In the forenoon the fight is equal, but Agamemnon turns the
      fortune of the day towards the Achaeans until he gets wounded and
      leaves the field—Hector then drives everything before him till he
      is wounded by Diomed—Paris wounds Diomed—Ulysses, Nestor, and
      Idomeneus perform prodigies of valour—Machaon is wounded—Nestor
      drives him off in his chariot—Achilles sees the pair driving
      towards the camp and sends Patroclus to ask who it is that is
      wounded—This is the beginning of evil for Patroclus—Nestor makes
      a long speech.

      And now as Dawn rose from her couch beside Tithonus, harbinger of
      light alike to mortals and immortals, Jove sent fierce Discord
      with the ensign of war in her hands to the ships of the Achaeans.
      She took her stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses’ ship which
      was middlemost of all, so that her voice might carry farthest on
      either side, on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of
      Telamon, and on the other towards those of Achilles—for these two
      heroes, well assured of their own strength, had valorously drawn
      up their ships at the two ends of the line. There she took her
      stand, and raised a cry both loud and shrill that filled the
      Achaeans with courage, giving them heart to fight resolutely and
      with all their might, so that they had rather stay there and do
      battle than go home in their ships.

      The son of Atreus shouted aloud and bade the Argives gird
      themselves for battle while he put on his armour. First he girded
      his goodly greaves about his legs, making them fast with
      ankle-clasps of silver; and about his chest he set the
      breastplate which Cinyras had once given him as a guest-gift. It
      had been noised abroad as far as Cyprus that the Achaeans were
      about to sail for Troy, and therefore he gave it to the king. It
      had ten courses of dark cyanus, twelve of gold, and ten of tin.
      There were serpents of cyanus that reared themselves up towards
      the neck, three upon either side, like the rainbows which the son
      of Saturn has set in heaven as a sign to mortal men. About his
      shoulders he threw his sword, studded with bosses of gold; and
      the scabbard was of silver with a chain of gold wherewith to hang
      it. He took moreover the richly-dight shield that covered his
      body when he was in battle—fair to see, with ten circles of
      bronze running all round it. On the body of the shield there were
      twenty bosses of white tin, with another of dark cyanus in the
      middle: this last was made to show a Gorgon’s head, fierce and
      grim, with Rout and Panic on either side. The band for the arm to
      go through was of silver, on which there was a writhing snake of
      cyanus with three heads that sprang from a single neck, and went
      in and out among one another. On his head Agamemnon set a helmet,
      with a peak before and behind, and four plumes of horse-hair that
      nodded menacingly above it; then he grasped two redoubtable
      bronze-shod spears, and the gleam of his armour shot from him as
      a flame into the firmament, while Juno and Minerva thundered in
      honour of the king of rich Mycene.

      Every man now left his horses in charge of his charioteer to hold
      them in readiness by the trench, while he went into battle on
      foot clad in full armour, and a mighty uproar rose on high into
      the dawning. The chiefs were armed and at the trench before the
      horses got there, but these came up presently. The son of Saturn
      sent a portent of evil sound about their host, and the dew fell
      red with blood, for he was about to send many a brave man
      hurrying down to Hades.

      The Trojans, on the other side upon the rising slope of the
      plain, were gathered round great Hector, noble Polydamas, Aeneas
      who was honoured by the Trojans like an immortal, and the three
      sons of Antenor, Polybus, Agenor, and young Acamas beauteous as a
      god. Hector’s round shield showed in the front rank, and as some
      baneful star that shines for a moment through a rent in the
      clouds and is again hidden beneath them; even so was Hector now
      seen in the front ranks and now again in the hindermost, and his
      bronze armour gleamed like the lightning of aegis-bearing Jove.

      And now as a band of reapers mow swathes of wheat or barley upon
      a rich man’s land, and the sheaves fall thick before them, even
      so did the Trojans and Achaeans fall upon one another; they were
      in no mood for yielding but fought like wolves, and neither side
      got the better of the other. Discord was glad as she beheld them,
      for she was the only god that went among them; the others were
      not there, but stayed quietly each in his own home among the
      dells and valleys of Olympus. All of them blamed the son of
      Saturn for wanting to give victory to the Trojans, but father
      Jove heeded them not: he held aloof from all, and sat apart in
      his all-glorious majesty, looking down upon the city of the
      Trojans, the ships of the Achaeans, the gleam of bronze, and
      alike upon the slayers and on the slain.

      Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning, their
      darts rained thick on one another and the people perished, but as
      the hour drew nigh when a woodman working in some mountain forest
      will get his midday meal—for he has felled till his hands are
      weary; he is tired out, and must now have food—then the Danaans
      with a cry that rang through all their ranks, broke the
      battalions of the enemy. Agamemnon led them on, and slew first
      Bienor, a leader of his people, and afterwards his comrade and
      charioteer Oileus, who sprang from his chariot and was coming
      full towards him; but Agamemnon struck him on the forehead with
      his spear; his bronze visor was of no avail against the weapon,
      which pierced both bronze and bone, so that his brains were
      battered in and he was killed in full fight.

      Agamemnon stripped their shirts from off them and left them with
      their breasts all bare to lie where they had fallen. He then went
      on to kill Isus and Antiphus two sons of Priam, the one a
      bastard, the other born in wedlock; they were in the same
      chariot—the bastard driving, while noble Antiphus fought beside
      him. Achilles had once taken both of them prisoners in the glades
      of Ida, and had bound them with fresh withes as they were
      shepherding, but he had taken a ransom for them; now, however,
      Agamemnon son of Atreus smote Isus in the chest above the nipple
      with his spear, while he struck Antiphus hard by the ear and
      threw him from his chariot. Forthwith he stripped their goodly
      armour from off them and recognized them, for he had already seen
      them at ships when Achilles brought them in from Ida. As a lion
      fastens on the fawns of a hind and crushes them in his great
      jaws, robbing them of their tender life while he on his way back
      to his lair—the hind can do nothing for them even though she be
      close by, for she is in an agony of fear, and flies through the
      thick forest, sweating, and at her utmost speed before the mighty
      monster—so, no man of the Trojans could help Isus and Antiphus,
      for they were themselves flying in panic before the Argives.

      Then King Agamemnon took the two sons of Antimachus, Pisander and
      brave Hippolochus. It was Antimachus who had been foremost in
      preventing Helen’s being restored to Menelaus, for he was largely
      bribed by Alexandrus; and now Agamemnon took his two sons, both
      in the same chariot, trying to bring their horses to a stand—for
      they had lost hold of the reins and the horses were mad with
      fear. The son of Atreus sprang upon them like a lion, and the
      pair besought him from their chariot. “Take us alive,” they
      cried, “son of Atreus, and you shall receive a great ransom for
      us. Our father Antimachus has great store of gold, bronze, and
      wrought iron, and from this he will satisfy you with a very large
      ransom should he hear of our being alive at the ships of the
      Achaeans.”

      With such piteous words and tears did they beseech the king, but
      they heard no pitiful answer in return. “If,” said Agamemnon,
      “you are sons of Antimachus, who once at a council of Trojans
      proposed that Menelaus and Ulysses, who had come to you as
      envoys, should be killed and not suffered to return, you shall
      now pay for the foul iniquity of your father.”

      As he spoke he felled Pisander from his chariot to the earth,
      smiting him on the chest with his spear, so that he lay face
      uppermost upon the ground. Hippolochus fled, but him too did
      Agamemnon smite; he cut off his hands and his head—which he sent
      rolling in among the crowd as though it were a ball. There he let
      them both lie, and wherever the ranks were thickest thither he
      flew, while the other Achaeans followed. Foot soldiers drove the
      foot soldiers of the foe in rout before them, and slew them;
      horsemen did the like by horsemen, and the thundering tramp of
      the horses raised a cloud of dust from off the plain. King
      Agamemnon followed after, ever slaying them and cheering on the
      Achaeans. As when some mighty forest is all ablaze—the eddying
      gusts whirl fire in all directions till the thickets shrivel and
      are consumed before the blast of the flame—even so fell the heads
      of the flying Trojans before Agamemnon son of Atreus, and many a
      noble pair of steeds drew an empty chariot along the highways of
      war, for lack of drivers who were lying on the plain, more useful
      now to vultures than to their wives.

      Jove drew Hector away from the darts and dust, with the carnage
      and din of battle; but the son of Atreus sped onwards, calling
      out lustily to the Danaans. They flew on by the tomb of old Ilus,
      son of Dardanus, in the middle of the plain, and past the place
      of the wild fig-tree making always for the city—the son of Atreus
      still shouting, and with hands all bedrabbled in gore; but when
      they had reached the Scaean gates and the oak tree, there they
      halted and waited for the others to come up. Meanwhile the
      Trojans kept on flying over the middle of the plain like a herd
      of cows maddened with fright when a lion has attacked them in the
      dead of night—he springs on one of them, seizes her neck in the
      grip of his strong teeth and then laps up her blood and gorges
      himself upon her entrails—even so did King Agamemnon son of
      Atreus pursue the foe, ever slaughtering the hindmost as they
      fled pell-mell before him. Many a man was flung headlong from his
      chariot by the hand of the son of Atreus, for he wielded his
      spear with fury.

      But when he was just about to reach the high wall and the city,
      the father of gods and men came down from heaven and took his
      seat, thunderbolt in hand, upon the crest of many-fountained Ida.
      He then told Iris of the golden wings to carry a message for him.
      “Go,” said he, “fleet Iris, and speak thus to Hector—say that so
      long as he sees Agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the
      Trojan ranks, he is to keep aloof and bid the others bear the
      brunt of the battle, but when Agamemnon is wounded either by
      spear or arrow, and takes to his chariot, then will I vouchsafe
      him strength to slay till he reach the ships and night falls at
      the going down of the sun.”

      Iris hearkened and obeyed. Down she went to strong Ilius from the
      crests of Ida, and found Hector son of Priam standing by his
      chariot and horses. Then she said, “Hector son of Priam, peer of
      gods in counsel, father Jove has sent me to bear you this
      message—so long as you see Agamemnon heading his men and making
      havoc of the Trojan ranks, you are to keep aloof and bid the
      others bear the brunt of the battle, but when Agamemnon is
      wounded either by spear or arrow, and takes to his chariot, then
      will Jove vouchsafe you strength to slay till you reach the
      ships, and till night falls at the going down of the sun.”

      When she had thus spoken Iris left him, and Hector sprang full
      armed from his chariot to the ground, brandishing his spear as he
      went about everywhere among the host, cheering his men on to
      fight, and stirring the dread strife of battle. The Trojans then
      wheeled round, and again met the Achaeans, while the Argives on
      their part strengthened their battalions. The battle was now in
      array and they stood face to face with one another, Agamemnon
      ever pressing forward in his eagerness to be ahead of all others.

      Tell me now ye Muses that dwell in the mansions of Olympus, who,
      whether of the Trojans or of their allies, was first to face
      Agamemnon? It was Iphidamas son of Antenor, a man both brave and
      of great stature, who was brought up in fertile Thrace, the
      mother of sheep. Cisses, his mother’s father, brought him up in
      his own house when he was a child—Cisses, father to fair Theano.
      When he reached manhood, Cisses would have kept him there, and
      was for giving him his daughter in marriage, but as soon as he
      had married he set out to fight the Achaeans with twelve ships
      that followed him: these he had left at Percote and had come on
      by land to Ilius. He it was that now met Agamemnon son of Atreus.
      When they were close up with one another, the son of Atreus
      missed his aim, and Iphidamas hit him on the girdle below the
      cuirass and then flung himself upon him, trusting to his strength
      of arm; the girdle, however, was not pierced, nor nearly so, for
      the point of the spear struck against the silver and was turned
      aside as though it had been lead: King Agamemnon caught it from
      his hand, and drew it towards him with the fury of a lion; he
      then drew his sword, and killed Iphidamas by striking him on the
      neck. So there the poor fellow lay, sleeping a sleep as it were
      of bronze, killed in the defence of his fellow-citizens, far from
      his wedded wife, of whom he had had no joy though he had given
      much for her: he had given a hundred head of cattle down, and had
      promised later on to give a thousand sheep and goats mixed, from
      the countless flocks of which he was possessed. Agamemnon son of
      Atreus then despoiled him, and carried off his armour into the
      host of the Achaeans.

      When noble Coon, Antenor’s eldest son, saw this, sore indeed were
      his eyes at the sight of his fallen brother. Unseen by Agamemnon
      he got beside him, spear in hand, and wounded him in the middle
      of his arm below the elbow, the point of the spear going right
      through the arm. Agamemnon was convulsed with pain, but still not
      even for this did he leave off struggling and fighting, but
      grasped his spear that flew as fleet as the wind, and sprang upon
      Coon who was trying to drag off the body of his brother—his
      father’s son—by the foot, and was crying for help to all the
      bravest of his comrades; but Agamemnon struck him with a
      bronze-shod spear and killed him as he was dragging the dead body
      through the press of men under cover of his shield: he then cut
      off his head, standing over the body of Iphidamas. Thus did the
      sons of Antenor meet their fate at the hands of the son of
      Atreus, and go down into the house of Hades.

      As long as the blood still welled warm from his wound Agamemnon
      went about attacking the ranks of the enemy with spear and sword
      and with great handfuls of stone, but when the blood had ceased
      to flow and the wound grew dry, the pain became great. As the
      sharp pangs which the Eilithuiae, goddesses of childbirth,
      daughters of Juno and dispensers of cruel pain, send upon a woman
      when she is in labour—even so sharp were the pangs of the son of
      Atreus. He sprang on to his chariot, and bade his charioteer
      drive to the ships, for he was in great agony. With a loud clear
      voice he shouted to the Danaans, “My friends, princes and
      counsellors of the Argives, defend the ships yourselves, for Jove
      has not suffered me to fight the whole day through against the
      Trojans.”

      With this the charioteer turned his horses towards the ships, and
      they flew forward nothing loth. Their chests were white with foam
      and their bellies with dust, as they drew the wounded king out of
      the battle.

      When Hector saw Agamemnon quit the field, he shouted to the
      Trojans and Lycians saying, “Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanian
      warriors, be men, my friends, and acquit yourselves in battle
      bravely; their best man has left them, and Jove has vouchsafed me
      a great triumph; charge the foe with your chariots that you may
      win still greater glory.”

      With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and as a
      huntsman hounds his dogs on against a lion or wild boar, even so
      did Hector, peer of Mars, hound the proud Trojans on against the
      Achaeans. Full of hope he plunged in among the foremost, and fell
      on the fight like some fierce tempest that swoops down upon the
      sea, and lashes its deep blue waters into fury.

      What, then is the full tale of those whom Hector son of Priam
      killed in the hour of triumph which Jove then vouchsafed him?
      First Asaeus, Autonous, and Opites; Dolops son of Clytius,
      Opheltius and Agelaus; Aesymnus, Orus and Hipponous steadfast in
      battle; these chieftains of the Achaeans did Hector slay, and
      then he fell upon the rank and file. As when the west wind
      hustles the clouds of the white south and beats them down with
      the fierceness of its fury—the waves of the sea roll high, and
      the spray is flung aloft in the rage of the wandering wind—even
      so thick were the heads of them that fell by the hand of Hector.

      All had then been lost and no help for it, and the Achaeans would
      have fled pell-mell to their ships, had not Ulysses cried out to
      Diomed, “Son of Tydeus, what has happened to us that we thus
      forget our prowess? Come, my good fellow, stand by my side and
      help me, we shall be shamed for ever if Hector takes the ships.”

      And Diomed answered, “Come what may, I will stand firm; but we
      shall have scant joy of it, for Jove is minded to give victory to
      the Trojans rather than to us.”

      With these words he struck Thymbraeus from his chariot to the
      ground, smiting him in the left breast with his spear, while
      Ulysses killed Molion who was his squire. These they let lie, now
      that they had stopped their fighting; the two heroes then went on
      playing havoc with the foe, like two wild boars that turn in fury
      and rend the hounds that hunt them. Thus did they turn upon the
      Trojans and slay them, and the Achaeans were thankful to have
      breathing time in their flight from Hector.

      They then took two princes with their chariot, the two sons of
      Merops of Percote, who excelled all others in the arts of
      divination. He had forbidden his sons to go to the war, but they
      would not obey him, for fate lured them to their fall. Diomed son
      of Tydeus slew them both and stripped them of their armour, while
      Ulysses killed Hippodamus and Hypeirochus.

      And now the son of Saturn as he looked down from Ida ordained
      that neither side should have the advantage, and they kept on
      killing one another. The son of Tydeus speared Agastrophus son of
      Paeon in the hip-joint with his spear. His chariot was not at
      hand for him to fly with, so blindly confident had he been. His
      squire was in charge of it at some distance and he was fighting
      on foot among the foremost until he lost his life. Hector soon
      marked the havoc Diomed and Ulysses were making, and bore down
      upon them with a loud cry, followed by the Trojan ranks; brave
      Diomed was dismayed when he saw them, and said to Ulysses who was
      beside him, “Great Hector is bearing down upon us and we shall be
      undone; let us stand firm and wait his onset.”

      He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it, nor did he miss
      his mark. He had aimed at Hector’s head near the top of his
      helmet, but bronze was turned by bronze, and Hector was
      untouched, for the spear was stayed by the visored helm made with
      three plates of metal, which Phoebus Apollo had given him. Hector
      sprang back with a great bound under cover of the ranks; he fell
      on his knees and propped himself with his brawny hand leaning on
      the ground, for darkness had fallen on his eyes. The son of
      Tydeus having thrown his spear dashed in among the foremost
      fighters, to the place where he had seen it strike the ground;
      meanwhile Hector recovered himself and springing back into his
      chariot mingled with the crowd, by which means he saved his life.
      But Diomed made at him with his spear and said, “Dog, you have
      again got away though death was close on your heels. Phoebus
      Apollo, to whom I ween you pray ere you go into battle, has again
      saved you, nevertheless I will meet you and make an end of you
      hereafter, if there is any god who will stand by me too and be my
      helper. For the present I must pursue those I can lay hands on.”

      As he spoke he began stripping the spoils from the son of Paeon,
      but Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen aimed an arrow at him,
      leaning against a pillar of the monument which men had raised to
      Ilus son of Dardanus, a ruler in days of old. Diomed had taken
      the cuirass from off the breast of Agastrophus, his heavy helmet
      also, and the shield from off his shoulders, when Paris drew his
      bow and let fly an arrow that sped not from his hand in vain, but
      pierced the flat of Diomed’s right foot, going right through it
      and fixing itself in the ground. Thereon Paris with a hearty
      laugh sprang forward from his hiding-place, and taunted him
      saying, “You are wounded—my arrow has not been shot in vain;
      would that it had hit you in the belly and killed you, for thus
      the Trojans, who fear you as goats fear a lion, would have had a
      truce from evil.”

      Diomed all undaunted answered, “Archer, you who without your bow
      are nothing, slanderer and seducer, if you were to be tried in
      single combat fighting in full armour, your bow and your arrows
      would serve you in little stead. Vain is your boast in that you
      have scratched the sole of my foot. I care no more than if a girl
      or some silly boy had hit me. A worthless coward can inflict but
      a light wound; when I wound a man though I but graze his skin it
      is another matter, for my weapon will lay him low. His wife will
      tear her cheeks for grief and his children will be fatherless:
      there will he rot, reddening the earth with his blood, and
      vultures, not women, will gather round him.”

      Thus he spoke, but Ulysses came up and stood over him. Under this
      cover he sat down to draw the arrow from his foot, and sharp was
      the pain he suffered as he did so. Then he sprang on to his
      chariot and bade the charioteer drive him to the ships, for he
      was sick at heart.

      Ulysses was now alone; not one of the Argives stood by him, for
      they were all panic-stricken. “Alas,” said he to himself in his
      dismay, “what will become of me? It is ill if I turn and fly
      before these odds, but it will be worse if I am left alone and
      taken prisoner, for the son of Saturn has struck the rest of the
      Danaans with panic. But why talk to myself in this way? Well do I
      know that though cowards quit the field, a hero, whether he wound
      or be wounded, must stand firm and hold his own.”

      While he was thus in two minds, the ranks of the Trojans advanced
      and hemmed him in, and bitterly did they come to rue it. As
      hounds and lusty youths set upon a wild boar that sallies from
      his lair whetting his white tusks—they attack him from every side
      and can hear the gnashing of his jaws, but for all his fierceness
      they still hold their ground—even so furiously did the Trojans
      attack Ulysses. First he sprang spear in hand upon Deiopites and
      wounded him on the shoulder with a downward blow; then he killed
      Thoon and Ennomus. After these he struck Chersidamas in the loins
      under his shield as he had just sprung down from his chariot; so
      he fell in the dust and clutched the earth in the hollow of his
      hand. These he let lie, and went on to wound Charops son of
      Hippasus own brother to noble Socus. Socus, hero that he was,
      made all speed to help him, and when he was close to Ulysses he
      said, “Far-famed Ulysses, insatiable of craft and toil, this day
      you shall either boast of having killed both the sons of Hippasus
      and stripped them of their armour, or you shall fall before my
      spear.”

      With these words he struck the shield of Ulysses. The spear went
      through the shield and passed on through his richly wrought
      cuirass, tearing the flesh from his side, but Pallas Minerva did
      not suffer it to pierce the entrails of the hero. Ulysses knew
      that his hour was not yet come, but he gave ground and said to
      Socus, “Wretch, you shall now surely die. You have stayed me from
      fighting further with the Trojans, but you shall now fall by my
      spear, yielding glory to myself, and your soul to Hades of the
      noble steeds.”

      Socus had turned in flight, but as he did so, the spear struck
      him in the back midway between the shoulders, and went right
      through his chest. He fell heavily to the ground and Ulysses
      vaunted over him saying, “O Socus, son of Hippasus tamer of
      horses, death has been too quick for you and you have not escaped
      him: poor wretch, not even in death shall your father and mother
      close your eyes, but the ravening vultures shall enshroud you
      with the flapping of their dark wings and devour you. Whereas
      even though I fall the Achaeans will give me my due rites of
      burial.”

      So saying he drew Socus’s heavy spear out of his flesh and from
      his shield, and the blood welled forth when the spear was
      withdrawn so that he was much dismayed. When the Trojans saw that
      Ulysses was bleeding they raised a great shout and came on in a
      body towards him; he therefore gave ground, and called his
      comrades to come and help him. Thrice did he cry as loudly as man
      can cry, and thrice did brave Menelaus hear him; he turned,
      therefore, to Ajax who was close beside him and said, “Ajax,
      noble son of Telamon, captain of your people, the cry of Ulysses
      rings in my ears, as though the Trojans had cut him off and were
      worsting him while he is single-handed. Let us make our way
      through the throng; it will be well that we defend him; I fear he
      may come to harm for all his valour if he be left without
      support, and the Danaans would miss him sorely.”

      He led the way and mighty Ajax went with him. The Trojans had
      gathered round Ulysses like ravenous mountain jackals round the
      carcase of some horned stag that has been hit with an arrow—the
      stag has fled at full speed so long as his blood was warm and his
      strength has lasted, but when the arrow has overcome him, the
      savage jackals devour him in the shady glades of the forest. Then
      heaven sends a fierce lion thither, whereon the jackals fly in
      terror and the lion robs them of their prey—even so did Trojans
      many and brave gather round crafty Ulysses, but the hero stood at
      bay and kept them off with his spear. Ajax then came up with his
      shield before him like a wall, and stood hard by, whereon the
      Trojans fled in all directions. Menelaus took Ulysses by the
      hand, and led him out of the press while his squire brought up
      his chariot, but Ajax rushed furiously on the Trojans and killed
      Doryclus, a bastard son of Priam; then he wounded Pandocus,
      Lysandrus, Pyrasus, and Pylartes; as some swollen torrent comes
      rushing in full flood from the mountains on to the plain, big
      with the rain of heaven—many a dry oak and many a pine does it
      engulf, and much mud does it bring down and cast into the
      sea—even so did brave Ajax chase the foe furiously over the
      plain, slaying both men and horses.

      Hector did not yet know what Ajax was doing, for he was fighting
      on the extreme left of the battle by the banks of the river
      Scamander, where the carnage was thickest and the war-cry loudest
      round Nestor and brave Idomeneus. Among these Hector was making
      great slaughter with his spear and furious driving, and was
      destroying the ranks that were opposed to him; still the Achaeans
      would have given no ground, had not Alexandrus husband of lovely
      Helen stayed the prowess of Machaon, shepherd of his people, by
      wounding him in the right shoulder with a triple-barbed arrow.
      The Achaeans were in great fear that as the fight had turned
      against them the Trojans might take him prisoner, and Idomeneus
      said to Nestor, “Nestor son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean
      name, mount your chariot at once; take Machaon with you and drive
      your horses to the ships as fast as you can. A physician is worth
      more than several other men put together, for he can cut out
      arrows and spread healing herbs.”

      Nestor knight of Gerene did as Idomeneus had counselled; he at
      once mounted his chariot, and Machaon son of the famed physician
      Aesculapius, went with him. He lashed his horses and they flew
      onward nothing loth towards the ships, as though of their own
      free will.

      Then Cebriones seeing the Trojans in confusion said to Hector
      from his place beside him, “Hector, here are we two fighting on
      the extreme wing of the battle, while the other Trojans are in
      pell-mell rout, they and their horses. Ajax son of Telamon is
      driving them before him; I know him by the breadth of his shield:
      let us turn our chariot and horses thither, where horse and foot
      are fighting most desperately, and where the cry of battle is
      loudest.”

      With this he lashed his goodly steeds, and when they felt the
      whip they drew the chariot full speed among the Achaeans and
      Trojans, over the bodies and shields of those that had fallen:
      the axle was bespattered with blood, and the rail round the car
      was covered with splashes both from the horses’ hoofs and from
      the tyres of the wheels. Hector tore his way through and flung
      himself into the thick of the fight, and his presence threw the
      Danaans into confusion, for his spear was not long idle;
      nevertheless though he went among the ranks with sword and spear,
      and throwing great stones, he avoided Ajax son of Telamon, for
      Jove would have been angry with him if he had fought a better man
      than himself.

      Then father Jove from his high throne struck fear into the heart
      of Ajax, so that he stood there dazed and threw his shield behind
      him—looking fearfully at the throng of his foes as though he were
      some wild beast, and turning hither and thither but crouching
      slowly backwards. As peasants with their hounds chase a lion from
      their stockyard, and watch by night to prevent his carrying off
      the pick of their herd—he makes his greedy spring, but in vain,
      for the darts from many a strong hand fall thick around him, with
      burning brands that scare him for all his fury, and when morning
      comes he slinks foiled and angry away—even so did Ajax, sorely
      against his will, retreat angrily before the Trojans, fearing for
      the ships of the Achaeans. Or as some lazy ass that has had many
      a cudgel broken about his back, when he into a field begins
      eating the corn—boys beat him but he is too many for them, and
      though they lay about with their sticks they cannot hurt him;
      still when he has had his fill they at last drive him from the
      field—even so did the Trojans and their allies pursue great Ajax,
      ever smiting the middle of his shield with their darts. Now and
      again he would turn and show fight, keeping back the battalions
      of the Trojans, and then he would again retreat; but he prevented
      any of them from making his way to the ships. Single-handed he
      stood midway between the Trojans and Achaeans: the spears that
      sped from their hands stuck some of them in his mighty shield,
      while many, though thirsting for his blood, fell to the ground
      ere they could reach him to the wounding of his fair flesh.

      Now when Eurypylus the brave son of Euaemon saw that Ajax was
      being overpowered by the rain of arrows, he went up to him and
      hurled his spear. He struck Apisaon son of Phausius in the liver
      below the midriff, and laid him low. Eurypylus sprang upon him,
      and stripped the armour from his shoulders; but when Alexandrus
      saw him, he aimed an arrow at him which struck him in the right
      thigh; the arrow broke, but the point that was left in the wound
      dragged on the thigh; he drew back, therefore, under cover of his
      comrades to save his life, shouting as he did so to the Danaans,
      “My friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, rally to the
      defence of Ajax who is being overpowered, and I doubt whether he
      will come out of the fight alive. Hither, then, to the rescue of
      great Ajax son of Telamon.”

      Even so did he cry when he was wounded; thereon the others came
      near, and gathered round him, holding their shields upwards from
      their shoulders so as to give him cover. Ajax then made towards
      them, and turned round to stand at bay as soon as he had reached
      his men.

      Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. Meanwhile the
      mares of Neleus, all in a lather with sweat, were bearing Nestor
      out of the fight, and with him Machaon shepherd of his people.
      Achilles saw and took note, for he was standing on the stern of
      his ship watching the hard stress and struggle of the fight. He
      called from the ship to his comrade Patroclus, who heard him in
      the tent and came out looking like Mars himself—here indeed was
      the beginning of the ill that presently befell him. “Why,” said
      he, “Achilles, do you call me? What do you want with me?” And
      Achilles answered, “Noble son of Menoetius, man after my own
      heart, I take it that I shall now have the Achaeans praying at my
      knees, for they are in great straits; go, Patroclus, and ask
      Nestor who it is that he is bearing away wounded from the field;
      from his back I should say it was Machaon son of Aesculapius, but
      I could not see his face for the horses went by me at full
      speed.”

      Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him, and set off
      running by the ships and tents of the Achaeans.

      When Nestor and Machaon had reached the tents of the son of
      Neleus, they dismounted, and an esquire, Eurymedon, took the
      horses from the chariot. The pair then stood in the breeze by the
      seaside to dry the sweat from their shirts, and when they had so
      done they came inside and took their seats. Fair Hecamede, whom
      Nestor had had awarded to him from Tenedos when Achilles took it,
      mixed them a mess; she was daughter of wise Arsinous, and the
      Achaeans had given her to Nestor because he excelled all of them
      in counsel. First she set for them a fair and well-made table
      that had feet of cyanus; on it there was a vessel of bronze and
      an onion to give relish to the drink, with honey and cakes of
      barley-meal. There was also a cup of rare workmanship which the
      old man had brought with him from home, studded with bosses of
      gold; it had four handles, on each of which there were two golden
      doves feeding, and it had two feet to stand on. Any one else
      would hardly have been able to lift it from the table when it was
      full, but Nestor could do so quite easily. In this the woman, as
      fair as a goddess, mixed them a mess with Pramnian wine; she
      grated goat’s milk cheese into it with a bronze grater, threw in
      a handful of white barley-meal, and having thus prepared the mess
      she bade them drink it. When they had done so and had thus
      quenched their thirst, they fell talking with one another, and at
      this moment Patroclus appeared at the door.

      When the old man saw him he sprang from his seat, seized his
      hand, led him into the tent, and bade him take his place among
      them; but Patroclus stood where he was and said, “Noble sir, I
      may not stay, you cannot persuade me to come in; he that sent me
      is not one to be trifled with, and he bade me ask who the wounded
      man was whom you were bearing away from the field. I can now see
      for myself that he is Machaon, shepherd of his people. I must go
      back and tell Achilles. You, sir, know what a terrible man he is,
      and how ready to blame even where no blame should lie.”

      And Nestor answered, “Why should Achilles care to know how many
      of the Achaeans may be wounded? He recks not of the dismay that
      reigns in our host; our most valiant chieftains lie disabled,
      brave Diomed, son of Tydeus, is wounded; so are Ulysses and
      Agamemnon; Eurypylus has been hit with an arrow in the thigh, and
      I have just been bringing this man from the field—he too wounded
      with an arrow. Nevertheless, Achilles, so valiant though he be,
      cares not and knows no ruth. Will he wait till the ships, do what
      we may, are in a blaze, and we perish one upon the other? As for
      me, I have no strength nor stay in me any longer; would that I
      were still young and strong as in the days when there was a fight
      between us and the men of Elis about some cattle-raiding. I then
      killed Itymoneus, the valiant son of Hypeirochus, a dweller in
      Elis, as I was driving in the spoil; he was hit by a dart thrown
      by my hand while fighting in the front rank in defence of his
      cows, so he fell and the country people around him were in great
      fear. We drove off a vast quantity of booty from the plain, fifty
      herds of cattle and as many flocks of sheep; fifty droves also of
      pigs, and as many wide-spreading flocks of goats. Of horses,
      moreover, we seized a hundred and fifty, all of them mares, and
      many had foals running with them. All these did we drive by night
      to Pylus, the city of Neleus, taking them within the city; and
      the heart of Neleus was glad in that I had taken so much, though
      it was the first time I had ever been in the field. At daybreak
      the heralds went round crying that all in Elis to whom there was
      a debt owing should come; and the leading Pylians assembled to
      divide the spoils. There were many to whom the Epeans owed
      chattels, for we men of Pylus were few and had been oppressed
      with wrong; in former years Hercules had come, and had laid his
      hand heavy upon us, so that all our best men had perished. Neleus
      had had twelve sons, but I alone was left; the others had all
      been killed. The Epeans presuming upon all this had looked down
      upon us and had done us much evil. My father chose a herd of
      cattle and a great flock of sheep—three hundred in all—and he
      took their shepherds with him, for there was a great debt due to
      him in Elis, to wit four horses, winners of prizes. They and
      their chariots with them had gone to the games and were to run
      for a tripod, but King Augeas took them, and sent back their
      driver grieving for the loss of his horses. Neleus was angered by
      what he had both said and done, and took great value in return,
      but he divided the rest, that no man might have less than his
      full share.

      “Thus did we order all things, and offer sacrifices to the gods
      throughout the city; but three days afterwards the Epeans came in
      a body, many in number, they and their chariots, in full array,
      and with them the two Moliones in their armour, though they were
      still lads and unused to fighting. Now there is a certain town,
      Thryoessa, perched upon a rock on the river Alpheus, the border
      city of Pylus. This they would destroy, and pitched their camp
      about it, but when they had crossed their whole plain, Minerva
      darted down by night from Olympus and bade us set ourselves in
      array; and she found willing soldiers in Pylos, for the men meant
      fighting. Neleus would not let me arm, and hid my horses, for he
      said that as yet I could know nothing about war; nevertheless
      Minerva so ordered the fight that, all on foot as I was, I fought
      among our mounted forces and vied with the foremost of them.
      There is a river Minyeius that falls into the sea near Arene, and
      there they that were mounted (and I with them) waited till
      morning, when the companies of foot soldiers came up with us in
      force. Thence in full panoply and equipment we came towards noon
      to the sacred waters of the Alpheus, and there we offered victims
      to almighty Jove, with a bull to Alpheus, another to Neptune, and
      a herd-heifer to Minerva. After this we took supper in our
      companies, and laid us down to rest each in his armour by the
      river.

      “The Epeans were beleaguering the city and were determined to
      take it, but ere this might be there was a desperate fight in
      store for them. When the sun’s rays began to fall upon the earth
      we joined battle, praying to Jove and to Minerva, and when the
      fight had begun, I was the first to kill my man and take his
      horses—to wit the warrior Mulius. He was son-in-law to Augeas,
      having married his eldest daughter, golden-haired Agamede, who
      knew the virtues of every herb which grows upon the face of the
      earth. I speared him as he was coming towards me, and when he
      fell headlong in the dust, I sprang upon his chariot and took my
      place in the front ranks. The Epeans fled in all directions when
      they saw the captain of their horsemen (the best man they had)
      laid low, and I swept down on them like a whirlwind, taking fifty
      chariots—and in each of them two men bit the dust, slain by my
      spear. I should have even killed the two Moliones, sons of Actor,
      unless their real father, Neptune lord of the earthquake, had
      hidden them in a thick mist and borne them out of the fight.
      Thereon Jove vouchsafed the Pylians a great victory, for we
      chased them far over the plain, killing the men and bringing in
      their armour, till we had brought our horses to Buprasium, rich
      in wheat, and to the Olenian rock, with the hill that is called
      Alision, at which point Minerva turned the people back. There I
      slew the last man and left him; then the Achaeans drove their
      horses back from Buprasium to Pylos and gave thanks to Jove among
      the gods, and among mortal men to Nestor.

      “Such was I among my peers, as surely as ever was, but Achilles
      is for keeping all his valour for himself; bitterly will he rue
      it hereafter when the host is being cut to pieces. My good
      friend, did not Menoetius charge you thus, on the day when he
      sent you from Phthia to Agamemnon? Ulysses and I were in the
      house, inside, and heard all that he said to you; for we came to
      the fair house of Peleus while beating up recruits throughout all
      Achaea, and when we got there we found Menoetius and yourself,
      and Achilles with you. The old knight Peleus was in the outer
      court, roasting the fat thigh-bones of a heifer to Jove the lord
      of thunder; and he held a gold chalice in his hand from which he
      poured drink-offerings of wine over the burning sacrifice. You
      two were busy cutting up the heifer, and at that moment we stood
      at the gates, whereon Achilles sprang to his feet, led us by the
      hand into the house, placed us at table, and set before us such
      hospitable entertainment as guests expect. When we had satisfied
      ourselves with meat and drink, I said my say and urged both of
      you to join us. You were ready enough to do so, and the two old
      men charged you much and straitly. Old Peleus bade his son
      Achilles fight ever among the foremost and outvie his peers,
      while Menoetius the son of Actor spoke thus to you: ‘My son,’
      said he, ‘Achilles is of nobler birth than you are, but you are
      older than he, though he is far the better man of the two.
      Counsel him wisely, guide him in the right way, and he will
      follow you to his own profit.’ Thus did your father charge you,
      but you have forgotten; nevertheless, even now, say all this to
      Achilles if he will listen to you. Who knows but with heaven’s
      help you may talk him over, for it is good to take a friend’s
      advice. If, however, he is fearful about some oracle, or if his
      mother has told him something from Jove, then let him send you,
      and let the rest of the Myrmidons follow with you, if perchance
      you may bring light and saving to the Danaans. And let him send
      you into battle clad in his own armour, that the Trojans may
      mistake you for him and leave off fighting; the sons of the
      Achaeans may thus have time to get their breath, for they are
      hard pressed and there is little breathing time in battle. You,
      who are fresh, might easily drive a tired enemy back to his walls
      and away from the tents and ships.”

      With these words he moved the heart of Patroclus, who set off
      running by the line of the ships to Achilles, descendant of
      Aeacus. When he had got as far as the ships of Ulysses, where was
      their place of assembly and court of justice, with their altars
      dedicated to the gods, Eurypylus son of Euaemon, met him, wounded
      in the thigh with an arrow, and limping out of the fight. Sweat
      rained from his head and shoulders, and black blood welled from
      his cruel wound, but his mind did not wander. The son of
      Menoetius when he saw him had compassion upon him and spoke
      piteously saying, “O unhappy princes and counsellors of the
      Danaans, are you then doomed to feed the hounds of Troy with your
      fat, far from your friends and your native land? Say, noble
      Eurypylus, will the Achaeans be able to hold great Hector in
      check, or will they fall now before his spear?”

      Wounded Eurypylus made answer, “Noble Patroclus, there is no hope
      left for the Achaeans but they will perish at their ships. All
      they that were princes among us are lying struck down and wounded
      at the hands of the Trojans, who are waxing stronger and
      stronger. But save me and take me to your ship; cut out the arrow
      from my thigh; wash the black blood from off it with warm water,
      and lay upon it those gracious herbs which, so they say, have
      been shown you by Achilles, who was himself shown them by Chiron,
      most righteous of all the centaurs. For of the physicians
      Podalirius and Machaon, I hear that the one is lying wounded in
      his tent and is himself in need of healing, while the other is
      fighting the Trojans upon the plain.”

      “Hero Eurypylus,” replied the brave son of Menoetius, “how may
      these things be? What can I do? I am on my way to bear a message
      to noble Achilles from Nestor of Gerene, bulwark of the Achaeans,
      but even so I will not be unmindful of your distress.”

      With this he clasped him round the middle and led him into the
      tent, and a servant, when he saw him, spread bullock-skins on the
      ground for him to lie on. He laid him at full length and cut out
      the sharp arrow from his thigh; he washed the black blood from
      the wound with warm water; he then crushed a bitter herb, rubbing
      it between his hands, and spread it upon the wound; this was a
      virtuous herb which killed all pain; so the wound presently dried
      and the blood left off flowing.


1  Ἠὼς δʼ ἐκ λεχέων παρʼ ἀγαυοῦ Τιθωνοῖο
2  ὄρνυθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φόως φέροι ἠδὲ βροτοῖσι·
3  Ζεὺς δʼ Ἔριδα προΐαλλε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
4  ἀργαλέην, πολέμοιο τέρας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαν.
5  στῆ δʼ ἐπʼ Ὀδυσσῆος μεγακήτεϊ νηῒ μελαίνῃ,
6  ἥ ῥʼ ἐν μεσσάτῳ ἔσκε γεγωνέμεν ἀμφοτέρωσε,
7  ἠμὲν ἐπʼ Αἴαντος κλισίας Τελαμωνιάδαο
8  ἠδʼ ἐπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος, τοί ῥʼ ἔσχατα νῆας ἐΐσας
9  εἴρυσαν ἠνορέῃ πίσυνοι καὶ κάρτεϊ χειρῶν
10  ἔνθα στᾶσʼ ἤϋσε θεὰ μέγα τε δεινόν τε
11  ὄρθιʼ, Ἀχαιοῖσιν δὲ μέγα σθένος ἔμβαλʼ ἑκάστῳ
12  καρδίῃ ἄληκτον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.
13  τοῖσι δʼ ἄφαρ πόλεμος γλυκίων γένετʼ ἠὲ νέεσθαι
14  ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
15  Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἐβόησεν ἰδὲ ζώννυσθαι ἄνωγεν
16  Ἀργείους· ἐν δʼ αὐτὸς ἐδύσετο νώροπα χαλκόν.
17  κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε
18  καλὰς ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας·
19  δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνε,
20  τόν ποτέ οἱ Κινύρης δῶκε ξεινήϊον εἶναι.
21  πεύθετο γὰρ Κύπρον δὲ μέγα κλέος οὕνεκʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
22  ἐς Τροίην νήεσσιν ἀναπλεύσεσθαι ἔμελλον·
23  τοὔνεκά οἱ τὸν δῶκε χαριζόμενος βασιλῆϊ.
24  τοῦ δʼ ἤτοι δέκα οἶμοι ἔσαν μέλανος κυάνοιο,
25  δώδεκα δὲ χρυσοῖο καὶ εἴκοσι κασσιτέροιο·
26  κυάνεοι δὲ δράκοντες ὀρωρέχατο προτὶ δειρὴν
27  τρεῖς ἑκάτερθʼ ἴρισσιν ἐοικότες, ἅς τε Κρονίων
28  ἐν νέφεϊ στήριξε, τέρας μερόπων ἀνθρώπων.
29  ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος· ἐν δέ οἱ ἧλοι
30  χρύσειοι πάμφαινον, ἀτὰρ περὶ κουλεὸν ἦεν
31  ἀργύρεον χρυσέοισιν ἀορτήρεσσιν ἀρηρός.
32  ἂν δʼ ἕλετʼ ἀμφιβρότην πολυδαίδαλον ἀσπίδα θοῦριν
33  καλήν, ἣν πέρι μὲν κύκλοι δέκα χάλκεοι ἦσαν,
34  ἐν δέ οἱ ὀμφαλοὶ ἦσαν ἐείκοσι κασσιτέροιο
35  λευκοί, ἐν δὲ μέσοισιν ἔην μέλανος κυάνοιο.
36  τῇ δʼ ἐπὶ μὲν Γοργὼ βλοσυρῶπις ἐστεφάνωτο
37  δεινὸν δερκομένη, περὶ δὲ Δεῖμός τε Φόβος τε.
38  τῆς δʼ ἐξ ἀργύρεος τελαμὼν ἦν· αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ
39  κυάνεος ἐλέλικτο δράκων, κεφαλαὶ δέ οἱ ἦσαν
40  τρεῖς ἀμφιστρεφέες ἑνὸς αὐχένος ἐκπεφυυῖαι.
41  κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀμφίφαλον κυνέην θέτο τετραφάληρον
42  ἵππουριν· δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν.
43  εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμα δοῦρε δύω κεκορυθμένα χαλκῷ
44  ὀξέα· τῆλε δὲ χαλκὸς ἀπʼ αὐτόφιν οὐρανὸν εἴσω
45  λάμπʼ· ἐπὶ δʼ ἐγδούπησαν Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη
46  τιμῶσαι βασιλῆα πολυχρύσοιο Μυκήνης.
47  ἡνιόχῳ μὲν ἔπειτα ἑῷ ἐπέτελλεν ἕκαστος
48  ἵππους εὖ κατὰ κόσμον ἐρυκέμεν αὖθʼ ἐπὶ τάφρῳ,
49  αὐτοὶ δὲ πρυλέες σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντες
50  ῥώοντʼ· ἄσβεστος δὲ βοὴ γένετʼ ἠῶθι πρό.
51  φθὰν δὲ μέγʼ ἱππήων ἐπὶ τάφρῳ κοσμηθέντες,
52  ἱππῆες δʼ ὀλίγον μετεκίαθον· ἐν δὲ κυδοιμὸν
53  ὦρσε κακὸν Κρονίδης, κατὰ δʼ ὑψόθεν ἧκεν ἐέρσας
54  αἵματι μυδαλέας ἐξ αἰθέρος, οὕνεκʼ ἔμελλε
55  πολλὰς ἰφθίμους κεφαλὰς Ἄϊδι προϊάψειν.
56  Τρῶες δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐπὶ θρωσμῷ πεδίοιο
57  Ἕκτορά τʼ ἀμφὶ μέγαν καὶ ἀμύμονα Πουλυδάμαντα
58  Αἰνείαν θʼ, ὃς Τρωσὶ θεὸς ὣς τίετο δήμῳ,
59  τρεῖς τʼ Ἀντηνορίδας Πόλυβον καὶ Ἀγήνορα δῖον
60  ἠΐθεόν τʼ Ἀκάμαντʼ ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν.
61  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἐν πρώτοισι φέρʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην,
62  οἷος δʼ ἐκ νεφέων ἀναφαίνεται οὔλιος ἀστὴρ
63  παμφαίνων, τοτὲ δʼ αὖτις ἔδυ νέφεα σκιόεντα,
64  ὣς Ἕκτωρ ὁτὲ μέν τε μετὰ πρώτοισι φάνεσκεν,
65  ἄλλοτε δʼ ἐν πυμάτοισι κελεύων· πᾶς δʼ ἄρα χαλκῷ
66  λάμφʼ ὥς τε στεροπὴ πατρὸς Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.
67  οἳ δʼ, ὥς τʼ ἀμητῆρες ἐναντίοι ἀλλήλοισιν
68  ὄγμον ἐλαύνωσιν ἀνδρὸς μάκαρος κατʼ ἄρουραν
69  πυρῶν ἢ κριθῶν· τὰ δὲ δράγματα ταρφέα πίπτει·
70  ὣς Τρῶες καὶ Ἀχαιοὶ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισι θορόντες
71  δῄουν, οὐδʼ ἕτεροι μνώοντʼ ὀλοοῖο φόβοιο.
72  ἴσας δʼ ὑσμίνη κεφαλὰς ἔχεν, οἳ δὲ λύκοι ὣς
73  θῦνον· Ἔρις δʼ ἄρʼ ἔχαιρε πολύστονος εἰσορόωσα·
74  οἴη γάρ ῥα θεῶν παρετύγχανε μαρναμένοισιν,
75  οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι οὔ σφιν πάρεσαν θεοί, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι
76  σφοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι καθήατο, ἧχι ἑκάστῳ
77  δώματα καλὰ τέτυκτο κατὰ πτύχας Οὐλύμποιο.
78  πάντες δʼ ᾐτιόωντο κελαινεφέα Κρονίωνα
79  οὕνεκʼ ἄρα Τρώεσσιν ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαι.
80  τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀλέγιζε πατήρ· ὃ δὲ νόσφι λιασθεὶς
81  τῶν ἄλλων ἀπάνευθε καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίων
82  εἰσορόων Τρώων τε πόλιν καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
83  χαλκοῦ τε στεροπήν, ὀλλύντάς τʼ ὀλλυμένους τε.
84  ὄφρα μὲν ἠὼς ἦν καὶ ἀέξετο ἱερὸν ἦμαρ,
85  τόφρα μάλʼ ἀμφοτέρων βέλεʼ ἥπτετο, πῖπτε δὲ λαός·
86  ἦμος δὲ δρυτόμος περ ἀνὴρ ὁπλίσσατο δεῖπνον
87  οὔρεος ἐν βήσσῃσιν, ἐπεί τʼ ἐκορέσσατο χεῖρας
88  τάμνων δένδρεα μακρά, ἅδος τέ μιν ἵκετο θυμόν,
89  σίτου τε γλυκεροῖο περὶ φρένας ἵμερος αἱρεῖ,
90  τῆμος σφῇ ἀρετῇ Δαναοὶ ῥήξαντο φάλαγγας
91  κεκλόμενοι ἑτάροισι κατὰ στίχας· ἐν δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων
92  πρῶτος ὄρουσʼ, ἕλε δʼ ἄνδρα Βιάνορα ποιμένα λαῶν
93  αὐτόν, ἔπειτα δʼ ἑταῖρον Ὀϊλῆα πλήξιππον.
94  ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ἐξ ἵππων κατεπάλμενος ἀντίος ἔστη·
95  τὸν δʼ ἰθὺς μεμαῶτα μετώπιον ὀξέϊ δουρὶ
96  νύξʼ, οὐδὲ στεφάνη δόρυ οἱ σχέθε χαλκοβάρεια,
97  ἀλλὰ διʼ αὐτῆς ἦλθε καὶ ὀστέου, ἐγκέφαλος δὲ
98  ἔνδον ἅπας πεπάλακτο· δάμασσε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα.
99  καὶ τοὺς μὲν λίπεν αὖθι ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
100  στήθεσι παμφαίνοντας, ἐπεὶ περίδυσε χιτῶνας·
101  αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ Ἶσόν τε καὶ Ἄντιφον ἐξεναρίξων
102  υἷε δύω Πριάμοιο νόθον καὶ γνήσιον ἄμφω
103  εἰν ἑνὶ δίφρῳ ἐόντας· ὃ μὲν νόθος ἡνιόχευεν,
104  Ἄντιφος αὖ παρέβασκε περικλυτός· ὥ ποτʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
105  Ἴδης ἐν κνημοῖσι δίδη μόσχοισι λύγοισι,
106  ποιμαίνοντʼ ἐπʼ ὄεσσι λαβών, καὶ ἔλυσεν ἀποίνων.
107  δὴ τότε γʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
108  τὸν μὲν ὑπὲρ μαζοῖο κατὰ στῆθος βάλε δουρί,
109  Ἄντιφον αὖ παρὰ οὖς ἔλασε ξίφει, ἐκ δʼ ἔβαλʼ ἵππων.
110  σπερχόμενος δʼ ἀπὸ τοῖιν ἐσύλα τεύχεα καλὰ
111  γιγνώσκων· καὶ γάρ σφε πάρος παρὰ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν
112  εἶδεν, ὅτʼ ἐξ Ἴδης ἄγαγεν πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς.
113  ὡς δὲ λέων ἐλάφοιο ταχείης νήπια τέκνα
114  ῥηϊδίως συνέαξε λαβὼν κρατεροῖσιν ὀδοῦσιν
115  ἐλθὼν εἰς εὐνήν, ἁπαλόν τέ σφʼ ἦτορ ἀπηύρα·
116  ἣ δʼ εἴ πέρ τε τύχῃσι μάλα σχεδόν, οὐ δύναταί σφι
117  χραισμεῖν· αὐτὴν γάρ μιν ὑπὸ τρόμος αἰνὸς ἱκάνει·
118  καρπαλίμως δʼ ἤϊξε διὰ δρυμὰ πυκνὰ καὶ ὕλην
119  σπεύδουσʼ ἱδρώουσα κραταιοῦ θηρὸς ὑφʼ ὁρμῆς·
120  ὣς ἄρα τοῖς οὔ τις δύνατο χραισμῆσαι ὄλεθρον
121  Τρώων, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοὶ ὑπʼ Ἀργείοισι φέβοντο.
122  αὐτὰρ ὃ Πείσανδρόν τε καὶ Ἱππόλοχον μενεχάρμην
123  υἱέας Ἀντιμάχοιο δαΐφρονος, ὅς ῥα μάλιστα
124  χρυσὸν Ἀλεξάνδροιο δεδεγμένος ἀγλαὰ δῶρα
125  οὐκ εἴασχʼ Ἑλένην δόμεναι ξανθῷ Μενελάῳ,
126  τοῦ περ δὴ δύο παῖδε λάβε κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
127  εἰν ἑνὶ δίφρῳ ἐόντας, ὁμοῦ δʼ ἔχον ὠκέας ἵππους·
128  ἐκ γάρ σφεας χειρῶν φύγον ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,
129  τὼ δὲ κυκηθήτην· ὃ δʼ ἐναντίον ὦρτο λέων ὣς
130  Ἀτρεΐδης· τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐκ δίφρου γουναζέσθην·
131  ζώγρει Ἀτρέος υἱέ, σὺ δʼ ἄξια δέξαι ἄποινα·
132  πολλὰ δʼ ἐν Ἀντιμάχοιο δόμοις κειμήλια κεῖται
133  χαλκός τε χρυσός τε πολύκμητός τε σίδηρος,
134  τῶν κέν τοι χαρίσαιτο πατὴρ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα,
135  εἰ νῶϊ ζωοὺς πεπύθοιτʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.
136  ὣς τώ γε κλαίοντε προσαυδήτην βασιλῆα
137  μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν· ἀμείλικτον δʼ ὄπʼ ἄκουσαν·
138  εἰ μὲν δὴ Ἀντιμάχοιο δαΐφρονος υἱέες ἐστόν,
139  ὅς ποτʼ ἐνὶ Τρώων ἀγορῇ Μενέλαον ἄνωγεν
140  ἀγγελίην ἐλθόντα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆϊ
141  αὖθι κατακτεῖναι μηδʼ ἐξέμεν ἂψ ἐς Ἀχαιούς,
142  νῦν μὲν δὴ τοῦ πατρὸς ἀεικέα τίσετε λώβην.
143  ἦ, καὶ Πείσανδρον μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζε
144  δουρὶ βαλὼν πρὸς στῆθος· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος οὔδει ἐρείσθη.
145  Ἱππόλοχος δʼ ἀπόρουσε, τὸν αὖ χαμαὶ ἐξενάριξε
146  χεῖρας ἀπὸ ξίφεϊ τμήξας ἀπό τʼ αὐχένα κόψας,
147  ὅλμον δʼ ὣς ἔσσευε κυλίνδεσθαι διʼ ὁμίλου.
148  τοὺς μὲν ἔασʼ· ὃ δʼ ὅθι πλεῖσται κλονέοντο φάλαγγες,
149  τῇ ῥʼ ἐνόρουσʼ, ἅμα δʼ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί.
150  πεζοὶ μὲν πεζοὺς ὄλεκον φεύγοντας ἀνάγκῃ,
151  ἱππεῖς δʼ ἱππῆας· ὑπὸ δέ σφισιν ὦρτο κονίη
152  ἐκ πεδίου, τὴν ὦρσαν ἐρίγδουποι πόδες ἵππων
153  χαλκῷ δηϊόωντες· ἀτὰρ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
154  αἰὲν ἀποκτείνων ἕπετʼ Ἀργείοισι κελεύων.
155  ὡς δʼ ὅτε πῦρ ἀΐδηλον ἐν ἀξύλῳ ἐμπέσῃ ὕλῃ,
156  πάντῃ τʼ εἰλυφόων ἄνεμος φέρει, οἳ δέ τε θάμνοι
157  πρόρριζοι πίπτουσιν ἐπειγόμενοι πυρὸς ὁρμῇ·
158  ὣς ἄρʼ ὑπʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι πῖπτε κάρηνα
159  Τρώων φευγόντων, πολλοὶ δʼ ἐριαύχενες ἵπποι
160  κείνʼ ὄχεα κροτάλιζον ἀνὰ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας
161  ἡνιόχους ποθέοντες ἀμύμονας· οἳ δʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ
162  κείατο, γύπεσσιν πολὺ φίλτεροι ἢ ἀλόχοισιν.
163  Ἕκτορα δʼ ἐκ βελέων ὕπαγε Ζεὺς ἔκ τε κονίης
164  ἔκ τʼ ἀνδροκτασίης ἔκ θʼ αἵματος ἔκ τε κυδοιμοῦ·
165  Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἕπετο σφεδανὸν Δαναοῖσι κελεύων.
166  οἳ δὲ παρʼ Ἴλου σῆμα παλαιοῦ Δαρδανίδαο
167  μέσσον κὰπ πεδίον παρʼ ἐρινεὸν ἐσσεύοντο
168  ἱέμενοι πόλιος· ὃ δὲ κεκλήγων ἕπετʼ αἰεὶ
169  Ἀτρεΐδης, λύθρῳ δὲ παλάσσετο χεῖρας ἀάπτους.
170  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Σκαιάς τε πύλας καὶ φηγὸν ἵκοντο,
171  ἔνθʼ ἄρα δὴ ἵσταντο καὶ ἀλλήλους ἀνέμιμνον.
172  οἳ δʼ ἔτι κὰμ μέσσον πεδίον φοβέοντο βόες ὥς,
173  ἅς τε λέων ἐφόβησε μολὼν ἐν νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷ
174  πάσας· τῇ δέ τʼ ἰῇ ἀναφαίνεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος·
175  τῆς δʼ ἐξ αὐχένʼ ἔαξε λαβὼν κρατεροῖσιν ὀδοῦσι
176  πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δέ θʼ αἷμα καὶ ἔγκατα πάντα λαφύσσει·
177  ὣς τοὺς Ἀτρεΐδης ἔφεπε κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
178  αἰὲν ἀποκτείνων τὸν ὀπίστατον· οἳ δʼ ἐφέβοντο.
179  πολλοὶ δὲ πρηνεῖς τε καὶ ὕπτιοι ἔκπεσον ἵππων
180  Ἀτρεΐδεω ὑπὸ χερσί· περὶ πρὸ γὰρ ἔγχεϊ θῦεν.
181  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλεν ὑπὸ πτόλιν αἰπύ τε τεῖχος
182  ἵξεσθαι, τότε δή ῥα πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε
183  Ἴδης ἐν κορυφῇσι καθέζετο πιδηέσσης
184  οὐρανόθεν καταβάς· ἔχε δʼ ἀστεροπὴν μετὰ χερσίν.
185  Ἶριν δʼ ὄτρυνε χρυσόπτερον ἀγγελέουσαν·
186  βάσκʼ ἴθι Ἶρι ταχεῖα, τὸν Ἕκτορι μῦθον ἐνίσπες·
187  ὄφρʼ ἂν μέν κεν ὁρᾷ Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶν
188  θύνοντʼ ἐν προμάχοισιν ἐναίροντα στίχας ἀνδρῶν,
189  τόφρʼ ἀναχωρείτω, τὸν δʼ ἄλλον λαὸν ἀνώχθω
190  μάρνασθαι δηΐοισι κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην.
191  αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ ἢ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἢ βλήμενος ἰῷ
192  εἰς ἵππους ἅλεται, τότε οἱ κράτος ἐγγυαλίξω
193  κτείνειν εἰς ὅ κε νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀφίκηται
194  δύῃ τʼ ἠέλιος καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἱερὸν ἔλθῃ.
195  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις,
196  βῆ δὲ κατʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν.
197  εὗρʼ υἱὸν Πριάμοιο δαΐφρονος Ἕκτορα δῖον
198  ἑσταότʼ ἔν θʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν·
199  ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις·
200  Ἕκτορ υἱὲ Πριάμοιο Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντε
201  Ζεύς με πατὴρ προέηκε τεῒν τάδε μυθήσασθαι.
202  ὄφρʼ ἂν μέν κεν ὁρᾷς Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶν
203  θύνοντʼ ἐν προμάχοισιν, ἐναίροντα στίχας ἀνδρῶν,
204  τόφρʼ ὑπόεικε μάχης, τὸν δʼ ἄλλον λαὸν ἄνωχθι
205  μάρνασθαι δηΐοισι κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην.
206  αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ ἢ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἢ βλήμενος ἰῷ
207  εἰς ἵππους ἅλεται, τότε τοι κράτος ἐγγυαλίξει
208  κτείνειν, εἰς ὅ κε νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀφίκηαι
209  δύῃ τʼ ἠέλιος καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἱερὸν ἔλθῃ.
210  ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις,
211  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε,
212  πάλλων δʼ ὀξέα δοῦρα κατὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο πάντῃ
213  ὀτρύνων μαχέσασθαι, ἔγειρε δὲ φύλοπιν αἰνήν.
214  οἳ δʼ ἐλελίχθησαν καὶ ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν,
215  Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκαρτύναντο φάλαγγας.
216  ἀρτύνθη δὲ μάχη, στὰν δʼ ἀντίοι· ἐν δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων
217  πρῶτος ὄρουσʼ, ἔθελεν δὲ πολὺ προμάχεσθαι ἁπάντων.
218  ἔσπετε νῦν μοι Μοῦσαι Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχουσαι
219  ὅς τις δὴ πρῶτος Ἀγαμέμνονος ἀντίον ἦλθεν
220  ἢ αὐτῶν Τρώων ἠὲ κλειτῶν ἐπικούρων.
221  Ἰφιδάμας Ἀντηνορίδης ἠΰς τε μέγας τε
222  ὃς τράφη ἐν Θρῄκῃ ἐριβώλακι μητέρι μήλων·
223  Κισσῆς τόν γʼ ἔθρεψε δόμοις ἔνι τυτθὸν ἐόντα
224  μητροπάτωρ, ὃς τίκτε Θεανὼ καλλιπάρῃον·
225  αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἥβης ἐρικυδέος ἵκετο μέτρον,
226  αὐτοῦ μιν κατέρυκε, δίδου δʼ ὅ γε θυγατέρα ἥν·
227  γήμας δʼ ἐκ θαλάμοιο μετὰ κλέος ἵκετʼ Ἀχαιῶν
228  σὺν δυοκαίδεκα νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν, αἵ οἱ ἕποντο.
229  τὰς μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἐν Περκώτῃ λίπε νῆας ἐΐσας,
230  αὐτὰρ ὃ πεζὸς ἐὼν ἐς Ἴλιον εἰληλούθει·
231  ὅς ῥα τότʼ Ἀτρεΐδεω Ἀγαμέμνονος ἀντίον ἦλθεν.
232  οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
233  Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἅμαρτε, παραὶ δέ οἱ ἐτράπετʼ ἔγχος,
234  Ἰφιδάμας δὲ κατὰ ζώνην θώρηκος ἔνερθε
235  νύξʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ἔρεισε βαρείῃ χειρὶ πιθήσας·
236  οὐδʼ ἔτορε ζωστῆρα παναίολον, ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὶν
237  ἀργύρῳ ἀντομένη μόλιβος ὣς ἐτράπετʼ αἰχμή.
238  καὶ τό γε χειρὶ λαβὼν εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
239  ἕλκʼ ἐπὶ οἷ μεμαὼς ὥς τε λίς, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρὸς
240  σπάσσατο· τὸν δʼ ἄορι πλῆξʼ αὐχένα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.
241  ὣς ὃ μὲν αὖθι πεσὼν κοιμήσατο χάλκεον ὕπνον
242  οἰκτρὸς ἀπὸ μνηστῆς ἀλόχου, ἀστοῖσιν ἀρήγων,
243  κουριδίης, ἧς οὔ τι χάριν ἴδε, πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκε·
244  πρῶθʼ ἑκατὸν βοῦς δῶκεν, ἔπειτα δὲ χίλιʼ ὑπέστη
245  αἶγας ὁμοῦ καὶ ὄϊς, τά οἱ ἄσπετα ποιμαίνοντο.
246  δὴ τότε γʼ Ἀτρεΐδης Ἀγαμέμνων ἐξενάριξε,
247  βῆ δὲ φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον Ἀχαιῶν τεύχεα καλά.
248  τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε Κόων ἀριδείκετος ἀνδρῶν
249  πρεσβυγενὴς Ἀντηνορίδης, κρατερόν ῥά ἑ πένθος
250  ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐκάλυψε κασιγνήτοιο πεσόντος.
251  στῆ δʼ εὐρὰξ σὺν δουρὶ λαθὼν Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον,
252  νύξε δέ μιν κατὰ χεῖρα μέσην ἀγκῶνος ἔνερθε,
253  ἀντικρὺ δὲ διέσχε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκή.
254  ῥίγησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
255  ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς ἀπέληγε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο,
256  ἀλλʼ ἐπόρουσε Κόωνι ἔχων ἀνεμοτρεφὲς ἔγχος.
257  ἤτοι ὃ Ἰφιδάμαντα κασίγνητον καὶ ὄπατρον
258  ἕλκε ποδὸς μεμαώς, καὶ ἀΰτει πάντας ἀρίστους·
259  τὸν δʼ ἕλκοντʼ ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ὑπʼ ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλοέσσης
260  οὔτησε ξυστῷ χαλκήρεϊ, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα·
261  τοῖο δʼ ἐπʼ Ἰφιδάμαντι κάρη ἀπέκοψε παραστάς.
262  ἔνθʼ Ἀντήνορος υἷες ὑπʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ βασιλῆϊ
263  πότμον ἀναπλήσαντες ἔδυν δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω.
264  αὐτὰρ ὃ τῶν ἄλλων ἐπεπωλεῖτο στίχας ἀνδρῶν
265  ἔγχεΐ τʼ ἄορί τε μεγάλοισί τε χερμαδίοισιν,
266  ὄφρά οἱ αἷμʼ ἔτι θερμὸν ἀνήνοθεν ἐξ ὠτειλῆς.
267  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τὸ μὲν ἕλκος ἐτέρσετο, παύσατο δʼ αἷμα,
268  ὀξεῖαι δʼ ὀδύναι δῦνον μένος Ἀτρεΐδαο.
269  ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ὠδίνουσαν ἔχῃ βέλος ὀξὺ γυναῖκα
270  δριμύ, τό τε προϊεῖσι μογοστόκοι Εἰλείθυιαι
271  Ἥρης θυγατέρες πικρὰς ὠδῖνας ἔχουσαι,
272  ὣς ὀξεῖʼ ὀδύναι δῦνον μένος Ἀτρεΐδαο.
273  ἐς δίφρον δʼ ἀνόρουσε, καὶ ἡνιόχῳ ἐπέτελλε
274  νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐλαυνέμεν· ἤχθετο γὰρ κῆρ.
275  ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς·
276  ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
277  ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν νηυσὶν ἀμύνετε ποντοπόροισι
278  φύλοπιν ἀργαλέην, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐμὲ μητίετα Ζεὺς
279  εἴασε Τρώεσσι πανημέριον πολεμίζειν.
280  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡνίοχος δʼ ἵμασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους
281  νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην·
282  ἄφρεον δὲ στήθεα, ῥαίνοντο δὲ νέρθε κονίῃ
283  τειρόμενον βασιλῆα μάχης ἀπάνευθε φέροντες.
284  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὡς ἐνόησʼ Ἀγαμέμνονα νόσφι κιόντα
285  Τρωσί τε καὶ Λυκίοισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·
286  Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ
287  ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.
288  οἴχετʼ ἀνὴρ ὤριστος, ἐμοὶ δὲ μέγʼ εὖχος ἔδωκε
289  Ζεὺς Κρονίδης· ἀλλʼ ἰθὺς ἐλαύνετε μώνυχας ἵππους
290  ἰφθίμων Δαναῶν, ἵνʼ ὑπέρτερον εὖχος ἄρησθε.
291  ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
292  ὡς δʼ ὅτε πού τις θηρητὴρ κύνας ἀργιόδοντας
293  σεύῃ ἐπʼ ἀγροτέρῳ συῒ καπρίῳ ἠὲ λέοντι,
294  ὣς ἐπʼ Ἀχαιοῖσιν σεῦε Τρῶας μεγαθύμους
295  Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης βροτολοιγῷ ἶσος Ἄρηϊ.
296  αὐτὸς δʼ ἐν πρώτοισι μέγα φρονέων ἐβεβήκει,
297  ἐν δʼ ἔπεσʼ ὑσμίνῃ ὑπεραέϊ ἶσος ἀέλλῃ,
298  ἥ τε καθαλλομένη ἰοειδέα πόντον ὀρίνει.
299  ἔνθα τίνα πρῶτον, τίνα δʼ ὕστατον ἐξενάριξεν
300  Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, ὅτε οἱ Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκεν;
301  Ἀσαῖον μὲν πρῶτα καὶ Αὐτόνοον καὶ Ὀπίτην
302  καὶ Δόλοπα Κλυτίδην καὶ Ὀφέλτιον ἠδʼ Ἀγέλαον
303  Αἴσυμνόν τʼ Ὦρόν τε καὶ Ἱππόνοον μενεχάρμην.
304  τοὺς ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἡγεμόνας Δαναῶν ἕλεν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
305  πληθύν, ὡς ὁπότε νέφεα Ζέφυρος στυφελίξῃ
306  ἀργεστᾶο Νότοιο βαθείῃ λαίλαπι τύπτων·
307  πολλὸν δὲ τρόφι κῦμα κυλίνδεται, ὑψόσε δʼ ἄχνη
308  σκίδναται ἐξ ἀνέμοιο πολυπλάγκτοιο ἰωῆς·
309  ὣς ἄρα πυκνὰ καρήαθʼ ὑφʼ Ἕκτορι δάμνατο λαῶν.
310  ἔνθά κε λοιγὸς ἔην καὶ ἀμήχανα ἔργα γένοντο,
311  καί νύ κεν ἐν νήεσσι πέσον φεύγοντες Ἀχαιοί,
312  εἰ μὴ Τυδεΐδῃ Διομήδεϊ κέκλετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·
313  Τυδεΐδη τί παθόντε λελάσμεθα θούριδος ἀλκῆς;
314  ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵσταο· δὴ γὰρ ἔλεγχος
315  ἔσσεται εἴ κεν νῆας ἕλῃ κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.
316  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·
317  ἤτοι ἐγὼ μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι· ἀλλὰ μίνυνθα
318  ἡμέων ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς
319  Τρωσὶν δὴ βόλεται δοῦναι κράτος ἠέ περ ἡμῖν.
320  ἦ καὶ Θυμβραῖον μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζε
321  δουρὶ βαλὼν κατὰ μαζὸν ἀριστερόν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
322  ἀντίθεον θεράποντα Μολίονα τοῖο ἄνακτος.
323  τοὺς μὲν ἔπειτʼ εἴασαν, ἐπεὶ πολέμου ἀπέπαυσαν·
324  τὼ δʼ ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἰόντε κυδοίμεον, ὡς ὅτε κάπρω
325  ἐν κυσὶ θηρευτῇσι μέγα φρονέοντε πέσητον·
326  ὣς ὄλεκον Τρῶας πάλιν ὀρμένω· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
327  ἀσπασίως φεύγοντες ἀνέπνεον Ἕκτορα δῖον.
328  ἔνθʼ ἑλέτην δίφρόν τε καὶ ἀνέρε δήμου ἀρίστω
329  υἷε δύω Μέροπος Περκωσίου, ὃς περὶ πάντων
330  ᾔδεε μαντοσύνας, οὐδὲ οὓς παῖδας ἔασκε
331  στείχειν ἐς πόλεμον φθισήνορα· τὼ δέ οἱ οὔ τι
332  πειθέσθην· κῆρες γὰρ ἄγον μέλανος θανάτοιο.
333  τοὺς μὲν Τυδεΐδης δουρικλειτὸς Διομήδης
334  θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς κεκαδὼν κλυτὰ τεύχεʼ ἀπηύρα·
335  Ἱππόδαμον δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ Ὑπείροχον ἐξενάριξεν.
336  ἔνθά σφιν κατὰ ἶσα μάχην ἐτάνυσσε Κρονίων
337  ἐξ Ἴδης καθορῶν· τοὶ δʼ ἀλλήλους ἐνάριζον.
338  ἤτοι Τυδέος υἱὸς Ἀγάστροφον οὔτασε δουρὶ
339  Παιονίδην ἥρωα κατʼ ἰσχίον· οὐ δέ οἱ ἵπποι
340  ἐγγὺς ἔσαν προφυγεῖν, ἀάσατο δὲ μέγα θυμῷ.
341  τοὺς μὲν γὰρ θεράπων ἀπάνευθʼ ἔχεν, αὐτὰρ ὃ πεζὸς
342  θῦνε διὰ προμάχων, εἷος φίλον ὤλεσε θυμόν.
343  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὀξὺ νόησε κατὰ στίχας, ὦρτο δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς
344  κεκλήγων· ἅμα δὲ Τρώων εἵποντο φάλαγγες.
345  τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ῥίγησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης,
346  αἶψα δʼ Ὀδυσσῆα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·
347  νῶϊν δὴ τόδε πῆμα κυλίνδεται ὄβριμος Ἕκτωρ·
348  ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ στέωμεν καὶ ἀλεξώμεσθα μένοντες.
349  ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος
350  καὶ βάλεν, οὐδʼ ἀφάμαρτε τιτυσκόμενος κεφαλῆφιν,
351  ἄκρην κὰκ κόρυθα· πλάγχθη δʼ ἀπὸ χαλκόφι χαλκός,
352  οὐδʼ ἵκετο χρόα καλόν· ἐρύκακε γὰρ τρυφάλεια
353  τρίπτυχος αὐλῶπις, τήν οἱ πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.
354  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὦκʼ ἀπέλεθρον ἀνέδραμε, μίκτο δʼ ὁμίλῳ,
355  στῆ δὲ γνὺξ ἐριπὼν καὶ ἐρείσατο χειρὶ παχείῃ
356  γαίης· ἀμφὶ δὲ ὄσσε κελαινὴ νὺξ ἐκάλυψεν.
357  ὄφρα δὲ Τυδεΐδης μετὰ δούρατος ᾤχετʼ ἐρωὴν
358  τῆλε διὰ προμάχων, ὅθι οἱ καταείσατο γαίης
359  τόφρʼ Ἕκτωρ ἔμπνυτο, καὶ ἂψ ἐς δίφρον ὀρούσας
360  ἐξέλασʼ ἐς πληθύν, καὶ ἀλεύατο κῆρα μέλαιναν.
361  δουρὶ δʼ ἐπαΐσσων προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·
362  ἐξ αὖ νῦν ἔφυγες θάνατον κύον· ἦ τέ τοι ἄγχι
363  ἦλθε κακόν· νῦν αὖτέ σʼ ἐρύσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
364  ᾧ μέλλεις εὔχεσθαι ἰὼν ἐς δοῦπον ἀκόντων.
365  ἦ θήν σʼ ἐξανύω γε καὶ ὕστερον ἀντιβολήσας,
366  εἴ πού τις καὶ ἔμοιγε θεῶν ἐπιτάρροθός ἐστι.
367  νῦν αὖ τοὺς ἄλλους ἐπιείσομαι, ὅν κε κιχείω.
368  ἦ, καὶ Παιονίδην δουρὶ κλυτὸν ἐξενάριζεν.
369  αὐτὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο
370  Τυδεΐδῃ ἔπι τόξα τιταίνετο ποιμένι λαῶν,
371  στήλῃ κεκλιμένος ἀνδροκμήτῳ ἐπὶ τύμβῳ
372  Ἴλου Δαρδανίδαο, παλαιοῦ δημογέροντος.
373  ἤτοι ὃ μὲν θώρηκα Ἀγαστρόφου ἰφθίμοιο
374  αἴνυτʼ ἀπὸ στήθεσφι παναίολον ἀσπίδα τʼ ὤμων
375  καὶ κόρυθα βριαρήν· ὃ δὲ τόξου πῆχυν ἄνελκε
376  καὶ βάλεν, οὐδʼ ἄρα μιν ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγε χειρός,
377  ταρσὸν δεξιτεροῖο ποδός· διὰ δʼ ἀμπερὲς ἰὸς
378  ἐν γαίῃ κατέπηκτο· ὃ δὲ μάλα ἡδὺ γελάσσας
379  ἐκ λόχου ἀμπήδησε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·
380  βέβληαι οὐδʼ ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγεν· ὡς ὄφελόν τοι
381  νείατον ἐς κενεῶνα βαλὼν ἐκ θυμὸν ἑλέσθαι.
382  οὕτω κεν καὶ Τρῶες ἀνέπνευσαν κακότητος,
383  οἵ τέ σε πεφρίκασι λέονθʼ ὡς μηκάδες αἶγες.
384  τὸν δʼ οὐ ταρβήσας προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·
385  τοξότα λωβητὴρ κέρᾳ ἀγλαὲ παρθενοπῖπα
386  εἰ μὲν δὴ ἀντίβιον σὺν τεύχεσι πειρηθείης,
387  οὐκ ἄν τοι χραίσμῃσι βιὸς καὶ ταρφέες ἰοί·
388  νῦν δέ μʼ ἐπιγράψας ταρσὸν ποδὸς εὔχεαι αὔτως.
389  οὐκ ἀλέγω, ὡς εἴ με γυνὴ βάλοι ἢ πάϊς ἄφρων·
390  κωφὸν γὰρ βέλος ἀνδρὸς ἀνάλκιδος οὐτιδανοῖο.
391  ἦ τʼ ἄλλως ὑπʼ ἐμεῖο, καὶ εἴ κʼ ὀλίγον περ ἐπαύρῃ,
392  ὀξὺ βέλος πέλεται, καὶ ἀκήριον αἶψα τίθησι.
393  τοῦ δὲ γυναικὸς μέν τʼ ἀμφίδρυφοί εἰσι παρειαί,
394  παῖδες δʼ ὀρφανικοί· ὃ δέ θʼ αἵματι γαῖαν ἐρεύθων
395  πύθεται, οἰωνοὶ δὲ περὶ πλέες ἠὲ γυναῖκες.
396  ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν
397  ἔστη πρόσθʼ· ὃ δʼ ὄπισθε καθεζόμενος βέλος ὠκὺ
398  ἐκ ποδὸς ἕλκʼ, ὀδύνη δὲ διὰ χροὸς ἦλθʼ ἀλεγεινή.
399  ἐς δίφρον δʼ ἀνόρουσε, καὶ ἡνιόχῳ ἐπέτελλε
400  νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐλαυνέμεν· ἤχθετο γὰρ κῆρ.
401  οἰώθη δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δουρὶ κλυτός, οὐδέ τις αὐτῷ
402  Ἀργείων παρέμεινεν, ἐπεὶ φόβος ἔλλαβε πάντας·
403  ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
404  ὤ μοι ἐγὼ τί πάθω; μέγα μὲν κακὸν αἴ κε φέβωμαι
405  πληθὺν ταρβήσας· τὸ δὲ ῥίγιον αἴ κεν ἁλώω
406  μοῦνος· τοὺς δʼ ἄλλους Δαναοὺς ἐφόβησε Κρονίων.
407  ἀλλὰ τί ἤ μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός;
408  οἶδα γὰρ ὅττι κακοὶ μὲν ἀποίχονται πολέμοιο,
409  ὃς δέ κʼ ἀριστεύῃσι μάχῃ ἔνι τὸν δὲ μάλα χρεὼ
410  ἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς, ἤ τʼ ἔβλητʼ ἤ τʼ ἔβαλʼ ἄλλον.
411  εἷος ὃ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
412  τόφρα δʼ ἐπὶ Τρώων στίχες ἤλυθον ἀσπιστάων,
413  ἔλσαν δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι, μετὰ σφίσι πῆμα τιθέντες.
414  ὡς δʼ ὅτε κάπριον ἀμφὶ κύνες θαλεροί τʼ αἰζηοὶ
415  σεύωνται, ὃ δέ τʼ εἶσι βαθείης ἐκ ξυλόχοιο
416  θήγων λευκὸν ὀδόντα μετὰ γναμπτῇσι γένυσσιν,
417  ἀμφὶ δέ τʼ ἀΐσσονται, ὑπαὶ δέ τε κόμπος ὀδόντων
418  γίγνεται, οἳ δὲ μένουσιν ἄφαρ δεινόν περ ἐόντα,
419  ὥς ῥα τότʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διῒ φίλον ἐσσεύοντο
420  Τρῶες· ὃ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν ἀμύμονα Δηϊοπίτην
421  οὔτασεν ὦμον ὕπερθεν ἐπάλμενος ὀξέϊ δουρί,
422  αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα Θόωνα καὶ Ἔννομον ἐξενάριξε.
423  Χερσιδάμαντα δʼ ἔπειτα καθʼ ἵππων ἀΐξαντα
424  δουρὶ κατὰ πρότμησιν ὑπʼ ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλοέσσης
425  νύξεν· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.
426  τοὺς μὲν ἔασʼ, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἱππασίδην Χάροπʼ οὔτασε δουρὶ
427  αὐτοκασίγνητον εὐηφενέος Σώκοιο.
428  τῷ δʼ ἐπαλεξήσων Σῶκος κίεν ἰσόθεος φώς,
429  στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰὼν καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν
430  ὦ Ὀδυσεῦ πολύαινε δόλων ἆτʼ ἠδὲ πόνοιο
431  σήμερον ἢ δοιοῖσιν ἐπεύξεαι Ἱππασίδῃσι
432  τοιώδʼ ἄνδρε κατακτείνας καὶ τεύχεʼ ἀπούρας,
433  ἤ κεν ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσῃς.
434  ὣς εἰπὼν οὔτησε κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην.
435  διὰ μὲν ἀσπίδος ἦλθε φαεινῆς ὄβριμον ἔγχος,
436  καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο,
437  πάντα δʼ ἀπὸ πλευρῶν χρόα ἔργαθεν, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔασε
438  Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη μιχθήμεναι ἔγκασι φωτός.
439  γνῶ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ὅ οἱ οὔ τι τέλος κατακαίριον ἦλθεν,
440  ἂψ δʼ ἀναχωρήσας Σῶκον πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
441  ἆ δείλʼ ἦ μάλα δή σε κιχάνεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
442  ἤτοι μέν ῥʼ ἔμʼ ἔπαυσας ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι·
443  σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ ἐνθάδε φημὶ φόνον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν
444  ἤματι τῷδʼ ἔσσεσθαι, ἐμῷ δʼ ὑπὸ δουρὶ δαμέντα
445  εὖχος ἐμοὶ δώσειν, ψυχὴν δʼ Ἄϊδι κλυτοπώλῳ.
446  ἦ, καὶ ὃ μὲν φύγαδʼ αὖτις ὑποστρέψας ἐβεβήκει,
447  τῷ δὲ μεταστρεφθέντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πῆξεν
448  ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσε,
449  δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὃ δʼ ἐπεύξατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
450  ὦ Σῶχʼ Ἱππάσου υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο
451  φθῆ σε τέλος θανάτοιο κιχήμενον, οὐδʼ ὑπάλυξας.
452  ἆ δείλʼ οὐ μὲν σοί γε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
453  ὄσσε καθαιρήσουσι θανόντι περ, ἀλλʼ οἰωνοὶ
454  ὠμησταὶ ἐρύουσι, περὶ πτερὰ πυκνὰ βαλόντες.
455  αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ, εἴ κε θάνω, κτεριοῦσί γε δῖοι Ἀχαιοί.
456  ὣς εἰπὼν Σώκοιο δαΐφρονος ὄβριμον ἔγχος
457  ἔξω τε χροὸς ἕλκε καὶ ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλοέσσης·
458  αἷμα δέ οἱ σπασθέντος ἀνέσσυτο, κῆδε δὲ θυμόν.
459  Τρῶες δὲ μεγάθυμοι ὅπως ἴδον αἷμʼ Ὀδυσῆος
460  κεκλόμενοι καθʼ ὅμιλον ἐπʼ αὐτῷ πάντες ἔβησαν.
461  αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἐξοπίσω ἀνεχάζετο, αὖε δʼ ἑταίρους.
462  τρὶς μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἤϋσεν ὅσον κεφαλὴ χάδε φωτός,
463  τρὶς δʼ ἄϊεν ἰάχοντος ἄρηι φίλος Μενέλαος.
464  αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Αἴαντα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·
465  Αἶαν διογενὲς Τελαμώνιε κοίρανε λαῶν
466  ἀμφί μʼ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἵκετʼ ἀϋτὴ
467  τῷ ἰκέλη ὡς εἴ ἑ βιῴατο μοῦνον ἐόντα
468  Τρῶες ἀποτμήξαντες ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ.
469  ἀλλʼ ἴομεν καθʼ ὅμιλον· ἀλεξέμεναι γὰρ ἄμεινον.
470  δείδω μή τι πάθῃσιν ἐνὶ Τρώεσσι μονωθεὶς
471  ἐσθλὸς ἐών, μεγάλη δὲ ποθὴ Δαναοῖσι γένηται.
472  ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν ἦρχʼ, ὃ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕσπετο ἰσόθεος φώς.
473  εὗρον ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διῒ φίλον· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτὸν
474  Τρῶες ἕπονθʼ ὡς εἴ τε δαφοινοὶ θῶες ὄρεσφιν
475  ἀμφʼ ἔλαφον κεραὸν βεβλημένον, ὅν τʼ ἔβαλʼ ἀνὴρ
476  ἰῷ ἀπὸ νευρῆς· τὸν μέν τʼ ἤλυξε πόδεσσι
477  φεύγων, ὄφρʼ αἷμα λιαρὸν καὶ γούνατʼ ὀρώρῃ·
478  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τόν γε δαμάσσεται ὠκὺς ὀϊστός,
479  ὠμοφάγοι μιν θῶες ἐν οὔρεσι δαρδάπτουσιν
480  ἐν νέμεϊ σκιερῷ· ἐπί τε λῖν ἤγαγε δαίμων
481  σίντην· θῶες μέν τε διέτρεσαν, αὐτὰρ ὃ δάπτει·
482  ὥς ῥα τότʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην
483  Τρῶες ἕπον πολλοί τε καὶ ἄλκιμοι, αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως
484  ἀΐσσων ᾧ ἔγχει ἀμύνετο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ.
485  Αἴας δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠΰτε πύργον,
486  στῆ δὲ παρέξ· Τρῶες δὲ διέτρεσαν ἄλλυδις ἄλλος.
487  ἤτοι τὸν Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος ἔξαγʼ ὁμίλου
488  χειρὸς ἔχων, εἷος θεράπων σχεδὸν ἤλασεν ἵππους.
489  Αἴας δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἐπάλμενος εἷλε Δόρυκλον
490  Πριαμίδην νόθον υἱόν, ἔπειτα δὲ Πάνδοκον οὖτα,
491  οὖτα δὲ Λύσανδρον καὶ Πύρασον ἠδὲ Πυλάρτην.
492  ὡς δʼ ὁπότε πλήθων ποταμὸς πεδίον δὲ κάτεισι
493  χειμάρρους κατʼ ὄρεσφιν ὀπαζόμενος Διὸς ὄμβρῳ,
494  πολλὰς δὲ δρῦς ἀζαλέας, πολλὰς δέ τε πεύκας
495  ἐσφέρεται, πολλὸν δέ τʼ ἀφυσγετὸν εἰς ἅλα βάλλει,
496  ὣς ἔφεπε κλονέων πεδίον τότε φαίδιμος Αἴας,
497  δαΐζων ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας· οὐδέ πω Ἕκτωρ
498  πεύθετʼ, ἐπεί ῥα μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ μάρνατο πάσης
499  ὄχθας πὰρ ποταμοῖο Σκαμάνδρου, τῇ ῥα μάλιστα
500  ἀνδρῶν πῖπτε κάρηνα, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει
501  Νέστορά τʼ ἀμφὶ μέγαν καὶ ἀρήϊον Ἰδομενῆα.
502  Ἕκτωρ μὲν μετὰ τοῖσιν ὁμίλει μέρμερα ῥέζων
503  ἔγχεΐ θʼ ἱπποσύνῃ τε, νέων δʼ ἀλάπαζε φάλαγγας·
504  οὐδʼ ἄν πω χάζοντο κελεύθου δῖοι Ἀχαιοὶ
505  εἰ μὴ Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο
506  παῦσεν ἀριστεύοντα Μαχάονα ποιμένα λαῶν,
507  ἰῷ τριγλώχινι βαλὼν κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον.
508  τῷ ῥα περίδεισαν μένεα πνείοντες Ἀχαιοὶ
509  μή πώς μιν πολέμοιο μετακλινθέντος ἕλοιεν.
510  αὐτίκα δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς προσεφώνεε Νέστορα δῖον·
511  ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν
512  ἄγρει σῶν ὀχέων ἐπιβήσεο, πὰρ δὲ Μαχάων
513  βαινέτω, ἐς νῆας δὲ τάχιστʼ ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους·
514  ἰητρὸς γὰρ ἀνὴρ πολλῶν ἀντάξιος ἄλλων
515  ἰούς τʼ ἐκτάμνειν ἐπί τʼ ἤπια φάρμακα πάσσειν.
516  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ.
517  αὐτίκα δʼ ὧν ὀχέων ἐπεβήσετο, πὰρ δὲ Μαχάων
518  βαῖνʼ Ἀσκληπιοῦ υἱὸς ἀμύμονος ἰητῆρος·
519  μάστιξεν δʼ ἵππους, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην
520  νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· τῇ γὰρ φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ.
521  Κεβριόνης δὲ Τρῶας ὀρινομένους ἐνόησεν
522  Ἕκτορι παρβεβαώς, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
523  Ἕκτορ νῶϊ μὲν ἐνθάδʼ ὁμιλέομεν Δαναοῖσιν
524  ἐσχατιῇ πολέμοιο δυσηχέος· οἳ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι
525  Τρῶες ὀρίνονται ἐπιμὶξ ἵπποι τε καὶ αὐτοί.
526  Αἴας δὲ κλονέει Τελαμώνιος· εὖ δέ μιν ἔγνων·
527  εὐρὺ γὰρ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἔχει σάκος· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡμεῖς
528  κεῖσʼ ἵππους τε καὶ ἅρμʼ ἰθύνομεν, ἔνθα μάλιστα
529  ἱππῆες πεζοί τε κακὴν ἔριδα προβαλόντες
530  ἀλλήλους ὀλέκουσι, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὄρωρεν.
531  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἵμασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους
532  μάστιγι λιγυρῇ· τοὶ δὲ πληγῆς ἀΐοντες
533  ῥίμφʼ ἔφερον θοὸν ἅρμα μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιοὺς
534  στείβοντες νέκυάς τε καὶ ἀσπίδας· αἵματι δʼ ἄξων
535  νέρθεν ἅπας πεπάλακτο καὶ ἄντυγες αἳ περὶ δίφρον,
536  ἃς ἄρʼ ἀφʼ ἱππείων ὁπλέων ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον
537  αἵ τʼ ἀπʼ ἐπισσώτρων. ὃ δὲ ἵετο δῦναι ὅμιλον
538  ἀνδρόμεον ῥῆξαί τε μετάλμενος· ἐν δὲ κυδοιμὸν
539  ἧκε κακὸν Δαναοῖσι, μίνυνθα δὲ χάζετο δουρός.
540  αὐτὰρ ὃ τῶν ἄλλων ἐπεπωλεῖτο στίχας ἀνδρῶν
541  ἔγχεΐ τʼ ἄορί τε μεγάλοισί τε χερμαδίοισιν,
542  Αἴαντος δʼ ἀλέεινε μάχην Τελαμωνιάδαο.
544  Ζεὺς δὲ πατὴρ Αἴανθʼ ὑψίζυγος ἐν φόβον ὦρσε·
545  στῆ δὲ ταφών, ὄπιθεν δὲ σάκος βάλεν ἑπταβόειον,
546  τρέσσε δὲ παπτήνας ἐφʼ ὁμίλου θηρὶ ἐοικὼς
547  ἐντροπαλιζόμενος ὀλίγον γόνυ γουνὸς ἀμείβων.
548  ὡς δʼ αἴθωνα λέοντα βοῶν ἀπὸ μεσσαύλοιο
549  ἐσσεύαντο κύνες τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἀγροιῶται,
550  οἵ τέ μιν οὐκ εἰῶσι βοῶν ἐκ πῖαρ ἑλέσθαι
551  πάννυχοι ἐγρήσσοντες· ὃ δὲ κρειῶν ἐρατίζων
552  ἰθύει, ἀλλʼ οὔ τι πρήσσει· θαμέες γὰρ ἄκοντες
553  ἀντίον ἀΐσσουσι θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν
554  καιόμεναί τε δεταί, τάς τε τρεῖ ἐσσύμενός περ·
555  ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀπὸ νόσφιν ἔβη τετιηότι θυμῷ·
556  ὣς Αἴας τότʼ ἀπὸ Τρώων τετιημένος ἦτορ
557  ἤϊε πόλλʼ ἀέκων· περὶ γὰρ δίε νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.
558  ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ὄνος παρʼ ἄρουραν ἰὼν ἐβιήσατο παῖδας
559  νωθής, ᾧ δὴ πολλὰ περὶ ῥόπαλʼ ἀμφὶς ἐάγῃ,
560  κείρει τʼ εἰσελθὼν βαθὺ λήϊον· οἳ δέ τε παῖδες
561  τύπτουσιν ῥοπάλοισι· βίη δέ τε νηπίη αὐτῶν·
562  σπουδῇ τʼ ἐξήλασσαν, ἐπεί τʼ ἐκορέσσατο φορβῆς·
563  ὣς τότʼ ἔπειτʼ Αἴαντα μέγαν Τελαμώνιον υἱὸν
564  Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι πολυηγερέες τʼ ἐπίκουροι
565  νύσσοντες ξυστοῖσι μέσον σάκος αἰὲν ἕποντο.
566  Αἴας δʼ ἄλλοτε μὲν μνησάσκετο θούριδος ἀλκῆς
567  αὖτις ὑποστρεφθείς, καὶ ἐρητύσασκε φάλαγγας
568  Τρώων ἱπποδάμων· ὁτὲ δὲ τρωπάσκετο φεύγειν.
569  πάντας δὲ προέεργε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ὁδεύειν,
570  αὐτὸς δὲ Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν θῦνε μεσηγὺ
571  ἱστάμενος· τὰ δὲ δοῦρα θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν
572  ἄλλα μὲν ἐν σάκεϊ μεγάλῳ πάγεν ὄρμενα πρόσσω,
573  πολλὰ δὲ καὶ μεσσηγύ, πάρος χρόα λευκὸν ἐπαυρεῖν,
574  ἐν γαίῃ ἵσταντο λιλαιόμενα χροὸς ἆσαι.
575  τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησʼ Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς
576  Εὐρύπυλος πυκινοῖσι βιαζόμενον βελέεσσι,
577  στῆ ῥα παρʼ αὐτὸν ἰών, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,
578  καὶ βάλε Φαυσιάδην Ἀπισάονα ποιμένα λαῶν
579  ἧπαρ ὑπὸ πραπίδων, εἶθαρ δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν·
580  Εὐρύπυλος δʼ ἐπόρουσε καὶ αἴνυτο τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων.
581  τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδὴς
582  τεύχεʼ ἀπαινύμενον Ἀπισάονος, αὐτίκα τόξον
583  ἕλκετʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρυπύλῳ, καί μιν βάλε μηρὸν ὀϊστῷ
584  δεξιόν· ἐκλάσθη δὲ δόναξ, ἐβάρυνε δὲ μηρόν.
585  ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνων,
586  ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς·
587  ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
588  στῆτʼ ἐλελιχθέντες καὶ ἀμύνετε νηλεὲς ἦμαρ
589  Αἴανθʼ, ὃς βελέεσσι βιάζεται, οὐδέ ἕ φημι
590  φεύξεσθʼ ἐκ πολέμοιο δυσηχέος· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἄντην
591  ἵστασθʼ ἀμφʼ Αἴαντα μέγαν Τελαμώνιον υἱόν.
592  ὣς ἔφατʼ Εὐρύπυλος βεβλημένος· οἳ δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν
593  πλησίοι ἔστησαν σάκεʼ ὤμοισι κλίναντες
594  δούρατʼ ἀνασχόμενοι· τῶν δʼ ἀντίος ἤλυθεν Αἴας.
595  στῆ δὲ μεταστρεφθείς, ἐπεὶ ἵκετο ἔθνος ἑταίρων.
596  ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο·
597  Νέστορα δʼ ἐκ πολέμοιο φέρον Νηλήϊαι ἵπποι
598  ἱδρῶσαι, ἦγον δὲ Μαχάονα ποιμένα λαῶν.
599  τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
600  ἑστήκει γὰρ ἐπὶ πρυμνῇ μεγακήτεϊ νηῒ
601  εἰσορόων πόνον αἰπὺν ἰῶκά τε δακρυόεσσαν.
602  αἶψα δʼ ἑταῖρον ἑὸν Πατροκλῆα προσέειπε
603  φθεγξάμενος παρὰ νηός· ὃ δὲ κλισίηθεν ἀκούσας
604  ἔκμολεν ἶσος Ἄρηϊ, κακοῦ δʼ ἄρα οἱ πέλεν ἀρχή.
605  τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱός·
606  τίπτέ με κικλήσκεις Ἀχιλεῦ; τί δέ σε χρεὼ ἐμεῖο;
607  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
608  δῖε Μενοιτιάδη τῷ ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ
609  νῦν ὀΐω περὶ γούνατʼ ἐμὰ στήσεσθαι Ἀχαιοὺς
610  λισσομένους· χρειὼ γὰρ ἱκάνεται οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτός.
611  ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν Πάτροκλε Διῒ φίλε Νέστορʼ ἔρειο
612  ὅν τινα τοῦτον ἄγει βεβλημένον ἐκ πολέμοιο·
613  ἤτοι μὲν τά γʼ ὄπισθε Μαχάονι πάντα ἔοικε
614  τῷ Ἀσκληπιάδῃ, ἀτὰρ οὐκ ἴδον ὄμματα φωτός·
615  ἵπποι γάρ με παρήϊξαν πρόσσω μεμαυῖαι.
616  ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθεθʼ ἑταίρῳ,
617  βῆ δὲ θέειν παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.
618  οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην Νηληϊάδεω ἀφίκοντο,
619  αὐτοὶ μέν ῥʼ ἀπέβησαν ἐπὶ χθόνα πουλυβότειραν,
620  ἵππους δʼ Εὐρυμέδων θεράπων λύε τοῖο γέροντος
621  ἐξ ὀχέων· τοὶ δʼ ἱδρῶ ἀπεψύχοντο χιτώνων
622  στάντε ποτὶ πνοιὴν παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλός· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
623  ἐς κλισίην ἐλθόντες ἐπὶ κλισμοῖσι κάθιζον.
624  τοῖσι δὲ τεῦχε κυκειῶ ἐϋπλόκαμος Ἑκαμήδη,
625  τὴν ἄρετʼ ἐκ Τενέδοιο γέρων, ὅτε πέρσεν Ἀχιλλεύς,
626  θυγατέρʼ Ἀρσινόου μεγαλήτορος, ἥν οἱ Ἀχαιοὶ
627  ἔξελον οὕνεκα βουλῇ ἀριστεύεσκεν ἁπάντων.
628  ἥ σφωϊν πρῶτον μὲν ἐπιπροΐηλε τράπεζαν
629  καλὴν κυανόπεζαν ἐΰξοον, αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῆς
630  χάλκειον κάνεον, ἐπὶ δὲ κρόμυον ποτῷ ὄψον,
631  ἠδὲ μέλι χλωρόν, παρὰ δʼ ἀλφίτου ἱεροῦ ἀκτήν,
632  πὰρ δὲ δέπας περικαλλές, ὃ οἴκοθεν ἦγʼ ὁ γεραιός,
633  χρυσείοις ἥλοισι πεπαρμένον· οὔατα δʼ αὐτοῦ
634  τέσσαρʼ ἔσαν, δοιαὶ δὲ πελειάδες ἀμφὶς ἕκαστον
635  χρύσειαι νεμέθοντο, δύω δʼ ὑπὸ πυθμένες ἦσαν.
636  ἄλλος μὲν μογέων ἀποκινήσασκε τραπέζης
637  πλεῖον ἐόν, Νέστωρ δʼ ὁ γέρων ἀμογητὶ ἄειρεν.
638  ἐν τῷ ῥά σφι κύκησε γυνὴ ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσιν
639  οἴνῳ Πραμνείῳ, ἐπὶ δʼ αἴγειον κνῆ τυρὸν
640  κνήστι χαλκείῃ, ἐπὶ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ πάλυνε,
641  πινέμεναι δʼ ἐκέλευσεν, ἐπεί ῥʼ ὥπλισσε κυκειῶ.
642  τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν πίνοντʼ ἀφέτην πολυκαγκέα δίψαν
643  μύθοισιν τέρποντο πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἐνέποντες,
644  Πάτροκλος δὲ θύρῃσιν ἐφίστατο ἰσόθεος φώς.
645  τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ὁ γεραιὸς ἀπὸ θρόνου ὦρτο φαεινοῦ,
646  ἐς δʼ ἄγε χειρὸς ἑλών, κατὰ δʼ ἑδριάασθαι ἄνωγε.
647  Πάτροκλος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀναίνετο εἶπέ τε μῦθον·
648  οὐχ ἕδος ἐστὶ γεραιὲ διοτρεφές, οὐδέ με πείσεις.
649  αἰδοῖος νεμεσητὸς ὅ με προέηκε πυθέσθαι
650  ὅν τινα τοῦτον ἄγεις βεβλημένον· ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς
651  γιγνώσκω, ὁρόω δὲ Μαχάονα ποιμένα λαῶν.
652  νῦν δὲ ἔπος ἐρέων πάλιν ἄγγελος εἶμʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ.
653  εὖ δὲ σὺ οἶσθα γεραιὲ διοτρεφές, οἷος ἐκεῖνος
654  δεινὸς ἀνήρ· τάχα κεν καὶ ἀναίτιον αἰτιόῳτο.
655  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
656  τίπτε τὰρ ὧδʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ὀλοφύρεται υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,
657  ὅσσοι δὴ βέλεσιν βεβλήαται; οὐδέ τι οἶδε
658  πένθεος, ὅσσον ὄρωρε κατὰ στρατόν· οἳ γὰρ ἄριστοι
659  ἐν νηυσὶν κέαται βεβλημένοι οὐτάμενοί τε.
660  βέβληται μὲν ὃ Τυδεΐδης κρατερὸς Διομήδης,
661  οὔτασται δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἠδʼ Ἀγαμέμνων·
662  βέβληται δὲ καὶ Εὐρύπυλος κατὰ μηρὸν ὀϊστῷ·
663  τοῦτον δʼ ἄλλον ἐγὼ νέον ἤγαγον ἐκ πολέμοιο
664  ἰῷ ἀπὸ νευρῆς βεβλημένον. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
665  ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν Δαναῶν οὐ κήδεται οὐδʼ ἐλεαίρει.
666  ἦ μένει εἰς ὅ κε δὴ νῆες θοαὶ ἄγχι θαλάσσης
667  Ἀργείων ἀέκητι πυρὸς δηΐοιο θέρωνται,
668  αὐτοί τε κτεινώμεθʼ ἐπισχερώ; οὐ γὰρ ἐμὴ ἲς
669  ἔσθʼ οἵη πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσιν.
670  εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη δέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη
671  ὡς ὁπότʼ Ἠλείοισι καὶ ἡμῖν νεῖκος ἐτύχθη
672  ἀμφὶ βοηλασίῃ, ὅτʼ ἐγὼ κτάνον Ἰτυμονῆα
673  ἐσθλὸν Ὑπειροχίδην, ὃς ἐν Ἤλιδι ναιετάασκε,
674  ῥύσιʼ ἐλαυνόμενος· ὃ δʼ ἀμύνων ᾗσι βόεσσιν
675  ἔβλητʼ ἐν πρώτοισιν ἐμῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἄκοντι,
676  κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσεν, λαοὶ δὲ περίτρεσαν ἀγροιῶται.
677  ληΐδα δʼ ἐκ πεδίου συνελάσσαμεν ἤλιθα πολλὴν
678  πεντήκοντα βοῶν ἀγέλας, τόσα πώεα οἰῶν,
679  τόσσα συῶν συβόσια, τόσʼ αἰπόλια πλατέʼ αἰγῶν,
680  ἵππους δὲ ξανθὰς ἑκατὸν καὶ πεντήκοντα
681  πάσας θηλείας, πολλῇσι δὲ πῶλοι ὑπῆσαν.
682  καὶ τὰ μὲν ἠλασάμεσθα Πύλον Νηλήϊον εἴσω
683  ἐννύχιοι προτὶ ἄστυ· γεγήθει δὲ φρένα Νηλεύς,
684  οὕνεκά μοι τύχε πολλὰ νέῳ πόλεμον δὲ κιόντι.
685  κήρυκες δʼ ἐλίγαινον ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι
686  τοὺς ἴμεν οἷσι χρεῖος ὀφείλετʼ ἐν Ἤλιδι δίῃ·
687  οἳ δὲ συναγρόμενοι Πυλίων ἡγήτορες ἄνδρες
688  δαίτρευον· πολέσιν γὰρ Ἐπειοὶ χρεῖος ὄφειλον,
689  ὡς ἡμεῖς παῦροι κεκακωμένοι ἐν Πύλῳ ἦμεν·
690  ἐλθὼν γάρ ῥʼ ἐκάκωσε βίη Ἡρακληείη
691  τῶν προτέρων ἐτέων, κατὰ δʼ ἔκταθεν ὅσσοι ἄριστοι·
692  δώδεκα γὰρ Νηλῆος ἀμύμονος υἱέες ἦμεν·
693  τῶν οἶος λιπόμην, οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι πάντες ὄλοντο.
694  ταῦθʼ ὑπερηφανέοντες Ἐπειοὶ χαλκοχίτωνες
695  ἡμέας ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωντο.
696  ἐκ δʼ ὃ γέρων ἀγέλην τε βοῶν καὶ πῶϋ μέγʼ οἰῶν
697  εἵλετο κρινάμενος τριηκόσιʼ ἠδὲ νομῆας.
698  καὶ γὰρ τῷ χρεῖος μέγʼ ὀφείλετʼ ἐν Ἤλιδι δίῃ
699  τέσσαρες ἀθλοφόροι ἵπποι αὐτοῖσιν ὄχεσφιν
700  ἐλθόντες μετʼ ἄεθλα· περὶ τρίποδος γὰρ ἔμελλον
701  θεύσεσθαι· τοὺς δʼ αὖθι ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Αὐγείας
702  κάσχεθε, τὸν δʼ ἐλατῆρʼ ἀφίει ἀκαχήμενον ἵππων.
703  τῶν ὃ γέρων ἐπέων κεχολωμένος ἠδὲ καὶ ἔργων
704  ἐξέλετʼ ἄσπετα πολλά· τὰ δʼ ἄλλʼ ἐς δῆμον ἔδωκε
705  δαιτρεύειν, μή τίς οἱ ἀτεμβόμενος κίοι ἴσης.
706  ἡμεῖς μὲν τὰ ἕκαστα διείπομεν, ἀμφί τε ἄστυ
707  ἕρδομεν ἱρὰ θεοῖς· οἳ δὲ τρίτῳ ἤματι πάντες
708  ἦλθον ὁμῶς αὐτοί τε πολεῖς καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι
709  πανσυδίῃ· μετὰ δέ σφι Μολίονε θωρήσσοντο
710  παῖδʼ ἔτʼ ἐόντʼ, οὔ πω μάλα εἰδότε θούριδος ἀλκῆς.
711  ἔστι δέ τις Θρυόεσσα πόλις αἰπεῖα κολώνη
712  τηλοῦ ἐπʼ Ἀλφειῷ, νεάτη Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος·
713  τὴν ἀμφεστρατόωντο διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες.
714  ἀλλʼ ὅτε πᾶν πεδίον μετεκίαθον, ἄμμι δʼ Ἀθήνη
715  ἄγγελος ἦλθε θέουσʼ ἀπʼ Ὀλύμπου θωρήσσεσθαι
716  ἔννυχος, οὐδʼ ἀέκοντα Πύλον κάτα λαὸν ἄγειρεν
717  ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐσσυμένους πολεμίζειν. οὐδέ με Νηλεὺς
718  εἴα θωρήσσεσθαι, ἀπέκρυψεν δέ μοι ἵππους·
719  οὐ γάρ πώ τί μʼ ἔφη ἴδμεν πολεμήϊα ἔργα.
720  ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἱππεῦσι μετέπρεπον ἡμετέροισι
721  καὶ πεζός περ ἐών, ἐπεὶ ὧς ἄγε νεῖκος Ἀθήνη.
722  ἔστι δέ τις ποταμὸς Μινυήϊος εἰς ἅλα βάλλων
723  ἐγγύθεν Ἀρήνης, ὅθι μείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν
724  ἱππῆες Πυλίων, τὰ δʼ ἐπέρρεον ἔθνεα πεζῶν.
725  ἔνθεν πανσυδίῃ σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντες
726  ἔνδιοι ἱκόμεσθʼ ἱερὸν ῥόον Ἀλφειοῖο.
727  ἔνθα Διὶ ῥέξαντες ὑπερμενεῖ ἱερὰ καλά,
728  ταῦρον δʼ Ἀλφειῷ, ταῦρον δὲ Ποσειδάωνι,
729  αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη γλαυκώπιδι βοῦν ἀγελαίην,
730  δόρπον ἔπειθʼ ἑλόμεσθα κατὰ στρατὸν ἐν τελέεσσι,
731  καὶ κατεκοιμήθημεν ἐν ἔντεσιν οἷσιν ἕκαστος
732  ἀμφὶ ῥοὰς ποταμοῖο. ἀτὰρ μεγάθυμοι Ἐπειοὶ
733  ἀμφέσταν δὴ ἄστυ διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες·
734  ἀλλά σφι προπάροιθε φάνη μέγα ἔργον Ἄρηος·
735  εὖτε γὰρ ἠέλιος φαέθων ὑπερέσχεθε γαίης,
736  συμφερόμεσθα μάχῃ Διί τʼ εὐχόμενοι καὶ Ἀθήνῃ.
737  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Πυλίων καὶ Ἐπειῶν ἔπλετο νεῖκος,
738  πρῶτος ἐγὼν ἕλον ἄνδρα, κόμισσα δὲ μώνυχας ἵππους,
739  Μούλιον αἰχμητήν· γαμβρὸς δʼ ἦν Αὐγείαο,
740  πρεσβυτάτην δὲ θύγατρʼ εἶχε ξανθὴν Ἀγαμήδην,
741  ἣ τόσα φάρμακα ᾔδη ὅσα τρέφει εὐρεῖα χθών.
742  τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ προσιόντα βάλον χαλκήρεϊ δουρί,
743  ἤριπε δʼ ἐν κονίῃσιν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐς δίφρον ὀρούσας
744  στῆν ῥα μετὰ προμάχοισιν· ἀτὰρ μεγάθυμοι Ἐπειοὶ
745  ἔτρεσαν ἄλλυδις ἄλλος, ἐπεὶ ἴδον ἄνδρα πεσόντα
746  ἡγεμόνʼ ἱππήων, ὃς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι.
747  αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπόρουσα κελαινῇ λαίλαπι ἶσος,
748  πεντήκοντα δʼ ἕλον δίφρους, δύο δʼ ἀμφὶς ἕκαστον
749  φῶτες ὀδὰξ ἕλον οὖδας ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ δαμέντες.
750  καί νύ κεν Ἀκτορίωνε Μολίονε παῖδʼ ἀλάπαξα,
751  εἰ μή σφωε πατὴρ εὐρὺ κρείων ἐνοσίχθων
752  ἐκ πολέμου ἐσάωσε καλύψας ἠέρι πολλῇ.
753  ἔνθα Ζεὺς Πυλίοισι μέγα κράτος ἐγγυάλιξε·
754  τόφρα γὰρ οὖν ἑπόμεσθα διὰ σπιδέος πεδίοιο
755  κτείνοντές τʼ αὐτοὺς ἀνά τʼ ἔντεα καλὰ λέγοντες,
756  ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ Βουπρασίου πολυπύρου βήσαμεν ἵππους
757  πέτρης τʼ Ὠλενίης, καὶ Ἀλησίου ἔνθα κολώνη
758  κέκληται· ὅθεν αὖτις ἀπέτραπε λαὸν Ἀθήνη.
759  ἔνθʼ ἄνδρα κτείνας πύματον λίπον· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
760  ἂψ ἀπὸ Βουπρασίοιο Πύλονδʼ ἔχον ὠκέας ἵππους,
761  πάντες δʼ εὐχετόωντο θεῶν Διὶ Νέστορί τʼ ἀνδρῶν.
762  ὣς ἔον, εἴ ποτʼ ἔον γε, μετʼ ἀνδράσιν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
763  οἶος τῆς ἀρετῆς ἀπονήσεται· ἦ τέ μιν οἴω
764  πολλὰ μετακλαύσεσθαι ἐπεί κʼ ἀπὸ λαὸς ὄληται.
765  ὦ πέπον ἦ μὲν σοί γε Μενοίτιος ὧδʼ ἐπέτελλεν
766  ἤματι τῷ ὅτε σʼ ἐκ Φθίης Ἀγαμέμνονι πέμπε,
767  νῶϊ δέ τʼ ἔνδον ἐόντες ἐγὼ καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
768  πάντα μάλʼ ἐν μεγάροις ἠκούομεν ὡς ἐπέτελλε.
769  Πηλῆος δʼ ἱκόμεσθα δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας
770  λαὸν ἀγείροντες κατʼ Ἀχαιΐδα πουλυβότειραν.
771  ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἥρωα Μενοίτιον εὕρομεν ἔνδον
772  ἠδὲ σέ, πὰρ δʼ Ἀχιλῆα· γέρων δʼ ἱππηλάτα Πηλεὺς
773  πίονα μηρία καῖε βοὸς Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
774  αὐλῆς ἐν χόρτῳ· ἔχε δὲ χρύσειον ἄλεισον
775  σπένδων αἴθοπα οἶνον ἐπʼ αἰθομένοις ἱεροῖσι.
776  σφῶϊ μὲν ἀμφὶ βοὸς ἕπετον κρέα, νῶϊ δʼ ἔπειτα
777  στῆμεν ἐνὶ προθύροισι· ταφὼν δʼ ἀνόρουσεν Ἀχιλλεύς,
778  ἐς δʼ ἄγε χειρὸς ἑλών, κατὰ δʼ ἑδριάασθαι ἄνωγε,
779  ξείνιά τʼ εὖ παρέθηκεν, ἅ τε ξείνοις θέμις ἐστίν.
780  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπημεν ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
781  ἦρχον ἐγὼ μύθοιο κελεύων ὔμμʼ ἅμʼ ἕπεσθαι·
782  σφὼ δὲ μάλʼ ἠθέλετον, τὼ δʼ ἄμφω πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλον.
783  Πηλεὺς μὲν ᾧ παιδὶ γέρων ἐπέτελλʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ
784  αἰὲν ἀριστεύειν καὶ ὑπείροχον ἔμμεναι ἄλλων·
785  σοὶ δʼ αὖθʼ ὧδʼ ἐπέτελλε Μενοίτιος Ἄκτορος υἱός·
786  τέκνον ἐμὸν γενεῇ μὲν ὑπέρτερός ἐστιν Ἀχιλλεύς,
787  πρεσβύτερος δὲ σύ ἐσσι· βίῃ δʼ ὅ γε πολλὸν ἀμείνων.
788  ἀλλʼ εὖ οἱ φάσθαι πυκινὸν ἔπος ἠδʼ ὑποθέσθαι
789  καί οἱ σημαίνειν· ὃ δὲ πείσεται εἰς ἀγαθόν περ.
790  ὣς ἐπέτελλʼ ὃ γέρων, σὺ δὲ λήθεαι· ἀλλʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦν
791  ταῦτʼ εἴποις Ἀχιλῆϊ δαΐφρονι αἴ κε πίθηται.
792  τίς δʼ οἶδʼ εἴ κέν οἱ σὺν δαίμονι θυμὸν ὀρίναις
793  παρειπών; ἀγαθὴ δὲ παραίφασίς ἐστιν ἑταίρου.
794  εἰ δέ τινα φρεσὶν ᾗσι θεοπροπίην ἀλεείνει
795  καί τινά οἱ πὰρ Ζηνὸς ἐπέφραδε πότνια μήτηρ,
796  ἀλλὰ σέ περ προέτω, ἅμα δʼ ἄλλος λαὸς ἑπέσθω
797  Μυρμιδόνων, αἴ κέν τι φόως Δαναοῖσι γένηαι·
798  καί τοι τεύχεα καλὰ δότω πόλεμον δὲ φέρεσθαι,
799  αἴ κέ σε τῷ εἴσκοντες ἀπόσχωνται πολέμοιο
800  Τρῶες, ἀναπνεύσωσι δʼ ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
801  τειρόμενοι· ὀλίγη δέ τʼ ἀνάπνευσις πολέμοιο.
802  ῥεῖα δέ κʼ ἀκμῆτες κεκμηότας ἄνδρας ἀϋτῇ
803  ὤσαισθε προτὶ ἄστυ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων.
804  ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε,
805  βῆ δὲ θέειν παρὰ νῆας ἐπʼ Αἰακίδην Ἀχιλῆα.
806  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κατὰ νῆας Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
807  ἷξε θέων Πάτροκλος, ἵνά σφʼ ἀγορή τε θέμις τε
808  ἤην, τῇ δὴ καί σφι θεῶν ἐτετεύχατο βωμοί,
809  ἔνθά οἱ Εὐρύπυλος βεβλημένος ἀντεβόλησε
810  διογενὴς Εὐαιμονίδης κατὰ μηρὸν ὀϊστῷ
811  σκάζων ἐκ πολέμου· κατὰ δὲ νότιος ῥέεν ἱδρὼς
812  ὤμων καὶ κεφαλῆς, ἀπὸ δʼ ἕλκεος ἀργαλέοιο
813  αἷμα μέλαν κελάρυζε· νόος γε μὲν ἔμπεδος ἦεν.
814  τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτειρε Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱός,
815  καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
816  ἆ δειλοὶ Δαναῶν ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
817  ὣς ἄρʼ ἐμέλλετε τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης
818  ἄσειν ἐν Τροίῃ ταχέας κύνας ἀργέτι δημῷ.
819  ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ διοτρεφὲς Εὐρύπυλʼ ἥρως,
820  ἤ ῥʼ ἔτι που σχήσουσι πελώριον Ἕκτορʼ Ἀχαιοί,
821  ἦ ἤδη φθίσονται ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ δουρὶ δαμέντες;
822  τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύπυλος βεβλημένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
823  οὐκέτι διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες ἄλκαρ Ἀχαιῶν
824  ἔσσεται, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέονται.
825  οἳ μὲν γὰρ δὴ πάντες, ὅσοι πάρος ἦσαν ἄριστοι,
826  ἐν νηυσὶν κέαται βεβλημένοι οὐτάμενοί τε
827  χερσὶν ὕπο Τρώων· τῶν δὲ σθένος ὄρνυται αἰέν.
828  ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν σὺ σάωσον ἄγων ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν,
829  μηροῦ δʼ ἔκταμʼ ὀϊστόν, ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ δʼ αἷμα κελαινὸν
830  νίζʼ ὕδατι λιαρῷ, ἐπὶ δʼ ἤπια φάρμακα πάσσε
831  ἐσθλά, τά σε προτί φασιν Ἀχιλλῆος δεδιδάχθαι,
832  ὃν Χείρων ἐδίδαξε δικαιότατος Κενταύρων.
833  ἰητροὶ μὲν γὰρ Ποδαλείριος ἠδὲ Μαχάων
834  τὸν μὲν ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ὀΐομαι ἕλκος ἔχοντα
835  χρηΐζοντα καὶ αὐτὸν ἀμύμονος ἰητῆρος
836  κεῖσθαι· ὃ δʼ ἐν πεδίῳ Τρώων μένει ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.
837  τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱός·
838  πῶς τὰρ ἔοι τάδε ἔργα; τί ῥέξομεν Εὐρύπυλʼ ἥρως;
839  ἔρχομαι ὄφρʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ δαΐφρονι μῦθον ἐνίσπω
840  ὃν Νέστωρ ἐπέτελλε Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν·
841  ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς περ σεῖο μεθήσω τειρομένοιο.
842  ἦ, καὶ ὑπὸ στέρνοιο λαβὼν ἄγε ποιμένα λαῶν
843  ἐς κλισίην· θεράπων δὲ ἰδὼν ὑπέχευε βοείας.
844  ἔνθά μιν ἐκτανύσας ἐκ μηροῦ τάμνε μαχαίρῃ
845  ὀξὺ βέλος περιπευκές, ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ δʼ αἷμα κελαινὸν
846  νίζʼ ὕδατι λιαρῷ, ἐπὶ δὲ ῥίζαν βάλε πικρὴν
847  χερσὶ διατρίψας ὀδυνήφατον, ἥ οἱ ἁπάσας
848  ἔσχʼ ὀδύνας· τὸ μὲν ἕλκος ἐτέρσετο, παύσατο δʼ αἷμα.