is his own peer, and of like empire
      with himself. Now, however, I will give way in spite of my
      displeasure; furthermore let me tell you, and I mean what I
      say—if contrary to the desire of myself, Minerva driver of the
      spoil, Juno, Mercury, and King Vulcan, Jove spares steep Ilius,
      and will not let the Achaeans have the great triumph of sacking
      it, let him understand that he will incur our implacable
      resentment.”

      Neptune now left the field to go down under the sea, and sorely
      did the Achaeans miss him. Then Jove said to Apollo, “Go, dear
      Phoebus, to Hector, for Neptune who holds the earth in his
      embrace has now gone down under the sea to avoid the severity of
      my displeasure. Had he not done so those gods who are below with
      Saturn would have come to hear of the fight between us. It is
      better for both of us that he should have curbed his anger and
      kept out of my reach, for I should have had much trouble with
      him. Take, then, your tasselled aegis, and shake it furiously, so
      as to set the Achaean heroes in a panic; take, moreover, brave
      Hector, O Far-Darter, into your own care, and rouse him to deeds
      of daring, till the Achaeans are sent flying back to their ships
      and to the Hellespont. From that point I will think it well over,
      how the Achaeans may have a respite from their troubles.”

      Apollo obeyed his father’s saying, and left the crests of Ida,
      flying like a falcon, bane of doves and swiftest of all birds. He
      found Hector no longer lying upon the ground, but sitting up, for
      he had just come to himself again. He knew those who were about
      him, and the sweat and hard breathing had left him from the
      moment when the will of aegis-bearing Jove had revived him.
      Apollo stood beside him and said, “Hector son of Priam, why are
      you so faint, and why are you here away from the others? Has any
      mishap befallen you?”

      Hector in a weak voice answered, “And which, kind sir, of the
      gods are you, who now ask me thus? Do you not know that Ajax
      struck me on the chest with a stone as I was killing his comrades
      at the ships of the Achaeans, and compelled me to leave off
      fighting? I made sure that this very day I should breathe my last
      and go down into the house of Hades.”

      Then King Apollo said to him, “Take heart; the son of Saturn has
      sent you a mighty helper from Ida to stand by you and defend you,
      even me, Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword, who have been
      guardian hitherto not only of yourself but of your city. Now,
      therefore, order your horsemen to drive their chariots to the
      ships in great multitudes. I will go before your horses to smooth
      the way for them, and will turn the Achaeans in flight.”

      As he spoke he infused great strength into the shepherd of his
      people. And as a horse, stabled and full-fed, breaks loose and
      gallops gloriously over the plain to the place where he is wont
      to take his bath in the river—he tosses his head, and his mane
      streams over his shoulders as in all the pride of his strength he
      flies full speed to the pastures where the mares are feeding—even
      so Hector, when he heard what the god said, urged his horsemen
      on, and sped forward as fast as his limbs could take him. As
      country peasants set their hounds on to a homed stag or wild
      goat—he has taken shelter under rock or thicket, and they cannot
      find him, but, lo, a bearded lion whom their shouts have roused
      stands in their path, and they are in no further humour for the
      chase—even so the Achaeans were still charging on in a body,
      using their swords and spears pointed at both ends, but when they
      saw Hector going about among his men they were afraid, and their
      hearts fell down into their feet.

      Then spoke Thoas son of Andraemon, leader of the Aetolians, a man
      who could throw a good throw, and who was staunch also in close
      fight, while few could surpass him in debate when opinions were
      divided. He then with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them
      thus: “What, in heaven’s name, do I now see? Is it not Hector
      come to life again? Every one made sure he had been killed by
      Ajax son of Telamon, but it seems that one of the gods has again
      rescued him. He has killed many of us Danaans already, and I take
      it will yet do so, for the hand of Jove must be with him or he
      would never dare show himself so masterful in the forefront of
      the battle. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let us order
      the main body of our forces to fall back upon the ships, but let
      those of us who profess to be the flower of the army stand firm,
      and see whether we cannot hold Hector back at the point of our
      spears as soon as he comes near us; I conceive that he will then
      think better of it before he tries to charge into the press of
      the Danaans.”

      Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. Those who
      were about Ajax and King Idomeneus, the followers moreover of
      Teucer, Meriones, and Meges peer of Mars called all their best
      men about them and sustained the fight against Hector and the
      Trojans, but the main body fell back upon the ships of the
      Achaeans.

      The Trojans pressed forward in a dense body, with Hector striding
      on at their head. Before him went Phoebus Apollo shrouded in
      cloud about his shoulders. He bore aloft the terrible aegis with
      its shaggy fringe, which Vulcan the smith had given Jove to
      strike terror into the hearts of men. With this in his hand he
      led on the Trojans.

      The Argives held together and stood their ground. The cry of
      battle rose high from either side, and the arrows flew from the
      bowstrings. Many a spear sped from strong hands and fastened in
      the bodies of many a valiant warrior, while others fell to earth
      midway, before they could taste of man’s fair flesh and glut
      themselves with blood. So long as Phoebus Apollo held his aegis
      quietly and without shaking it, the weapons on either side took
      effect and the people fell, but when he shook it straight in the
      face of the Danaans and raised his mighty battle-cry their hearts
      fainted within them and they forgot their former prowess. As when
      two wild beasts spring in the dead of night on a herd of cattle
      or a large flock of sheep when the herdsman is not there—even so
      were the Danaans struck helpless, for Apollo filled them with
      panic and gave victory to Hector and the Trojans.

      The fight then became more scattered and they killed one another
      where they best could. Hector killed Stichius and Arcesilaus, the
      one, leader of the Boeotians, and the other, friend and comrade
      of Menestheus. Aeneas killed Medon and Iasus. The first was
      bastard son to Oileus, and brother to Ajax, but he lived in
      Phylace away from his own country, for he had killed a man, a
      kinsman of his stepmother Eriopis whom Oileus had married. Iasus
      had become a leader of the Athenians, and was son of Sphelus the
      son of Boucolos. Polydamas killed Mecisteus, and Polites Echius,
      in the front of the battle, while Agenor slew Clonius. Paris
      struck Deiochus from behind in the lower part of the shoulder, as
      he was flying among the foremost, and the point of the spear went
      clean through him.

      While they were spoiling these heroes of their armour, the
      Achaeans were flying pell-mell to the trench and the set stakes,
      and were forced back within their wall. Hector then cried out to
      the Trojans, “Forward to the ships, and let the spoils be. If I
      see any man keeping back on the other side the wall away from the
      ships I will have him killed: his kinsmen and kinswomen shall not
      give him his dues of fire, but dogs shall tear him in pieces in
      front of our city.”

      As he spoke he laid his whip about his horses’ shoulders and
      called to the Trojans throughout their ranks; the Trojans shouted
      with a cry that rent the air, and kept their horses neck and neck
      with his own. Phoebus Apollo went before, and kicked down the
      banks of the deep trench into its middle so as to make a great
      broad bridge, as broad as the throw of a spear when a man is
      trying his strength. The Trojan battalions poured over the
      bridge, and Apollo with his redoubtable aegis led the way. He
      kicked down the wall of the Achaeans as easily as a child who
      playing on the sea-shore has built a house of sand and then kicks
      it down again and destroys it—even so did you, O Apollo, shed
      toil and trouble upon the Argives, filling them with panic and
      confusion.

      Thus then were the Achaeans hemmed in at their ships, calling out
      to one another and raising their hands with loud cries every man
      to heaven. Nestor of Gerene, tower of strength to the Achaeans,
      lifted up his hands to the starry firmament of heaven, and prayed
      more fervently than any of them. “Father Jove,” said he, “if ever
      any one in wheat-growing Argos burned you fat thigh-bones of
      sheep or heifer and prayed that he might return safely home,
      whereon you bowed your head to him in assent, bear it in mind
      now, and suffer not the Trojans to triumph thus over the
      Achaeans.”

      All-counselling Jove thundered loudly in answer to the prayer of
      the aged son of Neleus. When they heard Jove thunder they flung
      themselves yet more fiercely on the Achaeans. As a wave breaking
      over the bulwarks of a ship when the sea runs high before a
      gale—for it is the force of the wind that makes the waves so
      great—even so did the Trojans spring over the wall with a shout,
      and drive their chariots onwards. The two sides fought with their
      double-pointed spears in hand-to-hand encounter-the Trojans from
      their chariots, and the Achaeans climbing up into their ships and
      wielding the long pikes that were lying on the decks ready for
      use in a sea-fight, jointed and shod with bronze.

      Now Patroclus, so long as the Achaeans and Trojans were fighting
      about the wall, but were not yet within it and at the ships,
      remained sitting in the tent of good Eurypylus, entertaining him
      with his conversation and spreading herbs over his wound to ease
      his pain. When, however, he saw the Trojans swarming through the
      breach in the wall, while the Achaeans were clamouring and struck
      with panic, he cried aloud, and smote his two thighs with the
      flat of his hands. “Eurypylus,” said he in his dismay, “I know
      you want me badly, but I cannot stay with you any longer, for
      there is hard fighting going on; a servant shall take care of you
      now, for I must make all speed to Achilles, and induce him to
      fight if I can; who knows but with heaven’s help I may persuade
      him. A man does well to listen to the advice of a friend.”

      When he had thus spoken he went his way. The Achaeans stood firm
      and resisted the attack of the Trojans, yet though these were
      fewer in number, they could not drive them back from the ships,
      neither could the Trojans break the Achaean ranks and make their
      way in among the tents and ships. As a carpenter’s line gives a
      true edge to a piece of ship’s timber, in the hand of some
      skilled workman whom Minerva has instructed in all kinds of
      useful arts—even so level was the issue of the fight between the
      two sides, as they fought some round one and some round another.

      Hector made straight for Ajax, and the two fought fiercely about
      the same ship. Hector could not force Ajax back and fire the
      ship, nor yet could Ajax drive Hector from the spot to which
      heaven had brought him.

      Then Ajax struck Caletor son of Clytius in the chest with a spear
      as he was bringing fire towards the ship. He fell heavily to the
      ground and the torch dropped from his hand. When Hector saw his
      cousin fallen in front of the ship he shouted to the Trojans and
      Lycians saying, “Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians good in close
      fight, bate not a jot, but rescue the son of Clytius lest the
      Achaeans strip him of his armour now that he has fallen.”

      He then aimed a spear at Ajax, and missed him, but he hit
      Lycophron a follower of Ajax, who came from Cythera, but was
      living with Ajax inasmuch as he had killed a man among the
      Cythereans. Hector’s spear struck him on the head below the ear,
      and he fell headlong from the ship’s prow on to the ground with
      no life left in him. Ajax shook with rage and said to his
      brother, “Teucer, my good fellow, our trusty comrade the son of
      Mastor has fallen, he came to live with us from Cythera and whom
      we honoured as much as our own parents. Hector has just killed
      him; fetch your deadly arrows at once and the bow which Phoebus
      Apollo gave you.”

      Teucer heard him and hastened towards him with his bow and quiver
      in his hands. Forthwith he showered his arrows on the Trojans,
      and hit Cleitus the son of Pisenor, comrade of Polydamas the
      noble son of Panthous, with the reins in his hands as he was
      attending to his horses; he was in the middle of the very
      thickest part of the fight, doing good service to Hector and the
      Trojans, but evil had now come upon him, and not one of those who
      were fain to do so could avert it, for the arrow struck him on
      the back of the neck. He fell from his chariot and his horses
      shook the empty car as they swerved aside. King Polydamas saw
      what had happened, and was the first to come up to the horses; he
      gave them in charge to Astynous son of Protiaon, and ordered him
      to look on, and to keep the horses near at hand. He then went
      back and took his place in the front ranks.

      Teucer then aimed another arrow at Hector, and there would have
      been no more fighting at the ships if he had hit him and killed
      him then and there: Jove, however, who kept watch over Hector,
      had his eyes on Teucer, and deprived him of his triumph, by
      breaking his bowstring for him just as he was drawing it and
      about to take his aim; on this the arrow went astray and the bow
      fell from his hands. Teucer shook with anger and said to his
      brother, “Alas, see how heaven thwarts us in all we do; it has
      broken my bowstring and snatched the bow from my hand, though I
      strung it this self-same morning that it might serve me for many
      an arrow.”

      Ajax son of Telamon answered, “My good fellow, let your bow and
      your arrows be, for Jove has made them useless in order to spite
      the Danaans. Take your spear, lay your shield upon your shoulder,
      and both fight the Trojans yourself and urge others to do so.
      They may be successful for the moment but if we fight as we ought
      they will find it a hard matter to take the ships.”

      Teucer then took his bow and put it by in his tent. He hung a
      shield four hides thick about his shoulders, and on his comely
      head he set his helmet well wrought with a crest of horse-hair
      that nodded menacingly above it; he grasped his redoubtable
      bronze-shod spear, and forthwith he was by the side of Ajax.

      When Hector saw that Teucer’s bow was of no more use to him, he
      shouted out to the Trojans and Lycians, “Trojans, Lycians, and
      Dardanians good in close fight, be men, my friends, and show your
      mettle here at the ships, for I see the weapon of one of their
      chieftains made useless by the hand of Jove. It is easy to see
      when Jove is helping people and means to help them still further,
      or again when he is bringing them down and will do nothing for
      them; he is now on our side, and is going against the Argives.
      Therefore swarm round the ships and fight. If any of you is
      struck by spear or sword and loses his life, let him die; he dies
      with honour who dies fighting for his country; and he will leave
      his wife and children safe behind him, with his house and
      allotment unplundered if only the Achaeans can be driven back to
      their own land, they and their ships.”

      With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Ajax on the
      other side exhorted his comrades saying, “Shame on you Argives,
      we are now utterly undone, unless we can save ourselves by
      driving the enemy from our ships. Do you think, if Hector takes
      them, that you will be able to get home by land? Can you not hear
      him cheering on his whole host to fire our fleet, and bidding
      them remember that they are not at a dance but in battle? Our
      only course is to fight them with might and main; we had better
      chance it, life or death, once for all, than fight long and
      without issue hemmed in at our ships by worse men than
      ourselves.”

      With these words he put life and soul into them all. Hector then
      killed Schedius son of Perimedes, leader of the Phoceans, and
      Ajax killed Laodamas captain of foot soldiers and son to Antenor.
      Polydamas killed Otus of Cyllene a comrade of the son of Phyleus
      and chief of the proud Epeans. When Meges saw this he sprang upon
      him, but Polydamas crouched down, and he missed him, for Apollo
      would not suffer the son of Panthous to fall in battle; but the
      spear hit Croesmus in the middle of his chest, whereon he fell
      heavily to the ground, and Meges stripped him of his armour. At
      that moment the valiant soldier Dolops son of Lampus sprang upon
      Lampus was son of Laomedon and noted for his valour, while his
      son Dolops was versed in all the ways of war. He then struck the
      middle of the son of Phyleus’ shield with his spear, setting on
      him at close quarters, but his good corslet made with plates of
      metal saved him; Phyleus had brought it from Ephyra and the river
      Selleis, where his host, King Euphetes, had given it him to wear
      in battle and protect him. It now served to save the life of his
      son. Then Meges struck the topmost crest of Dolops’s bronze
      helmet with his spear and tore away its plume of horse-hair, so
      that all newly dyed with scarlet as it was it tumbled down into
      the dust. While he was still fighting and confident of victory,
      Menelaus came up to help Meges, and got by the side of Dolops
      unperceived; he then speared him in the shoulder, from behind,
      and the point, driven so furiously, went through into his chest,
      whereon he fell headlong. The two then made towards him to strip
      him of his armour, but Hector called on all his brothers for
      help, and he especially upbraided brave Melanippus son of
      Hiketaon, who erewhile used to pasture his herds of cattle in
      Percote before the war broke out; but when the ships of the
      Danaans came, he went back to Ilius, where he was eminent among
      the Trojans, and lived near Priam who treated him as one of his
      own sons. Hector now rebuked him and said, “Why, Melanippus, are
      we thus remiss? do you take no note of the death of your kinsman,
      and do you not see how they are trying to take Dolops’s armour?
      Follow me; there must be no fighting the Argives from a distance
      now, but we must do so in close combat till either we kill them
      or they take the high wall of Ilius and slay her people.”

      He led on as he spoke, and the hero Melanippus followed after.
      Meanwhile Ajax son of Telamon was cheering on the Argives. “My
      friends,” he cried, “be men, and fear dishonour; quit yourselves
      in battle so as to win respect from one another. Men who respect
      each other’s good opinion are less likely to be killed than those
      who do not, but in flight there is neither gain nor glory.”

      Thus did he exhort men who were already bent upon driving back
      the Trojans. They laid his words to heart and hedged the ships as
      with a wall of bronze, while Jove urged on the Trojans. Menelaus
      of the loud battle-cry urged Antilochus on. “Antilochus,” said
      he, “you are young and there is none of the Achaeans more fleet
      of foot or more valiant than you are. See if you cannot spring
      upon some Trojan and kill him.”

      He hurried away when he had thus spurred Antilochus, who at once
      darted out from the front ranks and aimed a spear, after looking
      carefully round him. The Trojans fell back as he threw, and the
      dart did not speed from his hand without effect, for it struck
      Melanippus the proud son of Hiketaon in the breast by the nipple
      as he was coming forward, and his armour rang rattling round him
      as he fell heavily to the ground. Antilochus sprang upon him as a
      dog springs on a fawn which a hunter has hit as it was breaking
      away from its covert, and killed it. Even so, O Melanippus, did
      stalwart Antilochus spring upon you to strip you of your armour;
      but noble Hector marked him, and came running up to him through
      the thick of the battle. Antilochus, brave soldier though he was,
      would not stay to face him, but fled like some savage creature
      which knows it has done wrong, and flies, when it has killed a
      dog or a man who is herding his cattle, before a body of men can
      be gathered to attack it. Even so did the son of Nestor fly, and
      the Trojans and Hector with a cry that rent the air showered
      their weapons after him; nor did he turn round and stay his
      flight till he had reached his comrades.

      The Trojans, fierce as lions, were still rushing on towards the
      ships in fulfilment of the behests of Jove who kept spurring them
      on to new deeds of daring, while he deadened the courage of the
      Argives and defeated them by encouraging the Trojans. For he
      meant giving glory to Hector son of Priam, and letting him throw
      fire upon the ships, till he had fulfilled the unrighteous prayer
      that Thetis had made him; Jove, therefore, bided his time till he
      should see the glare of a blazing ship. From that hour he was
      about so to order that the Trojans should be driven back from the
      ships and to vouchsafe glory to the Achaeans. With this purpose
      he inspired Hector son of Priam, who was eager enough already, to
      assail the ships. His fury was as that of Mars, or as when a fire
      is raging in the glades of some dense forest upon the mountains;
      he foamed at the mouth, his eyes glared under his terrible
      eyebrows, and his helmet quivered on his temples by reason of
      the fury with which he fought. Jove from heaven was with him, and
      though he was but one against many, vouchsafed him victory and
      glory; for he was doomed to an early death, and already Pallas
      Minerva was hurrying on the hour of his destruction at the hands
      of the son of Peleus. Now, however, he kept trying to break the
      ranks of the enemy wherever he could see them thickest, and in
      the goodliest armour; but do what he might he could not break
      through them, for they stood as a tower foursquare, or as some
      high cliff rising from the grey sea that braves the anger of the
      gale, and of the waves that thunder up against it. He fell upon
      them like flames of fire from every quarter. As when a wave,
      raised mountain high by wind and storm, breaks over a ship and
      covers it deep in foam, the fierce winds roar against the mast,
      the hearts of the sailors fail them for fear, and they are saved
      but by a very little from destruction—even so were the hearts of
      the Achaeans fainting within them. Or as a savage lion attacking
      a herd of cows while they are feeding by thousands in the
      low-lying meadows by some wide-watered shore—the herdsman is at
      his wit’s end how to protect his herd and keeps going about now
      in the van and now in the rear of his cattle, while the lion
      springs into the thick of them and fastens on a cow so that they
      all tremble for fear—even so were the Achaeans utterly
      panic-stricken by Hector and father Jove. Nevertheless Hector
      only killed Periphetes of Mycenae; he was son of Copreus who was
      wont to take the orders of King Eurystheus to mighty Hercules,
      but the son was a far better man than the father in every way; he
      was fleet of foot, a valiant warrior, and in understanding ranked
      among the foremost men of Mycenae. He it was who then afforded
      Hector a triumph, for as he was turning back he stumbled against
      the rim of his shield which reached his feet, and served to keep
      the javelins off him. He tripped against this and fell face
      upward, his helmet ringing loudly about his head as he did so.
      Hector saw him fall and ran up to him; he then thrust a spear
      into his chest, and killed him close to his own comrades. These,
      for all their sorrow, could not help him for they were themselves
      terribly afraid of Hector.

      They had now reached the ships and the prows of those that had
      been drawn up first were on every side of them, but the Trojans
      came pouring after them. The Argives were driven back from the
      first row of ships, but they made a stand by their tents without
      being broken up and scattered; shame and fear restrained them.
      They kept shouting incessantly to one another, and Nestor of
      Gerene, tower of strength to the Achaeans, was loudest in
      imploring every man by his parents, and beseeching him to stand
      firm.

      “Be men, my friends,” he cried, “and respect one another’s good
      opinion. Think, all of you, on your children, your wives, your
      property, and your parents whether these be alive or dead. On
      their behalf though they are not here, I implore you to stand
      firm, and not to turn in flight.”

      With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Minerva
      lifted the thick veil of darkness from their eyes, and much light
      fell upon them, alike on the side of the ships and on that where
      the fight was raging. They could see Hector and all his men, both
      those in the rear who were taking no part in the battle, and
      those who were fighting by the ships.

      Ajax could not bring himself to retreat along with the rest, but
      strode from deck to deck with a great sea-pike in his hands
      twelve cubits long and jointed with rings. As a man skilled in
      feats of horsemanship couples four horses together and comes
      tearing full speed along the public way from the country into
      some large town—many both men and women marvel as they see him
      for he keeps all the time changing his horse, springing from one
      to another without ever missing his feet while the horses are at
      a gallop—even so did Ajax go striding from one ship’s deck to
      another, and his voice went up into the heavens. He kept on
      shouting his orders to the Danaans and exhorting them to defend
      their ships and tents; neither did Hector remain within the main
      body of the Trojan warriors, but as a dun eagle swoops down upon
      a flock of wild-fowl feeding near a river—geese, it may be, or
      cranes, or long-necked swans—even so did Hector make straight for
      a dark-prowed ship, rushing right towards it; for Jove with his
      mighty hand impelled him forward, and roused his people to follow
      him.

      And now the battle again raged furiously at the ships. You would
      have thought the men were coming on fresh and unwearied, so
      fiercely did they fight; and this was the mind in which they
      were—the Achaeans did not believe they should escape destruction
      but thought themselves doomed, while there was not a Trojan but
      his heart beat high with the hope of firing the ships and putting
      the Achaean heroes to the sword.

      Thus were the two sides minded. Then Hector seized the stern of
      the good ship that had brought Protesilaus to Troy, but never
      bore him back to his native land. Round this ship there raged a
      close hand-to-hand fight between Danaans and Trojans. They did
      not fight at a distance with bows and javelins, but with one mind
      hacked at one another in close combat with their mighty swords
      and spears pointed at both ends; they fought moreover with keen
      battle-axes and with hatchets. Many a good stout blade hilted and
      scabbarded with iron, fell from hand or shoulder as they fought,
      and the earth ran red with blood. Hector, when he had seized the
      ship, would not loose his hold but held on to its curved stern
      and shouted to the Trojans, “Bring fire, and raise the battle-cry
      all of you with a single voice. Now has Jove vouchsafed us a day
      that will pay us for all the rest; this day we shall take the
      ships which came hither against heaven’s will, and which have
      caused us such infinite suffering through the cowardice of our
      councillors, who when I would have done battle at the ships held
      me back and forbade the host to follow me; if Jove did then
      indeed warp our judgements, himself now commands me and cheers me
      on.”

      As he spoke thus the Trojans sprang yet more fiercely on the
      Achaeans, and Ajax no longer held his ground, for he was overcome
      by the darts that were flung at him, and made sure that he was
      doomed. Therefore he left the raised deck at the stern, and
      stepped back on to the seven-foot bench of the oarsmen. Here he
      stood on the look-out, and with his spear held back any Trojan
      whom he saw bringing fire to the ships. All the time he kept on
      shouting at the top of his voice and exhorting the Danaans. “My
      friends,” he cried, “Danaan heroes, servants of Mars, be men my
      friends, and fight with might and with main. Can we hope to find
      helpers hereafter, or a wall to shield us more surely than the
      one we have? There is no strong city within reach, whence we may
      draw fresh forces to turn the scales in our favour. We are on the
      plain of the armed Trojans with the sea behind us, and far from
      our own country. Our salvation, therefore, is in the might of our
      hands and in hard fighting.”

      As he spoke he wielded his spear with still greater fury, and
      when any Trojan made towards the ships with fire at Hector’s
      bidding, he would be on the look-out for him, and drive at him
      with his long spear. Twelve men did he thus kill in hand-to-hand
      fight before the ships.


1  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ διά τε σκόλοπας καὶ τάφρον ἔβησαν
2  φεύγοντες, πολλοὶ δὲ δάμεν Δαναῶν ὑπὸ χερσίν,
3  οἳ μὲν δὴ παρʼ ὄχεσφιν ἐρητύοντο μένοντες
4  χλωροὶ ὑπαὶ δείους πεφοβημένοι· ἔγρετο δὲ Ζεὺς
5  Ἴδης ἐν κορυφῇσι παρὰ χρυσοθρόνου Ἥρης,
6  στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀναΐξας, ἴδε δὲ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιοὺς
7  τοὺς μὲν ὀρινομένους, τοὺς δὲ κλονέοντας ὄπισθεν
8  Ἀργείους, μετὰ δέ σφι Ποσειδάωνα ἄνακτα·
9  Ἕκτορα δʼ ἐν πεδίῳ ἴδε κείμενον, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι
10  εἵαθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἀργαλέῳ ἔχετʼ ἄσθματι κῆρ ἀπινύσσων
11  αἷμʼ ἐμέων, ἐπεὶ οὔ μιν ἀφαυρότατος βάλʼ Ἀχαιῶν.
12  τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ἐλέησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε,
13  δεινὰ δʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν Ἥρην πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
14  ἦ μάλα δὴ κακότεχνος ἀμήχανε σὸς δόλος Ἥρη
15  Ἕκτορα δῖον ἔπαυσε μάχης, ἐφόβησε δὲ λαούς.
16  οὐ μὰν οἶδʼ εἰ αὖτε κακορραφίης ἀλεγεινῆς
17  πρώτη ἐπαύρηαι καί σε πληγῇσιν ἱμάσσω.
18  ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε τʼ ἐκρέμω ὑψόθεν, ἐκ δὲ ποδοῖιν
19  ἄκμονας ἧκα δύω, περὶ χερσὶ δὲ δεσμὸν ἴηλα
20  χρύσεον ἄρρηκτον; σὺ δʼ ἐν αἰθέρι καὶ νεφέλῃσιν
21  ἐκρέμω· ἠλάστεον δὲ θεοὶ κατὰ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,
22  λῦσαι δʼ οὐκ ἐδύναντο παρασταδόν· ὃν δὲ λάβοιμι
23  ῥίπτασκον τεταγὼν ἀπὸ βηλοῦ ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκηται
24  γῆν ὀλιγηπελέων· ἐμὲ δʼ οὐδʼ ὧς θυμὸν ἀνίει
25  ἀζηχὴς ὀδύνη Ἡρακλῆος θείοιο,
26  τὸν σὺ ξὺν Βορέῃ ἀνέμῳ πεπιθοῦσα θυέλλας
27  πέμψας ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον πόντον κακὰ μητιόωσα,
28  καί μιν ἔπειτα Κόων δʼ εὖ ναιομένην ἀπένεικας.
29  τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἔνθεν ῥυσάμην καὶ ἀνήγαγον αὖτις
30  Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον καὶ πολλά περ ἀθλήσαντα.
31  τῶν σʼ αὖτις μνήσω ἵνʼ ἀπολλήξῃς ἀπατάων,
32  ὄφρα ἴδῃ ἤν τοι χραίσμῃ φιλότης τε καὶ εὐνή,
33  ἣν ἐμίγης ἐλθοῦσα θεῶν ἄπο καί μʼ ἀπάτησας.
34  ὣς φάτο, ῥίγησεν δὲ βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη,
35  καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
36  ἴστω νῦν τόδε Γαῖα καὶ Οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθε
37  καὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅς τε μέγιστος
38  ὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι,
39  σή θʼ ἱερὴ κεφαλὴ καὶ νωΐτερον λέχος αὐτῶν
40  κουρίδιον, τὸ μὲν οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ ποτε μὰψ ὀμόσαιμι·
41  μὴ διʼ ἐμὴν ἰότητα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων
42  πημαίνει Τρῶάς τε καὶ Ἕκτορα, τοῖσι δʼ ἀρήγει,
43  ἀλλά που αὐτὸν θυμὸς ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει,
44  τειρομένους δʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἰδὼν ἐλέησεν Ἀχαιούς.
45  αὐτάρ τοι καὶ κείνῳ ἐγὼ παραμυθησαίμην
46  τῇ ἴμεν ᾗ κεν δὴ σὺ κελαινεφὲς ἡγεμονεύῃς.
47  ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε,
48  καί μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
49  εἰ μὲν δὴ σύ γʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη
50  ἶσον ἐμοὶ φρονέουσα μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι καθίζοις,
51  τώ κε Ποσειδάων γε, καὶ εἰ μάλα βούλεται ἄλλῃ,
52  αἶψα μεταστρέψειε νόον μετὰ σὸν καὶ ἐμὸν κῆρ.
53  ἀλλʼ εἰ δή ῥʼ ἐτεόν γε καὶ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύεις,
54  ἔρχεο νῦν μετὰ φῦλα θεῶν, καὶ δεῦρο κάλεσσον
55  Ἶρίν τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ Ἀπόλλωνα κλυτότοξον,
56  ὄφρʼ ἣ μὲν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
57  ἔλθῃ, καὶ εἴπῃσι Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι
58  παυσάμενον πολέμοιο τὰ ἃ πρὸς δώμαθʼ ἱκέσθαι,
59  Ἕκτορα δʼ ὀτρύνῃσι μάχην ἐς Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
60  αὖτις δʼ ἐμπνεύσῃσι μένος, λελάθῃ δʼ ὀδυνάων
61  αἳ νῦν μιν τείρουσι κατὰ φρένας, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς
62  αὖτις ἀποστρέψῃσιν ἀνάλκιδα φύζαν ἐνόρσας,
63  φεύγοντες δʼ ἐν νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι πέσωσι
64  Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος· ὃ δʼ ἀνστήσει ὃν ἑταῖρον
65  Πάτροκλον· τὸν δὲ κτενεῖ ἔγχεϊ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ
66  Ἰλίου προπάροιθε πολέας ὀλέσαντʼ αἰζηοὺς
67  τοὺς ἄλλους, μετὰ δʼ υἱὸν ἐμὸν Σαρπηδόνα δῖον.
68  τοῦ δὲ χολωσάμενος κτενεῖ Ἕκτορα δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
69  ἐκ τοῦ δʼ ἄν τοι ἔπειτα παλίωξιν παρὰ νηῶν
70  αἰὲν ἐγὼ τεύχοιμι διαμπερὲς εἰς ὅ κʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
71  Ἴλιον αἰπὺ ἕλοιεν Ἀθηναίης διὰ βουλάς.
72  τὸ πρὶν δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐγὼ παύω χόλον οὔτέ τινʼ ἄλλον
73  ἀθανάτων Δαναοῖσιν ἀμυνέμεν ἐνθάδʼ ἐάσω
74  πρίν γε τὸ Πηλεΐδαο τελευτηθῆναι ἐέλδωρ,
75  ὥς οἱ ὑπέστην πρῶτον, ἐμῷ δʼ ἐπένευσα κάρητι,
76  ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἐμεῖο θεὰ Θέτις ἥψατο γούνων,
77  λισσομένη τιμῆσαι Ἀχιλλῆα πτολίπορθον.
78  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,
79  βῆ δʼ ἐξ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον.
80  ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀΐξῃ νόος ἀνέρος, ὅς τʼ ἐπὶ πολλὴν
81  γαῖαν ἐληλουθὼς φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσι νοήσῃ
82  ἔνθʼ εἴην ἢ ἔνθα, μενοινήῃσί τε πολλά,
83  ὣς κραιπνῶς μεμαυῖα διέπτατο πότνια Ἥρη·
84  ἵκετο δʼ αἰπὺν Ὄλυμπον, ὁμηγερέεσσι δʼ ἐπῆλθεν
85  ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι Διὸς δόμῳ· οἳ δὲ ἰδόντες
86  πάντες ἀνήϊξαν καὶ δεικανόωντο δέπασσιν.
87  ἣ δʼ ἄλλους μὲν ἔασε, Θέμιστι δὲ καλλιπαρῄῳ
88  δέκτο δέπας· πρώτη γὰρ ἐναντίη ἦλθε θέουσα,
89  καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
90  Ἥρη τίπτε βέβηκας; ἀτυζομένῃ δὲ ἔοικας·
91  ἦ μάλα δή σʼ ἐφόβησε Κρόνου πάϊς, ὅς τοι ἀκοίτης.
92  τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη·
93  μή με θεὰ Θέμι ταῦτα διείρεο· οἶσθα καὶ αὐτὴ
94  οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπερφίαλος καὶ ἀπηνής.
95  ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἄρχε θεοῖσι δόμοις ἔνι δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·
96  ταῦτα δὲ καὶ μετὰ πᾶσιν ἀκούσεαι ἀθανάτοισιν
97  οἷα Ζεὺς κακὰ ἔργα πιφαύσκεται· οὐδέ τί φημι
98  πᾶσιν ὁμῶς θυμὸν κεχαρησέμεν, οὔτε βροτοῖσιν
99  οὔτε θεοῖς, εἴ πέρ τις ἔτι νῦν δαίνυται εὔφρων.
100  ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσα καθέζετο πότνια Ἥρη,
101  ὄχθησαν δʼ ἀνὰ δῶμα Διὸς θεοί· ἣ δʼ ἐγέλασσε
102  χείλεσιν, οὐδὲ μέτωπον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι κυανέῃσιν
103  ἰάνθη· πᾶσιν δὲ νεμεσσηθεῖσα μετηύδα·
104  νήπιοι οἳ Ζηνὶ μενεαίνομεν ἀφρονέοντες·
105  ἦ ἔτι μιν μέμαμεν καταπαυσέμεν ἆσσον ἰόντες
106  ἢ ἔπει ἠὲ βίῃ· ὃ δʼ ἀφήμενος οὐκ ἀλεγίζει
107  οὐδʼ ὄθεται· φησὶν γὰρ ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι
108  κάρτεΐ τε σθένεΐ τε διακριδὸν εἶναι ἄριστος.
109  τὼ ἔχεθʼ ὅττί κεν ὔμμι κακὸν πέμπῃσιν ἑκάστῳ.
110  ἤδη γὰρ νῦν ἔλπομʼ Ἄρηΐ γε πῆμα τετύχθαι·
111  υἱὸς γάρ οἱ ὄλωλε μάχῃ ἔνι φίλτατος ἀνδρῶν
112  Ἀσκάλαφος, τόν φησιν ὃν ἔμμεναι ὄβριμος Ἄρης.
113  ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ Ἄρης θαλερὼ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ
114  χερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·
115  μὴ νῦν μοι νεμεσήσετʼ Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες
116  τίσασθαι φόνον υἷος ἰόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,
117  εἴ πέρ μοι καὶ μοῖρα Διὸς πληγέντι κεραυνῷ
118  κεῖσθαι ὁμοῦ νεκύεσσι μεθʼ αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσιν.
119  ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ ἵππους κέλετο Δεῖμόν τε Φόβον τε
120  ζευγνύμεν, αὐτὸς δʼ ἔντεʼ ἐδύσετο παμφανόωντα.
121  ἔνθά κʼ ἔτι μείζων τε καὶ ἀργαλεώτερος ἄλλος
122  πὰρ Διὸς ἀθανάτοισι χόλος καὶ μῆνις ἐτύχθη,
123  εἰ μὴ Ἀθήνη πᾶσι περιδείσασα θεοῖσιν
124  ὦρτο διὲκ προθύρου, λίπε δὲ θρόνον ἔνθα θάασσε,
125  τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν κεφαλῆς κόρυθʼ εἵλετο καὶ σάκος ὤμων,
126  ἔγχος δʼ ἔστησε στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα
127  χάλκεον· ἣ δʼ ἐπέεσσι καθάπτετο θοῦρον Ἄρηα·
128  μαινόμενε φρένας ἠλὲ διέφθορας· ἦ νύ τοι αὔτως
129  οὔατʼ ἀκουέμεν ἐστί, νόος δʼ ἀπόλωλε καὶ αἰδώς.
130  οὐκ ἀΐεις ἅ τέ φησι θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη
131  ἣ δὴ νῦν πὰρ Ζηνὸς Ὀλυμπίου εἰλήλουθεν;
132  ἦ ἐθέλεις αὐτὸς μὲν ἀναπλήσας κακὰ πολλὰ
133  ἂψ ἴμεν Οὔλυμπον δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἀνάγκῃ,
134  αὐτὰρ τοῖς ἄλλοισι κακὸν μέγα πᾶσι φυτεῦσαι;
135  αὐτίκα γὰρ Τρῶας μὲν ὑπερθύμους καὶ Ἀχαιοὺς
136  λείψει, ὃ δʼ ἡμέας εἶσι κυδοιμήσων ἐς Ὄλυμπον,
137  μάρψει δʼ ἑξείης ὅς τʼ αἴτιος ὅς τε καὶ οὐκί.
138  τώ σʼ αὖ νῦν κέλομαι μεθέμεν χόλον υἷος ἑῆος·
139  ἤδη γάρ τις τοῦ γε βίην καὶ χεῖρας ἀμείνων
140  ἢ πέφατʼ, ἢ καὶ ἔπειτα πεφήσεται· ἀργαλέον δὲ
141  πάντων ἀνθρώπων ῥῦσθαι γενεήν τε τόκον τε.
142  ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἵδρυσε θρόνῳ ἔνι θοῦρον Ἄρηα.
143  Ἥρη δʼ Ἀπόλλωνα καλέσσατο δώματος ἐκτὸς
144  Ἶρίν θʼ, ἥ τε θεοῖσι μετάγγελος ἀθανάτοισι,
145  καί σφεας φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
146  Ζεὺς σφὼ εἰς Ἴδην κέλετʼ ἐλθέμεν ὅττι τάχιστα·
147  αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθητε, Διός τʼ εἰς ὦπα ἴδησθε,
148  ἕρδειν ὅττί κε κεῖνος ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἀνώγῃ.
149  ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσα πάλιν κίε πότνια Ἥρη,
150  ἕζετο δʼ εἰνὶ θρόνῳ· τὼ δʼ ἀΐξαντε πετέσθην.
151  Ἴδην δʼ ἵκανον πολυπίδακα μητέρα θηρῶν,
152  εὗρον δʼ εὐρύοπα Κρονίδην ἀνὰ Γαργάρῳ ἄκρῳ
153  ἥμενον· ἀμφὶ δέ μιν θυόεν νέφος ἐστεφάνωτο.
154  τὼ δὲ πάροιθʼ ἐλθόντε Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο
155  στήτην· οὐδέ σφωϊν ἰδὼν ἐχολώσατο θυμῷ,
156  ὅττί οἱ ὦκʼ ἐπέεσσι φίλης ἀλόχοιο πιθέσθην.
157  Ἶριν δὲ προτέρην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
158  βάσκʼ ἴθι Ἶρι ταχεῖα, Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι
159  πάντα τάδʼ ἀγγεῖλαι, μὴ δὲ ψευδάγγελος εἶναι.
160  παυσάμενόν μιν ἄνωχθι μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο
161  ἔρχεσθαι μετὰ φῦλα θεῶν ἢ εἰς ἅλα δῖαν.
162  εἰ δέ μοι οὐκ ἐπέεσσʼ ἐπιπείσεται, ἀλλʼ ἀλογήσει,
163  φραζέσθω δὴ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
164  μή μʼ οὐδὲ κρατερός περ ἐὼν ἐπιόντα ταλάσσῃ
165  μεῖναι, ἐπεί εὑ φημὶ βίῃ πολὺ φέρτερος εἶναι
166  καὶ γενεῇ πρότερος· τοῦ δʼ οὐκ ὄθεται φίλον ἦτορ
167  ἶσον ἐμοὶ φάσθαι, τόν τε στυγέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι.
168  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις,
169  βῆ δὲ κατʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν.
170  ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἐκ νεφέων πτῆται νιφὰς ἠὲ χάλαζα
171  ψυχρὴ ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς αἰθρηγενέος Βορέαο,
172  ὣς κραιπνῶς μεμαυῖα διέπτατο ὠκέα Ἶρις,
173  ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη κλυτὸν ἐννοσίγαιον·
174  ἀγγελίην τινά τοι γαιήοχε κυανοχαῖτα
175  ἦλθον δεῦρο φέρουσα παραὶ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.
176  παυσάμενόν σʼ ἐκέλευσε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο
177  ἔρχεσθαι μετὰ φῦλα θεῶν ἢ εἰς ἅλα δῖαν.
178  εἰ δέ οἱ οὐκ ἐπέεσσʼ ἐπιπείσεαι, ἀλλʼ ἀλογήσεις,
179  ἠπείλει καὶ κεῖνος ἐναντίβιον πολεμίξων
180  ἐνθάδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· σὲ δʼ ὑπεξαλέασθαι ἄνωγε
181  χεῖρας, ἐπεὶ σέο φησὶ βίῃ πολὺ φέρτερος εἶναι
182  καὶ γενεῇ πρότερος· σὸν δʼ οὐκ ὄθεται φίλον ἦτορ
183  ἶσόν οἱ φάσθαι, τόν τε στυγέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι.
184  τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος·
185  ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥʼ ἀγαθός περ ἐὼν ὑπέροπλον ἔειπεν
186  εἴ μʼ ὁμότιμον ἐόντα βίῃ ἀέκοντα καθέξει.
187  τρεῖς γάρ τʼ ἐκ Κρόνου εἰμὲν ἀδελφεοὶ οὓς τέκετο Ῥέα
188  Ζεὺς καὶ ἐγώ, τρίτατος δʼ Ἀΐδης ἐνέροισιν ἀνάσσων.
189  τριχθὰ δὲ πάντα δέδασται, ἕκαστος δʼ ἔμμορε τιμῆς·
190  ἤτοι ἐγὼν ἔλαχον πολιὴν ἅλα ναιέμεν αἰεὶ
191  παλλομένων, Ἀΐδης δʼ ἔλαχε ζόφον ἠερόεντα,
192  Ζεὺς δʼ ἔλαχʼ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἐν αἰθέρι καὶ νεφέλῃσι·
193  γαῖα δʼ ἔτι ξυνὴ πάντων καὶ μακρὸς Ὄλυμπος.
194  τώ ῥα καὶ οὔ τι Διὸς βέομαι φρεσίν, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος
195  καὶ κρατερός περ ἐὼν μενέτω τριτάτῃ ἐνὶ μοίρῃ.
196  χερσὶ δὲ μή τί με πάγχυ κακὸν ὣς δειδισσέσθω·
197  θυγατέρεσσιν γάρ τε καὶ υἱάσι βέλτερον εἴη
198  ἐκπάγλοις ἐπέεσσιν ἐνισσέμεν οὓς τέκεν αὐτός,
199  οἵ ἑθεν ὀτρύνοντος ἀκούσονται καὶ ἀνάγκῃ.
200  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις·
201  οὕτω γὰρ δή τοι γαιήοχε κυανοχαῖτα
202  τόνδε φέρω Διὶ μῦθον ἀπηνέα τε κρατερόν τε,
203  ἦ τι μεταστρέψεις; στρεπταὶ μέν τε φρένες ἐσθλῶν.
204  οἶσθʼ ὡς πρεσβυτέροισιν Ἐρινύες αἰὲν ἕπονται.
205  τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
206  Ἶρι θεὰ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·
207  ἐσθλὸν καὶ τὸ τέτυκται ὅτʼ ἄγγελος αἴσιμα εἰδῇ.
208  ἀλλὰ τόδʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει
209  ὁππότʼ ἂν ἰσόμορον καὶ ὁμῇ πεπρωμένον αἴσῃ
210  νεικείειν ἐθέλῃσι χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν.
211  ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μέν κε νεμεσσηθεὶς ὑποείξω·
212  ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, καὶ ἀπειλήσω τό γε θυμῷ·
213  αἴ κεν ἄνευ ἐμέθεν καὶ Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης
214  Ἥρης Ἑρμείω τε καὶ Ἡφαίστοιο ἄνακτος
215  Ἰλίου αἰπεινῆς πεφιδήσεται, οὐδʼ ἐθελήσει
216  ἐκπέρσαι, δοῦναι δὲ μέγα κράτος Ἀργείοισιν,
217  ἴστω τοῦθʼ ὅτι νῶϊν ἀνήκεστος χόλος ἔσται.
218  ὣς εἰπὼν λίπε λαὸν Ἀχαιϊκὸν ἐννοσίγαιος,
219  δῦνε δὲ πόντον ἰών, πόθεσαν δʼ ἥρωες Ἀχαιοί.
220  καὶ τότʼ Ἀπόλλωνα προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
221  ἔρχεο νῦν φίλε Φοῖβε μεθʼ Ἕκτορα χαλκοκορυστήν·
222  ἤδη μὲν γάρ τοι γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος
223  οἴχεται εἰς ἅλα δῖαν ἀλευάμενος χόλον αἰπὺν
224  ἡμέτερον· μάλα γάρ κε μάχης ἐπύθοντο καὶ ἄλλοι,
225  οἵ περ ἐνέρτεροί εἰσι θεοὶ Κρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντες.
226  ἀλλὰ τόδʼ ἠμὲν ἐμοὶ πολὺ κέρδιον ἠδέ οἱ αὐτῷ
227  ἔπλετο, ὅττι πάροιθε νεμεσσηθεὶς ὑπόειξε
228  χεῖρας ἐμάς, ἐπεὶ οὔ κεν ἀνιδρωτί γʼ ἐτελέσθη.
229  ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἐν χείρεσσι λάβʼ αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν,
230  τῇ μάλʼ ἐπισσείων φοβέειν ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς·
231  σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ μελέτω ἑκατηβόλε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·
232  τόφρα γὰρ οὖν οἱ ἔγειρε μένος μέγα, ὄφρʼ ἂν Ἀχαιοὶ
233  φεύγοντες νῆάς τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκωνται.
234  κεῖθεν δʼ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ φράσομαι ἔργον τε ἔπος τε,
235  ὥς κε καὶ αὖτις Ἀχαιοὶ ἀναπνεύσωσι πόνοιο.
236  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα πατρὸς ἀνηκούστησεν Ἀπόλλων,
237  βῆ δὲ κατʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἴρηκι ἐοικὼς
238  ὠκέϊ φασσοφόνῳ, ὅς τʼ ὤκιστος πετεηνῶν.
239  εὗρʼ υἱὸν Πριάμοιο δαΐφρονος Ἕκτορα δῖον
240  ἥμενον, οὐδʼ ἔτι κεῖτο, νέον δʼ ἐσαγείρετο θυμόν,
241  ἀμφὶ ἓ γιγνώσκων ἑτάρους· ἀτὰρ ἆσθμα καὶ ἱδρὼς
242  παύετʼ, ἐπεί μιν ἔγειρε Διὸς νόος αἰγιόχοιο.
243  ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος προσέφη ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·
244  Ἕκτορ υἱὲ Πριάμοιο, τί ἢ δὲ σὺ νόσφιν ἀπʼ ἄλλων
245  ἧσʼ ὀλιγηπελέων; ἦ πού τί σε κῆδος ἱκάνει;
246  τὸν δʼ ὀλιγοδρανέων προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
247  τίς δὲ σύ ἐσσι φέριστε θεῶν ὅς μʼ εἴρεαι ἄντην;
248  οὐκ ἀΐεις ὅ με νηυσὶν ἔπι πρυμνῇσιν Ἀχαιῶν
249  οὓς ἑτάρους ὀλέκοντα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς βάλεν Αἴας
250  χερμαδίῳ πρὸς στῆθος, ἔπαυσε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς;
251  καὶ δὴ ἔγωγʼ ἐφάμην νέκυας καὶ δῶμʼ Ἀΐδαο
252  ἤματι τῷδʼ ἵξεσθαι, ἐπεὶ φίλον ἄϊον ἦτορ.
253  τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·
254  θάρσει νῦν· τοῖόν τοι ἀοσσητῆρα Κρονίων
255  ἐξ Ἴδης προέηκε παρεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν
256  Φοῖβον Ἀπόλλωνα χρυσάορον, ὅς σε πάρος περ
257  ῥύομʼ, ὁμῶς αὐτόν τε καὶ αἰπεινὸν πτολίεθρον.
258  ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἱππεῦσιν ἐπότρυνον πολέεσσι
259  νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐλαυνέμεν ὠκέας ἵππους·
260  αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ προπάροιθε κιὼν ἵπποισι κέλευθον
261  πᾶσαν λειανέω, τρέψω δʼ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.
262  ὣς εἰπὼν ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα ποιμένι λαῶν.
263  ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις στατὸς ἵππος ἀκοστήσας ἐπὶ φάτνῃ
264  δεσμὸν ἀπορρήξας θείῃ πεδίοιο κροαίνων
265  εἰωθὼς λούεσθαι ἐϋρρεῖος ποταμοῖο
266  κυδιόων· ὑψοῦ δὲ κάρη ἔχει, ἀμφὶ δὲ χαῖται
267  ὤμοις ἀΐσσονται· ὃ δʼ ἀγλαΐηφι πεποιθὼς
268  ῥίμφά ἑ γοῦνα φέρει μετά τʼ ἤθεα καὶ νομὸν ἵππων·
269  ὣς Ἕκτωρ λαιψηρὰ πόδας καὶ γούνατʼ ἐνώμα
270  ὀτρύνων ἱππῆας, ἐπεὶ θεοῦ ἔκλυεν αὐδήν.
271  οἳ δʼ ὥς τʼ ἢ ἔλαφον κεραὸν ἢ ἄγριον αἶγα
272  ἐσσεύαντο κύνες τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἀγροιῶται·
273  τὸν μέν τʼ ἠλίβατος πέτρη καὶ δάσκιος ὕλη
274  εἰρύσατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα τέ σφι κιχήμεναι αἴσιμον ἦεν·
275  τῶν δέ θʼ ὑπὸ ἰαχῆς ἐφάνη λὶς ἠϋγένειος
276  εἰς ὁδόν, αἶψα δὲ πάντας ἀπέτραπε καὶ μεμαῶτας·
277  ὣς Δαναοὶ εἷος μὲν ὁμιλαδὸν αἰὲν ἕποντο
278  νύσσοντες ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν·
279  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ἴδον Ἕκτορʼ ἐποιχόμενον στίχας ἀνδρῶν
280  τάρβησαν, πᾶσιν δὲ παραὶ ποσὶ κάππεσε θυμός.
281  τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀγόρευε Θόας Ἀνδραίμονος υἱός,
282  Αἰτωλῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἐπιστάμενος μὲν ἄκοντι
283  ἐσθλὸς δʼ ἐν σταδίῃ· ἀγορῇ δέ ἑ παῦροι Ἀχαιῶν
284  νίκων, ὁππότε κοῦροι ἐρίσσειαν περὶ μύθων·
285  ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
286  ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι,
287  οἷον δʼ αὖτʼ ἐξαῦτις ἀνέστη κῆρας ἀλύξας
288  Ἕκτωρ· ἦ θήν μιν μάλα ἔλπετο θυμὸς ἑκάστου
289  χερσὶν ὑπʼ Αἴαντος θανέειν Τελαμωνιάδαο.
290  ἀλλά τις αὖτε θεῶν ἐρρύσατο καὶ ἐσάωσεν
291  Ἕκτορʼ, ὃ δὴ πολλῶν Δαναῶν ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν,
292  ὡς καὶ νῦν ἔσσεσθαι ὀΐομαι· οὐ γὰρ ἄτερ γε
293  Ζηνὸς ἐριγδούπου πρόμος ἵσταται ὧδε μενοινῶν.
294  ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼν εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες.
295  πληθὺν μὲν ποτὶ νῆας ἀνώξομεν ἀπονέεσθαι·
296  αὐτοὶ δʼ, ὅσσοι ἄριστοι ἐνὶ στρατῷ εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι,
297  στήομεν, εἴ κεν πρῶτον ἐρύξομεν ἀντιάσαντες
298  δούρατʼ ἀνασχόμενοι· τὸν δʼ οἴω καὶ μεμαῶτα
299  θυμῷ δείσεσθαι Δαναῶν καταδῦναι ὅμιλον.
300  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο·
301  οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἀμφʼ Αἴαντα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα
302  Τεῦκρον Μηριόνην τε Μέγην τʼ ἀτάλαντον Ἄρηϊ
303  ὑσμίνην ἤρτυνον ἀριστῆας καλέσαντες
304  Ἕκτορι καὶ Τρώεσσιν ἐναντίον· αὐτὰρ ὀπίσσω
305  ἣ πληθὺς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν ἀπονέοντο.
306  Τρῶες δὲ προὔτυψαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ
307  μακρὰ βιβάς· πρόσθεν δὲ κίʼ αὐτοῦ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
308  εἱμένος ὤμοιιν νεφέλην, ἔχε δʼ αἰγίδα θοῦριν
309  δεινὴν ἀμφιδάσειαν ἀριπρεπέʼ, ἣν ἄρα χαλκεὺς
310  Ἥφαιστος Διὶ δῶκε φορήμεναι ἐς φόβον ἀνδρῶν·
311  τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχων ἡγήσατο λαῶν.
312  Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ὑπέμειναν ἀολλέες, ὦρτο δʼ ἀϋτὴ
313  ὀξεῖʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν, ἀπὸ νευρῆφι δʼ ὀϊστοὶ
314  θρῷσκον· πολλὰ δὲ δοῦρα θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν
315  ἄλλα μὲν ἐν χροῒ πήγνυτʼ ἀρηϊθόων αἰζηῶν,
316  πολλὰ δὲ καὶ μεσσηγὺ πάρος χρόα λευκὸν ἐπαυρεῖν
317  ἐν γαίῃ ἵσταντο λιλαιόμενα χροὸς ἆσαι.
318  ὄφρα μὲν αἰγίδα χερσὶν ἔχʼ ἀτρέμα Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
319  τόφρα μάλʼ ἀμφοτέρων βέλεʼ ἥπτετο, πῖπτε δὲ λαός.
320  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατʼ ἐνῶπα ἰδὼν Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων
321  σεῖσʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ἄϋσε μάλα μέγα, τοῖσι δὲ θυμὸν
322  ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔθελξε, λάθοντο δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.
323  οἳ δʼ ὥς τʼ ἠὲ βοῶν ἀγέλην ἢ πῶϋ μέγʼ οἰῶν
324  θῆρε δύω κλονέωσι μελαίνης νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷ
325  ἐλθόντʼ ἐξαπίνης σημάντορος οὐ παρεόντος,
326  ὣς ἐφόβηθεν Ἀχαιοὶ ἀνάλκιδες· ἐν γὰρ Ἀπόλλων
327  ἧκε φόβον, Τρωσὶν δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ὄπαζεν.
328  ἔνθα δʼ ἀνὴρ ἕλεν ἄνδρα κεδασθείσης ὑσμίνης.
329  Ἕκτωρ μὲν Στιχίον τε καὶ Ἀρκεσίλαον ἔπεφνε,
330  τὸν μὲν Βοιωτῶν ἡγήτορα χαλκοχιτώνων,
331  τὸν δὲ Μενεσθῆος μεγαθύμου πιστὸν ἑταῖρον·
332  Αἰνείας δὲ Μέδοντα καὶ Ἴασον ἐξενάριξεν.
333  ἤτοι ὃ μὲν νόθος υἱὸς Ὀϊλῆος θείοιο
334  ἔσκε Μέδων Αἴαντος ἀδελφεός· αὐτὰρ ἔναιεν
335  ἐν Φυλάκῃ γαίης ἄπο πατρίδος ἄνδρα κατακτὰς
336  γνωτὸν μητρυιῆς Ἐριώπιδος, ἣν ἔχʼ Ὀϊλεύς·
337  Ἴασος αὖτʼ ἀρχὸς μὲν Ἀθηναίων ἐτέτυκτο,
338  υἱὸς δὲ Σφήλοιο καλέσκετο Βουκολίδαο.
339  Μηκιστῆ δʼ ἕλε Πουλυδάμας, Ἐχίον δὲ Πολίτης
340  πρώτῃ ἐν ὑσμίνῃ, Κλονίον δʼ ἕλε δῖος Ἀγήνωρ.
341  Δηΐοχον δὲ Πάρις βάλε νείατον ὦμον ὄπισθε
342  φεύγοντʼ ἐν προμάχοισι, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσεν.
343  ὄφρʼ οἳ τοὺς ἐνάριζον ἀπʼ ἔντεα, τόφρα δʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
344  τάφρῳ καὶ σκολόπεσσιν ἐνιπλήξαντες ὀρυκτῇ
345  ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα φέβοντο, δύοντο δὲ τεῖχος ἀνάγκῃ.
346  Ἕκτωρ δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας
347  νηυσὶν ἐπισσεύεσθαι, ἐᾶν δʼ ἔναρα βροτόεντα·
348  ὃν δʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε νεῶν ἑτέρωθι νοήσω,
349  αὐτοῦ οἱ θάνατον μητίσομαι, οὐδέ νυ τόν γε
350  γνωτοί τε γνωταί τε πυρὸς λελάχωσι θανόντα,
351  ἀλλὰ κύνες ἐρύουσι πρὸ ἄστεος ἡμετέροιο.
352  ὣς εἰπὼν μάστιγι κατωμαδὸν ἤλασεν ἵππους
353  κεκλόμενος Τρώεσσι κατὰ στίχας· οἳ δὲ σὺν αὐτῷ
354  πάντες ὁμοκλήσαντες ἔχον ἐρυσάρματας ἵππους
355  ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ· προπάροιθε δὲ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
356  ῥεῖʼ ὄχθας καπέτοιο βαθείης ποσσὶν ἐρείπων
357  ἐς μέσσον κατέβαλλε, γεφύρωσεν δὲ κέλευθον
358  μακρὴν ἠδʼ εὐρεῖαν, ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ δουρὸς ἐρωὴ
359  γίγνεται, ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ σθένεος πειρώμενος ᾗσι.
360  τῇ ῥʼ οἵ γε προχέοντο φαλαγγηδόν, πρὸ δʼ Ἀπόλλων
361  αἰγίδʼ ἔχων ἐρίτιμον· ἔρειπε δὲ τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν
362  ῥεῖα μάλʼ, ὡς ὅτε τις ψάμαθον πάϊς ἄγχι θαλάσσης,
363  ὅς τʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ποιήσῃ ἀθύρματα νηπιέῃσιν
364  ἂψ αὖτις συνέχευε ποσὶν καὶ χερσὶν ἀθύρων.
365  ὥς ῥα σὺ ἤϊε Φοῖβε πολὺν κάματον καὶ ὀϊζὺν
366  σύγχεας Ἀργείων, αὐτοῖσι δὲ φύζαν ἐνῶρσας.
367  ὣς οἳ μὲν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐρητύοντο μένοντες,
368  ἀλλήλοισί τε κεκλόμενοι καὶ πᾶσι θεοῖσι
369  χεῖρας ἀνίσχοντες μεγάλʼ εὐχετόωντο ἕκαστος·
370  Νέστωρ αὖτε μάλιστα Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν
371  εὔχετο χεῖρʼ ὀρέγων εἰς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα·
372  Ζεῦ πάτερ εἴ ποτέ τίς τοι ἐν Ἄργεΐ περ πολυπύρῳ
373  ἢ βοὸς ἢ οἰὸς κατὰ πίονα μηρία καίων
374  εὔχετο νοστῆσαι, σὺ δʼ ὑπέσχεο καὶ κατένευσας,
375  τῶν μνῆσαι καὶ ἄμυνον Ὀλύμπιε νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,
376  μηδʼ οὕτω Τρώεσσιν ἔα δάμνασθαι Ἀχαιούς.
377  ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, μέγα δʼ ἔκτυπε μητίετα Ζεύς,
378  ἀράων ἀΐων Νηληϊάδαο γέροντος.
379  Τρῶες δʼ ὡς ἐπύθοντο Διὸς κτύπον αἰγιόχοιο,
380  μᾶλλον ἐπʼ Ἀργείοισι θόρον, μνήσαντο δὲ χάρμης.
381  οἳ δʼ ὥς τε μέγα κῦμα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιο
382  νηὸς ὑπὲρ τοίχων καταβήσεται, ὁππότʼ ἐπείγῃ
383  ἲς ἀνέμου· ἣ γάρ τε μάλιστά γε κύματʼ ὀφέλλει·
384  ὣς Τρῶες μεγάλῃ ἰαχῇ κατὰ τεῖχος ἔβαινον,
385  ἵππους δʼ εἰσελάσαντες ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσι μάχοντο
386  ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοις αὐτοσχεδόν, οἳ μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππων,
387  οἳ δʼ ἀπὸ νηῶν ὕψι μελαινάων ἐπιβάντες
388  μακροῖσι ξυστοῖσι, τά ῥά σφʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἔκειτο
389  ναύμαχα κολλήεντα, κατὰ στόμα εἱμένα χαλκῷ.
390  Πάτροκλος δʼ εἷος μὲν Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τε
391  τείχεος ἀμφεμάχοντο θοάων ἔκτοθι νηῶν,
392  τόφρʼ ὅ γʼ ἐνὶ κλισίῃ ἀγαπήνορος Εὐρυπύλοιο
393  ἧστό τε καὶ τὸν ἔτερπε λόγοις, ἐπὶ δʼ ἕλκεϊ λυγρῷ
394  φάρμακʼ ἀκέσματʼ ἔπασσε μελαινάων ὀδυνάων.
395  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῖχος ἐπεσσυμένους ἐνόησε
396  Τρῶας, ἀτὰρ Δαναῶν γένετο ἰαχή τε φόβος τε,
397  ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ὣ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ
398  χερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·
399  Εὐρύπυλʼ οὐκ ἔτι τοι δύναμαι χατέοντί περʼ ἔμπης
400  ἐνθάδε παρμενέμεν· δὴ γὰρ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρωρεν·
401  ἀλλὰ σὲ μὲν θεράπων ποτιτερπέτω, αὐτὰρ ἔγωγε
402  σπεύσομαι εἰς Ἀχιλῆα, ἵνʼ ὀτρύνω πολεμίζειν.
403  τίς δʼ οἶδʼ εἴ κέν οἱ σὺν δαίμονι θυμὸν ὀρίνω
404  παρειπών; ἀγαθὴ δὲ παραίφασίς ἐστιν ἑταίρου.
405  τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰπόντα πόδες φέρον· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
406  Τρῶας ἐπερχομένους μένον ἔμπεδον, οὐδʼ ἐδύναντο
407  παυροτέρους περ ἐόντας ἀπώσασθαι παρὰ νηῶν·
408  οὐδέ ποτε Τρῶες Δαναῶν ἐδύναντο φάλαγγας
409  ῥηξάμενοι κλισίῃσι μιγήμεναι ἠδὲ νέεσσιν.
410  ἀλλʼ ὥς τε στάθμη δόρυ νήϊον ἐξιθύνει
411  τέκτονος ἐν παλάμῃσι δαήμονος, ὅς ῥά τε πάσης
412  εὖ εἰδῇ σοφίης ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν Ἀθήνης,
413  ὣς μὲν τῶν ἐπὶ ἶσα μάχη τέτατο πτόλεμός τε·
414  ἄλλοι δʼ ἀμφʼ ἄλλῃσι μάχην ἐμάχοντο νέεσσιν,
415  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἄντʼ Αἴαντος ἐείσατο κυδαλίμοιο.
416  τὼ δὲ μιῆς περὶ νηὸς ἔχον πόνον, οὐδὲ δύναντο
417  οὔθʼ ὃ τὸν ἐξελάσαι καὶ ἐνιπρῆσαι πυρὶ νῆα
418  οὔθʼ ὃ τὸν ἂψ ὤσασθαι, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπέλασσέ γε δαίμων.
419  ἔνθʼ υἷα Κλυτίοιο Καλήτορα φαίδιμος Αἴας
420  πῦρ ἐς νῆα φέροντα κατὰ στῆθος βάλε δουρί.
421  δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, δαλὸς δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.
422  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὡς ἐνόησεν ἀνεψιὸν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν
423  ἐν κονίῃσι πεσόντα νεὸς προπάροιθε μελαίνης,
424  Τρωσί τε καὶ Λυκίοισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·
425  Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ
426  μὴ δή πω χάζεσθε μάχης ἐν στείνεϊ τῷδε,
427  ἀλλʼ υἷα Κλυτίοιο σαώσατε, μή μιν Ἀχαιοὶ
428  τεύχεα συλήσωσι νεῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι πεσόντα.
429  ὣς εἰπὼν Αἴαντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.
430  τοῦ μὲν ἅμαρθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα Λυκόφρονα Μάστορος υἱὸν
431  Αἴαντος θεράποντα Κυθήριον, ὅς ῥα παρʼ αὐτῷ
432  ναῖʼ, ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα κατέκτα Κυθήροισι ζαθέοισι,
433  τόν ῥʼ ἔβαλεν κεφαλὴν ὑπὲρ οὔατος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ
434  ἑσταότʼ ἄγχʼ Αἴαντος· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι
435  νηὸς ἄπο πρυμνῆς χαμάδις πέσε, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.
436  Αἴας δʼ ἐρρίγησε, κασίγνητον δὲ προσηύδα·
437  Τεῦκρε πέπον δὴ νῶϊν ἀπέκτατο πιστὸς ἑταῖρος
438  Μαστορίδης, ὃν νῶϊ Κυθηρόθεν ἔνδον ἐόντα
439  ἶσα φίλοισι τοκεῦσιν ἐτίομεν ἐν μεγάροισι·
440  τὸν δʼ Ἕκτωρ μεγάθυμος ἀπέκτανε. ποῦ νύ τοι ἰοὶ
441  ὠκύμοροι καὶ τόξον ὅ τοι πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων;
442  ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ ξυνέηκε, θέων δέ οἱ ἄγχι παρέστη,
443  τόξον ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρην
444  ἰοδόκον· μάλα δʼ ὦκα βέλεα Τρώεσσιν ἐφίει.
445  καί ῥʼ ἔβαλε Κλεῖτον Πεισήνορος ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν
446  Πουλυδάμαντος ἑταῖρον ἀγαυοῦ Πανθοΐδαο
447  ἡνία χερσὶν ἔχοντα· ὃ μὲν πεπόνητο καθʼ ἵππους·
448  τῇ γὰρ ἔχʼ ᾗ ῥα πολὺ πλεῖσται κλονέοντο φάλαγγες
449  Ἕκτορι καὶ Τρώεσσι χαριζόμενος· τάχα δʼ αὐτῷ
450  ἦλθε κακόν, τό οἱ οὔ τις ἐρύκακεν ἱεμένων περ.
451  αὐχένι γάρ οἱ ὄπισθε πολύστονος ἔμπεσεν ἰός·
452  ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπερώησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι
453  κείνʼ ὄχεα κροτέοντες. ἄναξ δʼ ἐνόησε τάχιστα
454  Πουλυδάμας, καὶ πρῶτος ἐναντίος ἤλυθεν ἵππων.
455  τοὺς μὲν ὅ γʼ Ἀστυνόῳ Προτιάονος υἱέϊ δῶκε,
456  πολλὰ δʼ ἐπότρυνε σχεδὸν ἴσχειν εἰσορόωντα
457  ἵππους· αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτις ἰὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη.
458  Τεῦκρος δʼ ἄλλον ὀϊστὸν ἐφʼ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ
459  αἴνυτο, καί κεν ἔπαυσε μάχης ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν,
460  εἴ μιν ἀριστεύοντα βαλὼν ἐξείλετο θυμόν.
461  ἀλλʼ οὐ λῆθε Διὸς πυκινὸν νόον, ὅς ῥʼ ἐφύλασσεν
462  Ἕκτορʼ, ἀτὰρ Τεῦκρον Τελαμώνιον εὖχος ἀπηύρα,
463  ὅς οἱ ἐϋστρεφέα νευρὴν ἐν ἀμύμονι τόξῳ
464  ῥῆξʼ ἐπὶ τῷ ἐρύοντι· παρεπλάγχθη δέ οἱ ἄλλῃ
465  ἰὸς χαλκοβαρής, τόξον δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.
466  Τεῦκρος δʼ ἐρρίγησε, κασίγνητον δὲ προσηύδα·
467  ὢ πόποι ἦ δὴ πάγχυ μάχης ἐπὶ μήδεα κείρει
468  δαίμων ἡμετέρης, ὅ τέ μοι βιὸν ἔκβαλε χειρός,
469  νευρὴν δʼ ἐξέρρηξε νεόστροφον, ἣν ἐνέδησα
470  πρώϊον, ὄφρʼ ἀνέχοιτο θαμὰ θρῴσκοντας ὀϊστούς.
471  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·
472  ὦ πέπον ἀλλὰ βιὸν μὲν ἔα καὶ ταρφέας ἰοὺς
473  κεῖσθαι, ἐπεὶ συνέχευε θεὸς Δαναοῖσι μεγήρας·
474  αὐτὰρ χερσὶν ἑλὼν δολιχὸν δόρυ καὶ σάκος ὤμῳ
475  μάρναό τε Τρώεσσι καὶ ἄλλους ὄρνυθι λαούς.
476  μὴ μὰν ἀσπουδί γε δαμασσάμενοί περ ἕλοιεν
477  νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους, ἀλλὰ μνησώμεθα χάρμης.
478  ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ τόξον μὲν ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ἔθηκεν,
479  αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι σάκος θέτο τετραθέλυμνον,
480  κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν
481  ἵππουριν, δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν·
482  εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
483  βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, μάλα δʼ ὦκα θέων Αἴαντι παρέστη.
484  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὡς εἶδεν Τεύκρου βλαφθέντα βέλεμνα,
485  Τρωσί τε καὶ Λυκίοισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·
486  Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ
487  ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς
488  νῆας ἀνὰ γλαφυράς· δὴ γὰρ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν
489  ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος Διόθεν βλαφθέντα βέλεμνα.
490  ῥεῖα δʼ ἀρίγνωτος Διὸς ἀνδράσι γίγνεται ἀλκή,
491  ἠμὲν ὁτέοισιν κῦδος ὑπέρτερον ἐγγυαλίξῃ,
492  ἠδʼ ὅτινας μινύθῃ τε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλῃσιν ἀμύνειν,
493  ὡς νῦν Ἀργείων μινύθει μένος, ἄμμι δʼ ἀρήγει.
494  ἀλλὰ μάχεσθʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἀολλέες· ὃς δέ κεν ὑμέων
495  βλήμενος ἠὲ τυπεὶς θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ
496  τεθνάτω· οὔ οἱ ἀεικὲς ἀμυνομένῳ περὶ πάτρης
497  τεθνάμεν· ἀλλʼ ἄλοχός τε σόη καὶ παῖδες ὀπίσσω,
498  καὶ οἶκος καὶ κλῆρος ἀκήρατος, εἴ κεν Ἀχαιοὶ
499  οἴχωνται σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
500  ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
501  Αἴας δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκέκλετο οἷς ἑτάροισιν·
502  αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι· νῦν ἄρκιον ἢ ἀπολέσθαι
503  ἠὲ σαωθῆναι καὶ ἀπώσασθαι κακὰ νηῶν.
504  ἦ ἔλπεσθʼ ἢν νῆας ἕλῃ κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ
505  ἐμβαδὸν ἵξεσθαι ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἕκαστος;
506  ἦ οὐκ ὀτρύνοντος ἀκούετε λαὸν ἅπαντα
507  Ἕκτορος, ὃς δὴ νῆας ἐνιπρῆσαι μενεαίνει;
508  οὐ μὰν ἔς γε χορὸν κέλετʼ ἐλθέμεν, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθαι.
509  ἡμῖν δʼ οὔ τις τοῦδε νόος καὶ μῆτις ἀμείνων
510  ἢ αὐτοσχεδίῃ μῖξαι χεῖράς τε μένος τε.
511  βέλτερον ἢ ἀπολέσθαι ἕνα χρόνον ἠὲ βιῶναι
512  ἢ δηθὰ στρεύγεσθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι
513  ὧδʼ αὔτως παρὰ νηυσὶν ὑπʼ ἀνδράσι χειροτέροισιν.
514  ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
515  ἔνθʼ Ἕκτωρ μὲν ἕλε Σχεδίον Περιμήδεος υἱὸν
516  ἀρχὸν Φωκήων, Αἴας δʼ ἕλε Λαοδάμαντα
517  ἡγεμόνα πρυλέων Ἀντήνορος ἀγλαὸν υἱόν·
518  Πουλυδάμας δʼ Ὦτον Κυλλήνιον ἐξενάριξε
519  Φυλεΐδεω ἕταρον, μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸν Ἐπειῶν.
520  τῷ δὲ Μέγης ἐπόρουσεν ἰδών· ὃ δʼ ὕπαιθα λιάσθη
521  Πουλυδάμας· καὶ τοῦ μὲν ἀπήμβροτεν· οὐ γὰρ Ἀπόλλων
522  εἴα Πάνθου υἱὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι δαμῆναι·
523  αὐτὰρ ὅ γε Κροίσμου στῆθος μέσον οὔτασε δουρί.
524  δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὃ δʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων τεύχεʼ ἐσύλα.
525  τόφρα δὲ τῷ ἐπόρουσε Δόλοψ αἰχμῆς ἐῢ εἰδὼς
526  Λαμπετίδης, ὃν Λάμπος ἐγείνατο φέρτατον υἱὸν
527  Λαομεδοντιάδης εὖ εἰδότα θούριδος ἀλκῆς,
528  ὃς τότε Φυλεΐδαο μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρὶ
529  ἐγγύθεν ὁρμηθείς· πυκινὸς δέ οἱ ἤρκεσε θώρηξ,
530  τόν ῥʼ ἐφόρει γυάλοισιν ἀρηρότα· τόν ποτε Φυλεὺς
531  ἤγαγεν ἐξ Ἐφύρης, ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος.
532  ξεῖνος γάρ οἱ ἔδωκεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Εὐφήτης
533  ἐς πόλεμον φορέειν δηΐων ἀνδρῶν ἀλεωρήν·
534  ὅς οἱ καὶ τότε παιδὸς ἀπὸ χροὸς ἤρκεσʼ ὄλεθρον.
535  τοῦ δὲ Μέγης κόρυθος χαλκήρεος ἱπποδασείης
536  κύμβαχον ἀκρότατον νύξʼ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι,
537  ῥῆξε δʼ ἀφʼ ἵππειον λόφον αὐτοῦ· πᾶς δὲ χαμᾶζε
538  κάππεσεν ἐν κονίῃσι νέον φοίνικι φαεινός.
539  εἷος ὃ τῷ πολέμιζε μένων, ἔτι δʼ ἔλπετο νίκην,
540  τόφρα δέ οἱ Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος ἦλθεν ἀμύντωρ,
541  στῆ δʼ εὐρὰξ σὺν δουρὶ λαθών, βάλε δʼ ὦμον ὄπισθεν·
542  αἰχμὴ δὲ στέρνοιο διέσσυτο μαιμώωσα
543  πρόσσω ἱεμένη· ὃ δʼ ἄρα πρηνὴς ἐλιάσθη.
544  τὼ μὲν ἐεισάσθην χαλκήρεα τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων
545  συλήσειν· Ἕκτωρ δὲ κασιγνήτοισι κέλευσε
546  πᾶσι μάλα, πρῶτον δʼ Ἱκεταονίδην ἐνένιπεν
547  ἴφθιμον Μελάνιππον. ὃ δʼ ὄφρα μὲν εἰλίποδας βοῦς
548  βόσκʼ ἐν Περκώτῃ δηΐων ἀπὸ νόσφιν ἐόντων·
549  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Δαναῶν νέες ἤλυθον ἀμφιέλισσαι,
550  ἂψ εἰς Ἴλιον ἦλθε, μετέπρεπε δὲ Τρώεσσι,
551  ναῖε δὲ πὰρ Πριάμῳ, ὃ δέ μιν τίεν ἶσα τέκεσσι·
552  τόν ῥʼ Ἕκτωρ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
553  οὕτω δὴ Μελάνιππε μεθήσομεν; οὐδέ νυ σοί περ
554  ἐντρέπεται φίλον ἦτορ ἀνεψιοῦ κταμένοιο;
555  οὐχ ὁράᾳς οἷον Δόλοπος περὶ τεύχεʼ ἕπουσιν;
556  ἀλλʼ ἕπευ· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔστιν ἀποσταδὸν Ἀργείοισι
557  μάρνασθαι, πρίν γʼ ἠὲ κατακτάμεν ἠὲ κατʼ ἄκρης
558  Ἴλιον αἰπεινὴν ἑλέειν κτάσθαι τε πολίτας.
559  ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν ἦρχʼ, ὃ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕσπετο ἰσόθεος φώς·
560  Ἀργείους δʼ ὄτρυνε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·
561  ὦ φίλοι ἀνέρες ἔστε, καὶ αἰδῶ θέσθʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
562  ἀλλήλους τʼ αἰδεῖσθε κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.
563  αἰδομένων δʼ ἀνδρῶν πλέονες σόοι ἠὲ πέφανται·
564  φευγόντων δʼ οὔτʼ ἂρ κλέος ὄρνυται οὔτέ τις ἀλκή.
565  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀλέξασθαι μενέαινον,
566  ἐν θυμῷ δʼ ἐβάλοντο ἔπος, φράξαντο δὲ νῆας
567  ἕρκεϊ χαλκείῳ· ἐπὶ δὲ Ζεὺς Τρῶας ἔγειρεν.
568  Ἀντίλοχον δʼ ὄτρυνε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·
569  Ἀντίλοχʼ οὔ τις σεῖο νεώτερος ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν,
570  οὔτε ποσὶν θάσσων οὔτʼ ἄλκιμος ὡς σὺ μάχεσθαι·
571  εἴ τινά που Τρώων ἐξάλμενος ἄνδρα βάλοισθα.
572  ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἀπέσσυτο, τὸν δʼ ὀρόθυνεν·
573  ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε προμάχων, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ
574  ἀμφὶ ἓ παπτήνας· ὑπὸ δὲ Τρῶες κεκάδοντο
575  ἀνδρὸς ἀκοντίσσαντος· ὃ δʼ οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἧκεν,
576  ἀλλʼ Ἱκετάονος υἱὸν ὑπέρθυμον Μελάνιππον
577  νισόμενον πόλεμον δὲ βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν.
578  δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν.
579  Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἐπόρουσε κύων ὥς, ὅς τʼ ἐπὶ νεβρῷ
580  βλημένῳ ἀΐξῃ, τόν τʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφι θορόντα
581  θηρητὴρ ἐτύχησε βαλών, ὑπέλυσε δὲ γυῖα·
582  ὣς ἐπὶ σοὶ Μελάνιππε θόρʼ Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμης
583  τεύχεα συλήσων· ἀλλʼ οὐ λάθεν Ἕκτορα δῖον,
584  ὅς ῥά οἱ ἀντίος ἦλθε θέων ἀνὰ δηϊοτῆτα.
585  Ἀντίλοχος δʼ οὐ μεῖνε θοός περ ἐὼν πολεμιστής,
586  ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἔτρεσε θηρὶ κακὸν ῥέξαντι ἐοικώς,
587  ὅς τε κύνα κτείνας ἢ βουκόλον ἀμφὶ βόεσσι
588  φεύγει πρίν περ ὅμιλον ἀολλισθήμεναι ἀνδρῶν·
589  ὣς τρέσε Νεστορίδης, ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶές τε καὶ Ἕκτωρ
590  ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ βέλεα στονόεντα χέοντο·
591  στῆ δὲ μεταστρεφθείς, ἐπεὶ ἵκετο ἔθνος ἑταίρων.
592  Τρῶες δὲ λείουσιν ἐοικότες ὠμοφάγοισι
593  νηυσὶν ἐπεσσεύοντο, Διὸς δʼ ἐτέλειον ἐφετμάς,
594  ὅ σφισιν αἰὲν ἔγειρε μένος μέγα, θέλγε δὲ θυμὸν
595  Ἀργείων καὶ κῦδος ἀπαίνυτο, τοὺς δʼ ὀρόθυνεν.
596  Ἕκτορι γάρ οἱ θυμὸς ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαι
597  Πριαμίδῃ, ἵνα νηυσὶ κορωνίσι θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ
598  ἐμβάλοι ἀκάματον, Θέτιδος δʼ ἐξαίσιον ἀρὴν
599  πᾶσαν ἐπικρήνειε· τὸ γὰρ μένε μητίετα Ζεὺς
600  νηὸς καιομένης σέλας ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι.
601  ἐκ γὰρ δὴ τοῦ μέλλε παλίωξιν παρὰ νηῶν
602  θησέμεναι Τρώων, Δαναοῖσι δὲ κῦδος ὀρέξειν.
603  τὰ φρονέων νήεσσιν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἔγειρεν
604  Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην μάλα περ μεμαῶτα καὶ αὐτόν.
605  μαίνετο δʼ ὡς ὅτʼ Ἄρης ἐγχέσπαλος ἢ ὀλοὸν πῦρ
606  οὔρεσι μαίνηται βαθέης ἐν τάρφεσιν ὕλης·
607  ἀφλοισμὸς δὲ περὶ στόμα γίγνετο, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
608  λαμπέσθην βλοσυρῇσιν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσιν, ἀμφὶ δὲ πήληξ
609  σμερδαλέον κροτάφοισι τινάσσετο μαρναμένοιο
610  Ἕκτορος· αὐτὸς γάρ οἱ ἀπʼ αἰθέρος ἦεν ἀμύντωρ
611  Ζεύς, ὅς μιν πλεόνεσσι μετʼ ἀνδράσι μοῦνον ἐόντα
612  τίμα καὶ κύδαινε. μινυνθάδιος γὰρ ἔμελλεν
613  ἔσσεσθʼ· ἤδη γάρ οἱ ἐπόρνυε μόρσιμον ἦμαρ
614  Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη ὑπὸ Πηλεΐδαο βίηφιν.
615  καί ῥʼ ἔθελεν ῥῆξαι στίχας ἀνδρῶν πειρητίζων,
616  ᾗ δὴ πλεῖστον ὅμιλον ὅρα καὶ τεύχεʼ ἄριστα·
617  ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς δύνατο ῥῆξαι μάλα περ μενεαίνων·
618  ἴσχον γὰρ πυργηδὸν ἀρηρότες, ἠΰτε πέτρη
619  ἠλίβατος μεγάλη πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐγγὺς ἐοῦσα,
620  ἥ τε μένει λιγέων ἀνέμων λαιψηρὰ κέλευθα
621  κύματά τε τροφόεντα, τά τε προσερεύγεται αὐτήν·
622  ὣς Δαναοὶ Τρῶας μένον ἔμπεδον οὐδὲ φέβοντο.
623  αὐτὰρ ὃ λαμπόμενος πυρὶ πάντοθεν ἔνθορʼ ὁμίλῳ,
624  ἐν δʼ ἔπεσʼ ὡς ὅτε κῦμα θοῇ ἐν νηῒ πέσῃσι
625  λάβρον ὑπαὶ νεφέων ἀνεμοτρεφές· ἣ δέ τε πᾶσα
626  ἄχνῃ ὑπεκρύφθη, ἀνέμοιο δὲ δεινὸς ἀήτη
627  ἱστίῳ ἐμβρέμεται, τρομέουσι δέ τε φρένα ναῦται
628  δειδιότες· τυτθὸν γὰρ ὑπʼ ἐκ θανάτοιο φέρονται·
629  ὣς ἐδαΐζετο θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
630  αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ὥς τε λέων ὀλοόφρων βουσὶν ἐπελθών,
631  αἵ ῥά τʼ ἐν εἱαμενῇ ἕλεος μεγάλοιο νέμονται
632  μυρίαι, ἐν δέ τε τῇσι νομεὺς οὔ πω σάφα εἰδὼς
633  θηρὶ μαχέσσασθαι ἕλικος βοὸς ἀμφὶ φονῇσιν·
634  ἤτοι ὃ μὲν πρώτῃσι καὶ ὑστατίῃσι βόεσσιν
635  αἰὲν ὁμοστιχάει, ὃ δέ τʼ ἐν μέσσῃσιν ὀρούσας
636  βοῦν ἔδει, αἳ δέ τε πᾶσαι ὑπέτρεσαν· ὣς τότʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
637  θεσπεσίως ἐφόβηθεν ὑφʼ Ἕκτορι καὶ Διὶ πατρὶ
638  πάντες, ὃ δʼ οἶον ἔπεφνε Μυκηναῖον Περιφήτην,
639  Κοπρῆος φίλον υἱόν, ὃς Εὐρυσθῆος ἄνακτος
640  ἀγγελίης οἴχνεσκε βίῃ Ἡρακληείῃ.
641  τοῦ γένετʼ ἐκ πατρὸς πολὺ χείρονος υἱὸς ἀμείνων
642  παντοίας ἀρετάς, ἠμὲν πόδας ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι,
643  καὶ νόον ἐν πρώτοισι Μυκηναίων ἐτέτυκτο·
644  ὅς ῥα τόθʼ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ὑπέρτερον ἐγγυάλιξε.
645  στρεφθεὶς γὰρ μετόπισθεν ἐν ἀσπίδος ἄντυγι πάλτο,
646  τὴν αὐτὸς φορέεσκε ποδηνεκέʼ ἕρκος ἀκόντων·
647  τῇ ὅ γʼ ἐνὶ βλαφθεὶς πέσεν ὕπτιος, ἀμφὶ δὲ πήληξ
648  σμερδαλέον κονάβησε περὶ κροτάφοισι πεσόντος.
649  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὀξὺ νόησε, θέων δέ οἱ ἄγχι παρέστη,
650  στήθεϊ δʼ ἐν δόρυ πῆξε, φίλων δέ μιν ἐγγὺς ἑταίρων
651  κτεῖνʼ· οἳ δʼ οὐκ ἐδύναντο καὶ ἀχνύμενοί περ ἑταίρου
652  χραισμεῖν· αὐτοὶ γὰρ μάλα δείδισαν Ἕκτορα δῖον.
653  εἰσωποὶ δʼ ἐγένοντο νεῶν, περὶ δʼ ἔσχεθον ἄκραι
654  νῆες ὅσαι πρῶται εἰρύατο· τοὶ δʼ ἐπέχυντο.
655  Ἀργεῖοι δὲ νεῶν μὲν ἐχώρησαν καὶ ἀνάγκῃ
656  τῶν πρωτέων, αὐτοῦ δὲ παρὰ κλισίῃσιν ἔμειναν
657  ἁθρόοι, οὐδὲ κέδασθεν ἀνὰ στρατόν· ἴσχε γὰρ αἰδὼς
658  καὶ δέος· ἀζηχὲς γὰρ ὁμόκλεον ἀλλήλοισι.
659  Νέστωρ αὖτε μάλιστα Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν
660  λίσσεθʼ ὑπὲρ τοκέων γουνούμενος ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·
661  ὦ φίλοι ἀνέρες ἔστε καὶ αἰδῶ θέσθʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
662  ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων, ἐπὶ δὲ μνήσασθε ἕκαστος
663  παίδων ἠδʼ ἀλόχων καὶ κτήσιος ἠδὲ τοκήων,
664  ἠμὲν ὅτεῳ ζώουσι καὶ ᾧ κατατεθνήκασι·
665  τῶν ὕπερ ἐνθάδʼ ἐγὼ γουνάζομαι οὐ παρεόντων
666  ἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς, μὴ δὲ τρωπᾶσθε φόβον δέ.
667  ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
668  τοῖσι δʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν νέφος ἀχλύος ὦσεν Ἀθήνη
669  θεσπέσιον· μάλα δέ σφι φόως γένετʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν
670  ἠμὲν πρὸς νηῶν καὶ ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο.
671  Ἕκτορα δὲ φράσσαντο βοὴν ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἑταίρους,
672  ἠμὲν ὅσοι μετόπισθεν ἀφέστασαν οὐδὲ μάχοντο,
673  ἠδʼ ὅσσοι παρὰ νηυσὶ μάχην ἐμάχοντο θοῇσιν.
674  οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ Αἴαντι μεγαλήτορι ἥνδανε θυμῷ
675  ἑστάμεν ἔνθά περ ἄλλοι ἀφέστασαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν·
676  ἀλλʼ ὅ γε νηῶν ἴκριʼ ἐπῴχετο μακρὰ βιβάσθων,
677  νώμα δὲ ξυστὸν μέγα ναύμαχον ἐν παλάμῃσι
678  κολλητὸν βλήτροισι δυωκαιεικοσίπηχυ.
679  ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ ἵπποισι κελητίζειν ἐῢ εἰδώς,
680  ὅς τʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ πολέων πίσυρας συναείρεται ἵππους,
681  σεύας ἐκ πεδίοιο μέγα προτὶ ἄστυ δίηται
682  λαοφόρον καθʼ ὁδόν· πολέες τέ ἑ θηήσαντο
683  ἀνέρες ἠδὲ γυναῖκες· ὃ δʼ ἔμπεδον ἀσφαλὲς αἰεὶ
684  θρῴσκων ἄλλοτʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλον ἀμείβεται, οἳ δὲ πέτονται·
685  ὣς Αἴας ἐπὶ πολλὰ θοάων ἴκρια νηῶν
686  φοίτα μακρὰ βιβάς, φωνὴ δέ οἱ αἰθέρʼ ἵκανεν,
687  αἰεὶ δὲ σμερδνὸν βοόων Δαναοῖσι κέλευε
688  νηυσί τε καὶ κλισίῃσιν ἀμυνέμεν. οὐδὲ μὲν Ἕκτωρ
689  μίμνεν ἐνὶ Τρώων ὁμάδῳ πύκα θωρηκτάων·
690  ἀλλʼ ὥς τʼ ὀρνίθων πετεηνῶν αἰετὸς αἴθων
691  ἔθνος ἐφορμᾶται ποταμὸν πάρα βοσκομενάων
692  χηνῶν ἢ γεράνων ἢ κύκνων δουλιχοδείρων,
693  ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἴθυσε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
694  ἀντίος ἀΐξας· τὸν δὲ Ζεὺς ὦσεν ὄπισθε
695  χειρὶ μάλα μεγάλῃ, ὄτρυνε δὲ λαὸν ἅμʼ αὐτῷ.
696  αὖτις δὲ δριμεῖα μάχη παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐτύχθη·
697  φαίης κʼ ἀκμῆτας καὶ ἀτειρέας ἀλλήλοισιν
698  ἄντεσθʼ ἐν πολέμῳ, ὡς ἐσσυμένως ἐμάχοντο.
699  τοῖσι δὲ μαρναμένοισιν ὅδʼ ἦν νόος· ἤτοι Ἀχαιοὶ
700  οὐκ ἔφασαν φεύξεσθαι ὑπʼ ἐκ κακοῦ, ἀλλʼ ὀλέεσθαι,
701  Τρωσὶν δʼ ἔλπετο θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἑκάστου
702  νῆας ἐνιπρήσειν κτενέειν θʼ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.
703  οἳ μὲν τὰ φρονέοντες ἐφέστασαν ἀλλήλοισιν·
704  Ἕκτωρ δὲ πρυμνῆς νεὸς ἥψατο ποντοπόροιο
705  καλῆς ὠκυάλου, ἣ Πρωτεσίλαον ἔνεικεν
706  ἐς Τροίην, οὐδʼ αὖτις ἀπήγαγε πατρίδα γαῖαν.
707  τοῦ περ δὴ περὶ νηὸς Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τε
708  δῄουν ἀλλήλους αὐτοσχεδόν· οὐδʼ ἄρα τοί γε
709  τόξων ἀϊκὰς ἀμφὶς μένον οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀκόντων,
710  ἀλλʼ οἵ γʼ ἐγγύθεν ἱστάμενοι ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντες
711  ὀξέσι δὴ πελέκεσσι καὶ ἀξίνῃσι μάχοντο
712  καὶ ξίφεσιν μεγάλοισι καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι.
713  πολλὰ δὲ φάσγανα καλὰ μελάνδετα κωπήεντα
714  ἄλλα μὲν ἐκ χειρῶν χαμάδις πέσον, ἄλλα δʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων
715  ἀνδρῶν μαρναμένων· ῥέε δʼ αἵματι γαῖα μέλαινα.
716  Ἕκτωρ δὲ πρύμνηθεν ἐπεὶ λάβεν οὐχὶ μεθίει
717  ἄφλαστον μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων, Τρωσὶν δὲ κέλευεν·
718  οἴσετε πῦρ, ἅμα δʼ αὐτοὶ ἀολλέες ὄρνυτʼ ἀϋτήν·
719  νῦν ἡμῖν πάντων Ζεὺς ἄξιον ἦμαρ ἔδωκε
720  νῆας ἑλεῖν, αἳ δεῦρο θεῶν ἀέκητι μολοῦσαι
721  ἡμῖν πήματα πολλὰ θέσαν, κακότητι γερόντων,
722  οἵ μʼ ἐθέλοντα μάχεσθαι ἐπὶ πρυμνῇσι νέεσσιν
723  αὐτόν τʼ ἰσχανάασκον ἐρητύοντό τε λαόν·
724  ἀλλʼ εἰ δή ῥα τότε βλάπτε φρένας εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
725  ἡμετέρας, νῦν αὐτὸς ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει.
726  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα μᾶλλον ἐπʼ Ἀργείοισιν ὄρουσαν.
727  Αἴας δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔμιμνε· βιάζετο γὰρ βελέεσσιν·
728  ἀλλʼ ἀνεχάζετο τυτθόν, ὀϊόμενος θανέεσθαι
729  θρῆνυν ἐφʼ ἑπταπόδην, λίπε δʼ ἴκρια νηὸς ἐΐσης.
730  ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἑστήκει δεδοκημένος, ἔγχεϊ δʼ αἰεὶ
731  Τρῶας ἄμυνε νεῶν, ὅς τις φέροι ἀκάματον πῦρ·
732  αἰεὶ δὲ σμερδνὸν βοόων Δαναοῖσι κέλευε·
733  ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες Ἄρηος
734  ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.
735  ἠέ τινάς φαμεν εἶναι ἀοσσητῆρας ὀπίσσω,
736  ἦέ τι τεῖχος ἄρειον, ὅ κʼ ἀνδράσι λοιγὸν ἀμύναι;
737  οὐ μέν τι σχεδόν ἐστι πόλις πύργοις ἀραρυῖα,
738  ᾗ κʼ ἀπαμυναίμεσθʼ ἑτεραλκέα δῆμον ἔχοντες·
739  ἀλλʼ ἐν γὰρ Τρώων πεδίῳ πύκα θωρηκτάων
740  πόντῳ κεκλιμένοι ἑκὰς ἥμεθα πατρίδος αἴης·
741  τὼ ἐν χερσὶ φόως, οὐ μειλιχίῃ πολέμοιο.
742  ἦ, καὶ μαιμώων ἔφεπʼ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι.
743  ὅς τις δὲ Τρώων κοίλῃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ φέροιτο
744  σὺν πυρὶ κηλείῳ, χάριν Ἕκτορος ὀτρύναντος,
745  τὸν δʼ Αἴας οὔτασκε δεδεγμένος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ·
746  δώδεκα δὲ προπάροιθε νεῶν αὐτοσχεδὸν οὖτα.