1  Ἠὼς μὲν κροκόπεπλος ἀπʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥοάων
2  ὄρνυθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φόως φέροι ἠδὲ βροτοῖσιν·
3  ἣ δʼ ἐς νῆας ἵκανε θεοῦ πάρα δῶρα φέρουσα.
4  εὗρε δὲ Πατρόκλῳ περικείμενον ὃν φίλον υἱὸν
5  κλαίοντα λιγέως· πολέες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι
6  μύρονθʼ· ἣ δʼ ἐν τοῖσι παρίστατο δῖα θεάων,
7  ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
8  τέκνον ἐμὸν τοῦτον μὲν ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ
9  κεῖσθαι, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα θεῶν ἰότητι δαμάσθη·
10  τύνη δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο πάρα κλυτὰ τεύχεα δέξο
11  καλὰ μάλʼ, οἷʼ οὔ πώ τις ἀνὴρ ὤμοισι φόρησεν.
12  ὡς ἄρα φωνήσασα θεὰ κατὰ τεύχεʼ ἔθηκε
13  πρόσθεν Ἀχιλλῆος· τὰ δʼ ἀνέβραχε δαίδαλα πάντα.
14  Μυρμιδόνας δʼ ἄρα πάντας ἕλε τρόμος, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
15  ἄντην εἰσιδέειν, ἀλλʼ ἔτρεσαν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
16  ὡς εἶδʼ, ὥς μιν μᾶλλον ἔδυ χόλος, ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε
17  δεινὸν ὑπὸ βλεφάρων ὡς εἰ σέλας ἐξεφάανθεν·
18  τέρπετο δʼ ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχων θεοῦ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.
19  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσι τετάρπετο δαίδαλα λεύσσων
20  αὐτίκα μητέρα ἣν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
21  μῆτερ ἐμὴ τὰ μὲν ὅπλα θεὸς πόρεν οἷʼ ἐπιεικὲς
22  ἔργʼ ἔμεν ἀθανάτων, μὴ δὲ βροτὸν ἄνδρα τελέσσαι.
23  νῦν δʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ θωρήξομαι· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰνῶς
24  δείδω μή μοι τόφρα Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱὸν
25  μυῖαι καδδῦσαι κατὰ χαλκοτύπους ὠτειλὰς
26  εὐλὰς ἐγγείνωνται, ἀεικίσσωσι δὲ νεκρόν,
27  ἐκ δʼ αἰὼν πέφαται, κατὰ δὲ χρόα πάντα σαπήῃ.
28  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα·
29  τέκνον μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.
30  τῷ μὲν ἐγὼ πειρήσω ἀλαλκεῖν ἄγρια φῦλα
31  μυίας, αἵ ῥά τε φῶτας ἀρηϊφάτους κατέδουσιν·
32  ἤν περ γὰρ κεῖταί γε τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν,
33  αἰεὶ τῷ γʼ ἔσται χρὼς ἔμπεδος, ἢ καὶ ἀρείων.
34  ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν καλέσας ἥρωας Ἀχαιοὺς
35  μῆνιν ἀποειπὼν Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν
36  αἶψα μάλʼ ἐς πόλεμον θωρήσσεο, δύσεο δʼ ἀλκήν.
37  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνῆκε,
38  Πατρόκλῳ δʼ αὖτʼ ἀμβροσίην καὶ νέκταρ ἐρυθρὸν
39  στάξε κατὰ ῥινῶν, ἵνα οἱ χρὼς ἔμπεδος εἴη.
40  αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
41  σμερδαλέα ἰάχων, ὦρσεν δʼ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.
42  καί ῥʼ οἵ περ τὸ πάρος γε νεῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι μένεσκον
43  οἵ τε κυβερνῆται καὶ ἔχον οἰήϊα νηῶν
44  καὶ ταμίαι παρὰ νηυσὶν ἔσαν σίτοιο δοτῆρες,
45  καὶ μὴν οἳ τότε γʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν ἴσαν, οὕνεκʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
46  ἐξεφάνη, δηρὸν δὲ μάχης ἐπέπαυτʼ ἀλεγεινῆς.
47  τὼ δὲ δύω σκάζοντε βάτην Ἄρεος θεράποντε
48  Τυδεΐδης τε μενεπτόλεμος καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
49  ἔγχει ἐρειδομένω· ἔτι γὰρ ἔχον ἕλκεα λυγρά·
50  κὰδ δὲ μετὰ πρώτῃ ἀγορῇ ἵζοντο κιόντες.
51  αὐτὰρ ὃ δεύτατος ἦλθεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
52  ἕλκος ἔχων· καὶ γὰρ τὸν ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ
53  οὖτα Κόων Ἀντηνορίδης χαλκήρεϊ δουρί.
54  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἀολλίσθησαν Ἀχαιοί,
55  τοῖσι δʼ ἀνιστάμενος μετέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
56  Ἀτρεΐδη ἦ ἄρ τι τόδʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἄρειον
57  ἔπλετο σοὶ καὶ ἐμοί, ὅ τε νῶΐ περ ἀχνυμένω κῆρ
58  θυμοβόρῳ ἔριδι μενεήναμεν εἵνεκα κούρης;
59  τὴν ὄφελʼ ἐν νήεσσι κατακτάμεν Ἄρτεμις ἰῷ
60  ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἐγὼν ἑλόμην Λυρνησσὸν ὀλέσσας·
61  τώ κʼ οὐ τόσσοι Ἀχαιοὶ ὀδὰξ ἕλον ἄσπετον οὖδας
62  δυσμενέων ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἐμεῦ ἀπομηνίσαντος.
63  Ἕκτορι μὲν καὶ Τρωσὶ τὸ κέρδιον· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς
64  δηρὸν ἐμῆς καὶ σῆς ἔριδος μνήσεσθαι ὀΐω.
65  ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προτετύχθαι ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ
66  θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον δαμάσαντες ἀνάγκῃ·
67  νῦν δʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ παύω χόλον, οὐδέ τί με χρὴ
68  ἀσκελέως αἰεὶ μενεαινέμεν· ἀλλʼ ἄγε θᾶσσον
69  ὄτρυνον πόλεμον δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς,
70  ὄφρʼ ἔτι καὶ Τρώων πειρήσομαι ἀντίον ἐλθὼν
71  αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωσʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἰαύειν· ἀλλά τινʼ οἴω
72  ἀσπασίως αὐτῶν γόνυ κάμψειν, ὅς κε φύγῃσι
73  δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο ὑπʼ ἔγχεος ἡμετέροιο.
74  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἐχάρησαν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
75  μῆνιν ἀπειπόντος μεγαθύμου Πηλεΐωνος.
76  τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
77  αὐτόθεν ἐξ ἕδρης, οὐδʼ ἐν μέσσοισιν ἀναστάς·
78  ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες Ἄρηος
79  ἑσταότος μὲν καλὸν ἀκούειν, οὐδὲ ἔοικεν
80  ὑββάλλειν· χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἐπισταμένῳ περ ἐόντι.
81  ἀνδρῶν δʼ ἐν πολλῷ ὁμάδῳ πῶς κέν τις ἀκούσαι
82  ἢ εἴποι; βλάβεται δὲ λιγύς περ ἐὼν ἀγορητής.
83  Πηλεΐδῃ μὲν ἐγὼν ἐνδείξομαι· αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι
84  σύνθεσθʼ Ἀργεῖοι, μῦθόν τʼ εὖ γνῶτε ἕκαστος.
85  πολλάκι δή μοι τοῦτον Ἀχαιοὶ μῦθον ἔειπον
86  καί τέ με νεικείεσκον· ἐγὼ δʼ οὐκ αἴτιός εἰμι,
87  ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς καὶ Μοῖρα καὶ ἠεροφοῖτις Ἐρινύς,
88  οἵ τέ μοι εἰν ἀγορῇ φρεσὶν ἔμβαλον ἄγριον ἄτην,
89  ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ Ἀχιλλῆος γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπηύρων.
90  ἀλλὰ τί κεν ῥέξαιμι; θεὸς διὰ πάντα τελευτᾷ.
91  πρέσβα Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἄτη, ἣ πάντας ἀᾶται,
92  οὐλομένη· τῇ μέν θʼ ἁπαλοὶ πόδες· οὐ γὰρ ἐπʼ οὔδει
93  πίλναται, ἀλλʼ ἄρα ἥ γε κατʼ ἀνδρῶν κράατα βαίνει
94  βλάπτουσʼ ἀνθρώπους· κατὰ δʼ οὖν ἕτερόν γε πέδησε.
95  καὶ γὰρ δή νύ ποτε Ζεὺς ἄσατο, τόν περ ἄριστον
96  ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ θεῶν φασʼ ἔμμεναι· ἀλλʼ ἄρα καὶ τὸν
97  Ἥρη θῆλυς ἐοῦσα δολοφροσύνῃς ἀπάτησεν,
98  ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἔμελλε βίην Ἡρακληείην
99  Ἀλκμήνη τέξεσθαι ἐϋστεφάνῳ ἐνὶ Θήβῃ.
100  ἤτοι ὅ γʼ εὐχόμενος μετέφη πάντεσσι θεοῖσι·
101  κέκλυτέ μευ πάντές τε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι,
102  ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνώγει.
103  σήμερον ἄνδρα φόως δὲ μογοστόκος Εἰλείθυια
104  ἐκφανεῖ, ὃς πάντεσσι περικτιόνεσσιν ἀνάξει,
105  τῶν ἀνδρῶν γενεῆς οἵ θʼ αἵματος ἐξ ἐμεῦ εἰσί.
106  τὸν δὲ δολοφρονέουσα προσηύδα πότνια Ἥρη·
107  ψευστήσεις, οὐδʼ αὖτε τέλος μύθῳ ἐπιθήσεις.
108  εἰ δʼ ἄγε νῦν μοι ὄμοσσον Ὀλύμπιε καρτερὸν ὅρκον,
109  ἦ μὲν τὸν πάντεσσι περικτιόνεσσιν ἀνάξειν
110  ὅς κεν ἐπʼ ἤματι τῷδε πέσῃ μετὰ ποσσὶ γυναικὸς
111  τῶν ἀνδρῶν οἳ σῆς ἐξ αἵματός εἰσι γενέθλης.
112  ὣς ἔφατο· Ζεὺς δʼ οὔ τι δολοφροσύνην ἐνόησεν,
113  ἀλλʼ ὄμοσεν μέγαν ὅρκον, ἔπειτα δὲ πολλὸν ἀάσθη.
114  Ἥρη δʼ ἀΐξασα λίπεν ῥίον Οὐλύμποιο,
115  καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵκετʼ Ἄργος Ἀχαιικόν, ἔνθʼ ἄρα ᾔδη
116  ἰφθίμην ἄλοχον Σθενέλου Περσηϊάδαο.
117  ἣ δʼ ἐκύει φίλον υἱόν, ὃ δʼ ἕβδομος ἑστήκει μείς·
118  ἐκ δʼ ἄγαγε πρὸ φόως δὲ καὶ ἠλιτόμηνον ἐόντα,
119  Ἀλκμήνης δʼ ἀπέπαυσε τόκον, σχέθε δʼ Εἰλειθυίας.
120  αὐτὴ δʼ ἀγγελέουσα Δία Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·
121  Ζεῦ πάτερ ἀργικέραυνε ἔπος τί τοι ἐν φρεσὶ θήσω·
122  ἤδη ἀνὴρ γέγονʼ ἐσθλὸς ὃς Ἀργείοισιν ἀνάξει
123  Εὐρυσθεὺς Σθενέλοιο πάϊς Περσηϊάδαο
124  σὸν γένος· οὔ οἱ ἀεικὲς ἀνασσέμεν Ἀργείοισιν.
125  ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ἄχος ὀξὺ κατὰ φρένα τύψε βαθεῖαν·
126  αὐτίκα δʼ εἷλʼ Ἄτην κεφαλῆς λιπαροπλοκάμοιο
127  χωόμενος φρεσὶν ᾗσι, καὶ ὤμοσε καρτερὸν ὅρκον
128  μή ποτʼ ἐς Οὔλυμπόν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα
129  αὖτις ἐλεύσεσθαι Ἄτην, ἣ πάντας ἀᾶται.
130  ὣς εἰπὼν ἔρριψεν ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος
131  χειρὶ περιστρέψας· τάχα δʼ ἵκετο ἔργʼ ἀνθρώπων.
132  τὴν αἰεὶ στενάχεσχʼ ὅθʼ ἑὸν φίλον υἱὸν ὁρῷτο
133  ἔργον ἀεικὲς ἔχοντα ὑπʼ Εὐρυσθῆος ἀέθλων.
134  ὣς καὶ ἐγών, ὅτε δʼ αὖτε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ
135  Ἀργείους ὀλέκεσκεν ἐπὶ πρυμνῇσι νέεσσιν,
136  οὐ δυνάμην λελαθέσθʼ Ἄτης ᾗ πρῶτον ἀάσθην.
137  ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἀασάμην καί μευ φρένας ἐξέλετο Ζεύς,
138  ἂψ ἐθέλω ἀρέσαι, δόμεναί τʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα·
139  ἀλλʼ ὄρσευ πόλεμον δὲ καὶ ἄλλους ὄρνυθι λαούς.
140  δῶρα δʼ ἐγὼν ὅδε πάντα παρασχέμεν ὅσσά τοι ἐλθὼν
141  χθιζὸς ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ὑπέσχετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
142  εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις, ἐπίμεινον ἐπειγόμενός περ Ἄρηος,
143  δῶρα δέ τοι θεράποντες ἐμῆς παρὰ νηὸς ἑλόντες
144  οἴσουσʼ, ὄφρα ἴδηαι ὅ τοι μενοεικέα δώσω.
145  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
146  Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον
147  δῶρα μὲν αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα παρασχέμεν, ὡς ἐπιεικές,
148  ἤ τʼ ἐχέμεν παρὰ σοί· νῦν δὲ μνησώμεθα χάρμης
149  αἶψα μάλʼ· οὐ γὰρ χρὴ κλοτοπεύειν ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντας
150  οὐδὲ διατρίβειν· ἔτι γὰρ μέγα ἔργον ἄρεκτον·
151  ὥς κέ τις αὖτʼ Ἀχιλῆα μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἴδηται
152  ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ Τρώων ὀλέκοντα φάλαγγας.
153  ὧδέ τις ὑμείων μεμνημένος ἀνδρὶ μαχέσθω.
154  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
155  μὴ δʼ οὕτως, ἀγαθός περ ἐών, θεοείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ
156  νήστιας ὄτρυνε προτὶ Ἴλιον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
157  Τρωσὶ μαχησομένους, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ὀλίγον χρόνον ἔσται
158  φύλοπις, εὖτʼ ἂν πρῶτον ὁμιλήσωσι φάλαγγες
159  ἀνδρῶν, ἐν δὲ θεὸς πνεύσῃ μένος ἀμφοτέροισιν.
160  ἀλλὰ πάσασθαι ἄνωχθι θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιοὺς
161  σίτου καὶ οἴνοιο· τὸ γὰρ μένος ἐστὶ καὶ ἀλκή.
162  οὐ γὰρ ἀνὴρ πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
163  ἄκμηνος σίτοιο δυνήσεται ἄντα μάχεσθαι·
164  εἴ περ γὰρ θυμῷ γε μενοινάᾳ πολεμίζειν,
165  ἀλλά τε λάθρῃ γυῖα βαρύνεται, ἠδὲ κιχάνει
166  δίψά τε καὶ λιμός, βλάβεται δέ τε γούνατʼ ἰόντι.
167  ὃς δέ κʼ ἀνὴρ οἴνοιο κορεσσάμενος καὶ ἐδωδῆς
168  ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι πανημέριος πολεμίζῃ,
169  θαρσαλέον νύ οἱ ἦτορ ἐνὶ φρεσίν, οὐδέ τι γυῖα
170  πρὶν κάμνει πρὶν πάντας ἐρωῆσαι πολέμοιο.
171  ἀλλʼ ἄγε λαὸν μὲν σκέδασον καὶ δεῖπνον ἄνωχθι
172  ὅπλεσθαι· τὰ δὲ δῶρα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
173  οἰσέτω ἐς μέσσην ἀγορήν, ἵνα πάντες Ἀχαιοὶ
174  ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδωσι, σὺ δὲ φρεσὶ σῇσιν ἰανθῇς.
175  ὀμνυέτω δέ τοι ὅρκον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἀναστὰς
176  μή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι ἠδὲ μιγῆναι·
177  ἣ θέμις ἐστὶν ἄναξ ἤ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ἤ τε γυναικῶν·
178  καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἵλαος ἔστω.
179  αὐτὰρ ἔπειτά σε δαιτὶ ἐνὶ κλισίῃς ἀρεσάσθω
180  πιείρῃ, ἵνα μή τι δίκης ἐπιδευὲς ἔχῃσθα.
181  Ἀτρεΐδη σὺ δʼ ἔπειτα δικαιότερος καὶ ἐπʼ ἄλλῳ
182  ἔσσεαι. οὐ μὲν γάρ τι νεμεσσητὸν βασιλῆα
183  ἄνδρʼ ἀπαρέσσασθαι ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.
184  τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
185  χαίρω σεῦ Λαερτιάδη τὸν μῦθον ἀκούσας·
186  ἐν μοίρῃ γὰρ πάντα διίκεο καὶ κατέλεξας.
187  ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼν ἐθέλω ὀμόσαι, κέλεται δέ με θυμός,
188  οὐδʼ ἐπιορκήσω πρὸς δαίμονος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
189  μιμνέτω αὐτόθι τεῖος ἐπειγόμενός περ Ἄρηος·
190  μίμνετε δʼ ἄλλοι πάντες ἀολλέες, ὄφρά κε δῶρα
191  ἐκ κλισίης ἔλθῃσι καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμωμεν.
192  σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ τόδʼ ἐγὼν ἐπιτέλλομαι ἠδὲ κελεύω·
193  κρινάμενος κούρητας ἀριστῆας Παναχαιῶν
194  δῶρα ἐμῆς παρὰ νηὸς ἐνεικέμεν, ὅσσʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ
195  χθιζὸν ὑπέστημεν δώσειν, ἀγέμεν τε γυναῖκας.
196  Ταλθύβιος δέ μοι ὦκα κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν
197  κάπρον ἑτοιμασάτω ταμέειν Διί τʼ Ἠελίῳ τε.
198  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
199  Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον
200  ἄλλοτέ περ καὶ μᾶλλον ὀφέλλετε ταῦτα πένεσθαι,
201  ὁππότε τις μεταπαυσωλὴ πολέμοιο γένηται
202  καὶ μένος οὐ τόσον ᾖσιν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσι.
203  νῦν δʼ οἳ μὲν κέαται δεδαϊγμένοι, οὓς ἐδάμασσεν
204  Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, ὅτε οἱ Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκεν,
205  ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐς βρωτὺν ὀτρύνετον· ἦ τʼ ἂν ἔγωγε
206  νῦν μὲν ἀνώγοιμι πτολεμίζειν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
207  νήστιας ἀκμήνους, ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι
208  τεύξεσθαι μέγα δόρπον, ἐπὴν τεισαίμεθα λώβην.
209  πρὶν δʼ οὔ πως ἂν ἔμοιγε φίλον κατὰ λαιμὸν ἰείη
210  οὐ πόσις οὐδὲ βρῶσις ἑταίρου τεθνηῶτος
211  ὅς μοι ἐνὶ κλισίῃ δεδαϊγμένος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ
212  κεῖται ἀνὰ πρόθυρον τετραμμένος, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι
213  μύρονται· τό μοι οὔ τι μετὰ φρεσὶ ταῦτα μέμηλεν,
214  ἀλλὰ φόνος τε καὶ αἷμα καὶ ἀργαλέος στόνος ἀνδρῶν.
215  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
216  ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ Πηλῆος υἱὲ μέγα φέρτατʼ Ἀχαιῶν,
217  κρείσσων εἰς ἐμέθεν καὶ φέρτερος οὐκ ὀλίγον περ
218  ἔγχει, ἐγὼ δέ κε σεῖο νοήματί γε προβαλοίμην
219  πολλόν, ἐπεὶ πρότερος γενόμην καὶ πλείονα οἶδα.
220  τώ τοι ἐπιτλήτω κραδίη μύθοισιν ἐμοῖσιν.
221  αἶψά τε φυλόπιδος πέλεται κόρος ἀνθρώποισιν,
222  ἧς τε πλείστην μὲν καλάμην χθονὶ χαλκὸς ἔχευεν,
223  ἄμητος δʼ ὀλίγιστος, ἐπὴν κλίνῃσι τάλαντα
224  Ζεύς, ὅς τʼ ἀνθρώπων ταμίης πολέμοιο τέτυκται.
225  γαστέρι δʼ οὔ πως ἔστι νέκυν πενθῆσαι Ἀχαιούς·
226  λίην γὰρ πολλοὶ καὶ ἐπήτριμοι ἤματα πάντα
227  πίπτουσιν· πότε κέν τις ἀναπνεύσειε πόνοιο;
228  ἀλλὰ χρὴ τὸν μὲν καταθάπτειν ὅς κε θάνῃσι
229  νηλέα θυμὸν ἔχοντας ἐπʼ ἤματι δακρύσαντας·
230  ὅσσοι δʼ ἂν πολέμοιο περὶ στυγεροῖο λίπωνται
231  μεμνῆσθαι πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον
232  ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι μαχώμεθα νωλεμὲς αἰεὶ
233  ἑσσάμενοι χροῒ χαλκὸν ἀτειρέα. μηδέ τις ἄλλην
234  λαῶν ὀτρυντὺν ποτιδέγμενος ἰσχαναάσθω·
235  ἥδε γὰρ ὀτρυντὺς κακὸν ἔσσεται ὅς κε λίπηται
236  νηυσὶν ἐπʼ Ἀργείων· ἀλλʼ ἀθρόοι ὁρμηθέντες
237  Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.
238  ἦ, καὶ Νέστορος υἷας ὀπάσσατο κυδαλίμοιο
239  Φυλεΐδην τε Μέγητα Θόαντά τε Μηριόνην τε
240  καὶ Κρειοντιάδην Λυκομήδεα καὶ Μελάνιππον·
241  βὰν δʼ ἴμεν ἐς κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο.
242  αὐτίκʼ ἔπειθʼ ἅμα μῦθος ἔην, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον·
243  ἑπτὰ μὲν ἐκ κλισίης τρίποδας φέρον, οὕς οἱ ὑπέστη,
244  αἴθωνας δὲ λέβητας ἐείκοσι, δώδεκα δʼ ἵππους·
245  ἐκ δʼ ἄγον αἶψα γυναῖκας ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίας
246  ἕπτʼ, ἀτὰρ ὀγδοάτην Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον.
247  χρυσοῦ δὲ στήσας Ὀδυσεὺς δέκα πάντα τάλαντα
248  ἦρχʼ, ἅμα δʼ ἄλλοι δῶρα φέρον κούρητες Ἀχαιῶν.
249  καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν μέσσῃ ἀγορῇ θέσαν, ἂν δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων
250  ἵστατο· Ταλθύβιος δὲ θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος αὐδὴν
251  κάπρον ἔχων ἐν χερσὶ παρίστατο ποιμένι λαῶν.
252  Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος χείρεσσι μάχαιραν,
253  ἥ οἱ πὰρ ξίφεος μέγα κουλεὸν αἰὲν ἄωρτο,
254  κάπρου ἀπὸ τρίχας ἀρξάμενος Διὶ χεῖρας ἀνασχὼν
255  εὔχετο· τοὶ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτόφιν εἵατο σιγῇ
256  Ἀργεῖοι κατὰ μοῖραν ἀκούοντες βασιλῆος.
257  εὐξάμενος δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·
258  ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος
259  Γῆ τε καὶ Ἠέλιος καὶ Ἐρινύες, αἵ θʼ ὑπὸ γαῖαν
260  ἀνθρώπους τίνυνται, ὅτις κʼ ἐπίορκον ὀμόσσῃ,
261  μὴ μὲν ἐγὼ κούρῃ Βρισηΐδι χεῖρʼ ἐπένεικα,
262  οὔτʼ εὐνῆς πρόφασιν κεχρημένος οὔτέ τευ ἄλλου.
263  ἀλλʼ ἔμενʼ ἀπροτίμαστος ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ἐμῇσιν.
264  εἰ δέ τι τῶνδʼ ἐπίορκον ἐμοὶ θεοὶ ἄλγεα δοῖεν
265  πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα διδοῦσιν ὅτίς σφʼ ἀλίτηται ὀμόσσας.
266  ἦ, καὶ ἀπὸ στόμαχον κάπρου τάμε νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.
267  τὸν μὲν Ταλθύβιος πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐς μέγα λαῖτμα
268  ῥῖψʼ ἐπιδινήσας βόσιν ἰχθύσιν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
269  ἀνστὰς Ἀργείοισι φιλοπτολέμοισι μετηύδα·
270  Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ μεγάλας ἄτας ἄνδρεσσι διδοῖσθα·
271  οὐκ ἂν δή ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν
272  Ἀτρεΐδης ὤρινε διαμπερές, οὐδέ κε κούρην
273  ἦγεν ἐμεῦ ἀέκοντος ἀμήχανος· ἀλλά ποθι Ζεὺς
274  ἤθελʼ Ἀχαιοῖσιν θάνατον πολέεσσι γενέσθαι.
275  νῦν δʼ ἔρχεσθʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον, ἵνα ξυνάγωμεν Ἄρηα.
276  ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, λῦσεν δʼ ἀγορὴν αἰψηρήν.
277  οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐσκίδναντο ἑὴν ἐπὶ νῆα ἕκαστος,
278  δῶρα δὲ Μυρμιδόνες μεγαλήτορες ἀμφεπένοντο,
279  βὰν δʼ ἐπὶ νῆα φέροντες Ἀχιλλῆος θείοιο.
280  καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν κλισίῃσι θέσαν, κάθισαν δὲ γυναῖκας,
281  ἵππους δʼ εἰς ἀγέλην ἔλασαν θεράποντες ἀγαυοί.
282  Βρισηῒς δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτʼ ἰκέλη χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ
283  ὡς ἴδε Πάτροκλον δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
284  ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγʼ ἐκώκυε, χερσὶ δʼ ἄμυσσε
285  στήθεά τʼ ἠδʼ ἁπαλὴν δειρὴν ἰδὲ καλὰ πρόσωπα.
286  εἶπε δʼ ἄρα κλαίουσα γυνὴ ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσι·
287  Πάτροκλέ μοι δειλῇ πλεῖστον κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ
288  ζωὸν μέν σε ἔλειπον ἐγὼ κλισίηθεν ἰοῦσα,
289  νῦν δέ σε τεθνηῶτα κιχάνομαι ὄρχαμε λαῶν
290  ἂψ ἀνιοῦσʼ· ὥς μοι δέχεται κακὸν ἐκ κακοῦ αἰεί.
291  ἄνδρα μὲν ᾧ ἔδοσάν με πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
292  εἶδον πρὸ πτόλιος δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
293  τρεῖς τε κασιγνήτους, τούς μοι μία γείνατο μήτηρ,
294  κηδείους, οἳ πάντες ὀλέθριον ἦμαρ ἐπέσπον.
295  οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδέ μʼ ἔασκες, ὅτʼ ἄνδρʼ ἐμὸν ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς
296  ἔκτεινεν, πέρσεν δὲ πόλιν θείοιο Μύνητος,
297  κλαίειν, ἀλλά μʼ ἔφασκες Ἀχιλλῆος θείοιο
298  κουριδίην ἄλοχον θήσειν, ἄξειν τʼ ἐνὶ νηυσὶν
299  ἐς Φθίην, δαίσειν δὲ γάμον μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι.
300  τώ σʼ ἄμοτον κλαίω τεθνηότα μείλιχον αἰεί.
301  ὣς ἔφατο κλαίουσʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ στενάχοντο γυναῖκες
302  Πάτροκλον πρόφασιν, σφῶν δʼ αὐτῶν κήδεʼ ἑκάστη.
303  αὐτὸν δʼ ἀμφὶ γέροντες Ἀχαιῶν ἠγερέθοντο
304  λισσόμενοι δειπνῆσαι· ὃ δʼ ἠρνεῖτο στεναχίζων·
305  λίσσομαι, εἴ τις ἔμοιγε φίλων ἐπιπείθεθʼ ἑταίρων,
306  μή με πρὶν σίτοιο κελεύετε μηδὲ ποτῆτος
307  ἄσασθαι φίλον ἦτορ, ἐπεί μʼ ἄχος αἰνὸν ἱκάνει·
308  δύντα δʼ ἐς ἠέλιον μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι ἔμπης.
309  ὣς εἰπὼν ἄλλους μὲν ἀπεσκέδασεν βασιλῆας,
310  δοιὼ δʼ Ἀτρεΐδα μενέτην καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
311  Νέστωρ Ἰδομενεύς τε γέρων θʼ ἱππηλάτα Φοῖνιξ
312  τέρποντες πυκινῶς ἀκαχήμενον· οὐδέ τι θυμῷ
313  τέρπετο, πρὶν πολέμου στόμα δύμεναι αἱματόεντος.
314  μνησάμενος δʼ ἁδινῶς ἀνενείκατο φώνησέν τε·
315  ἦ ῥά νύ μοί ποτε καὶ σὺ δυσάμμορε φίλταθʼ ἑταίρων
316  αὐτὸς ἐνὶ κλισίῃ λαρὸν παρὰ δεῖπνον ἔθηκας
317  αἶψα καὶ ὀτραλέως, ὁπότε σπερχοίατʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
318  Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισι φέρειν πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα.
319  νῦν δὲ σὺ μὲν κεῖσαι δεδαϊγμένος, αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ
320  ἄκμηνον πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος, ἔνδον ἐόντων,
321  σῇ ποθῇ· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακώτερον ἄλλο πάθοιμι,
322  οὐδʼ εἴ κεν τοῦ πατρὸς ἀποφθιμένοιο πυθοίμην,
323  ὅς που νῦν Φθίηφι τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβει
324  χήτεϊ τοιοῦδʼ υἷος· ὃ δʼ ἀλλοδαπῷ ἐνὶ δήμῳ
325  εἵνεκα ῥιγεδανῆς Ἑλένης Τρωσὶν πολεμίζω·
326  ἠὲ τὸν ὃς Σκύρῳ μοι ἔνι τρέφεται φίλος υἱός,
327  εἴ που ἔτι ζώει γε Νεοπτόλεμος θεοειδής.
328  πρὶν μὲν γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπει
329  οἶον ἐμὲ φθίσεσθαι ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο
330  αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ, σὲ δέ τε Φθίην δὲ νέεσθαι,
331  ὡς ἄν μοι τὸν παῖδα θοῇ ἐνὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ
332  Σκυρόθεν ἐξαγάγοις καί οἱ δείξειας ἕκαστα
333  κτῆσιν ἐμὴν δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα.
334  ἤδη γὰρ Πηλῆά γʼ ὀΐομαι ἢ κατὰ πάμπαν
335  τεθνάμεν, ἤ που τυτθὸν ἔτι ζώοντʼ ἀκάχησθαι
336  γήραΐ τε στυγερῷ καὶ ἐμὴν ποτιδέγμενον αἰεὶ
337  λυγρὴν ἀγγελίην, ὅτʼ ἀποφθιμένοιο πύθηται.
338  ὣς ἔφατο κλαίων, ἐπὶ δὲ στενάχοντο γέροντες,
339  μνησάμενοι τὰ ἕκαστος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπον·
340  μυρομένους δʼ ἄρα τούς γε ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρονίων,
341  αἶψα δʼ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
342  τέκνον ἐμόν, δὴ πάμπαν ἀποίχεαι ἀνδρὸς ἑῆος.
343  ἦ νύ τοι οὐκέτι πάγχυ μετὰ φρεσὶ μέμβλετʼ Ἀχιλλεύς;
344  κεῖνος ὅ γε προπάροιθε νεῶν ὀρθοκραιράων
345  ἧσται ὀδυρόμενος ἕταρον φίλον· οἳ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι
346  οἴχονται μετὰ δεῖπνον, ὃ δʼ ἄκμηνος καὶ ἄπαστος.
347  ἀλλʼ ἴθι οἱ νέκτάρ τε καὶ ἀμβροσίην ἐρατεινὴν
348  στάξον ἐνὶ στήθεσσʼ, ἵνα μή μιν λιμὸς ἵκηται.
349  ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην·
350  ἣ δʼ ἅρπῃ ἐϊκυῖα τανυπτέρυγι λιγυφώνῳ
351  οὐρανοῦ ἐκκατεπᾶλτο διʼ αἰθέρος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
352  αὐτίκα θωρήσσοντο κατὰ στρατόν· ἣ δʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ
353  νέκταρ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι καὶ ἀμβροσίην ἐρατεινὴν
354  στάξʼ, ἵνα μή μιν λιμὸς ἀτερπὴς γούναθʼ ἵκοιτο·
355  αὐτὴ δὲ πρὸς πατρὸς ἐρισθενέος πυκινὸν δῶ
356  ᾤχετο, τοὶ δʼ ἀπάνευθε νεῶν ἐχέοντο θοάων.
357  ὡς δʼ ὅτε ταρφειαὶ νιφάδες Διὸς ἐκποτέονται
358  ψυχραὶ ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς αἰθρηγενέος Βορέαο,
359  ὣς τότε ταρφειαὶ κόρυθες λαμπρὸν γανόωσαι
360  νηῶν ἐκφορέοντο καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι
361  θώρηκές τε κραταιγύαλοι καὶ μείλινα δοῦρα.
362  αἴγλη δʼ οὐρανὸν ἷκε, γέλασσε δὲ πᾶσα περὶ χθὼν
363  χαλκοῦ ὑπὸ στεροπῆς· ὑπὸ δὲ κτύπος ὄρνυτο ποσσὶν
364  ἀνδρῶν· ἐν δὲ μέσοισι κορύσσετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
365  τοῦ καὶ ὀδόντων μὲν καναχὴ πέλε, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
366  λαμπέσθην ὡς εἴ τε πυρὸς σέλας, ἐν δέ οἱ ἦτορ
367  δῦνʼ ἄχος ἄτλητον· ὃ δʼ ἄρα Τρωσὶν μενεαίνων
368  δύσετο δῶρα θεοῦ, τά οἱ Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων.
369  κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε
370  καλὰς ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας·
371  δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνεν.
372  ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
373  χάλκεον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε
374  εἵλετο, τοῦ δʼ ἀπάνευθε σέλας γένετʼ ἠΰτε μήνης.
375  ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἐκ πόντοιο σέλας ναύτῃσι φανήῃ
376  καιομένοιο πυρός, τό τε καίεται ὑψόθʼ ὄρεσφι
377  σταθμῷ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ· τοὺς δʼ οὐκ ἐθέλοντας ἄελλαι
378  πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φίλων ἀπάνευθε φέρουσιν·
379  ὣς ἀπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος σάκεος σέλας αἰθέρʼ ἵκανε
380  καλοῦ δαιδαλέου· περὶ δὲ τρυφάλειαν ἀείρας
381  κρατὶ θέτο βριαρήν· ἣ δʼ ἀστὴρ ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν
382  ἵππουρις τρυφάλεια, περισσείοντο δʼ ἔθειραι
383  χρύσεαι, ἃς Ἥφαιστος ἵει λόφον ἀμφὶ θαμειάς.
384  πειρήθη δʼ ἕο αὐτοῦ ἐν ἔντεσι δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
385  εἰ οἷ ἐφαρμόσσειε καὶ ἐντρέχοι ἀγλαὰ γυῖα·
386  τῷ δʼ εὖτε πτερὰ γίγνετʼ, ἄειρε δὲ ποιμένα λαῶν.
387  ἐκ δʼ ἄρα σύριγγος πατρώϊον ἐσπάσατʼ ἔγχος
388  βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν· τὸ μὲν οὐ δύνατʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν
389  πάλλειν, ἀλλά μιν οἶος ἐπίστατο πῆλαι Ἀχιλλεύς,
390  Πηλιάδα μελίην, τὴν πατρὶ φίλῳ πόρε Χείρων
391  Πηλίου ἐκ κορυφῆς φόνον ἔμμεναι ἡρώεσσιν·
392  ἵππους δʼ Αὐτομέδων τε καὶ Ἄλκιμος ἀμφιέποντες
393  ζεύγνυον· ἀμφὶ δὲ καλὰ λέπαδνʼ ἕσαν, ἐν δὲ χαλινοὺς
394  γαμφηλῇς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία τεῖναν ὀπίσσω
395  κολλητὸν ποτὶ δίφρον. ὃ δὲ μάστιγα φαεινὴν
396  χειρὶ λαβὼν ἀραρυῖαν ἐφʼ ἵπποιιν ἀνόρουσεν
397  Αὐτομέδων· ὄπιθεν δὲ κορυσσάμενος βῆ Ἀχιλλεὺς
398  τεύχεσι παμφαίνων ὥς τʼ ἠλέκτωρ Ὑπερίων,
399  σμερδαλέον δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο πατρὸς ἑοῖο·
400  Ξάνθέ τε καὶ Βαλίε τηλεκλυτὰ τέκνα Ποδάργης
401  ἄλλως δὴ φράζεσθε σαωσέμεν ἡνιοχῆα
402  ἂψ Δαναῶν ἐς ὅμιλον ἐπεί χʼ ἕωμεν πολέμοιο,
403  μηδʼ ὡς Πάτροκλον λίπετʼ αὐτόθι τεθνηῶτα.
404  τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὸ ζυγόφι προσέφη πόδας αἰόλος ἵππος
405  Ξάνθος, ἄφαρ δʼ ἤμυσε καρήατι· πᾶσα δὲ χαίτη
406  ζεύγλης ἐξεριποῦσα παρὰ ζυγὸν οὖδας ἵκανεν·
407  αὐδήεντα δʼ ἔθηκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη·
408  καὶ λίην σʼ ἔτι νῦν γε σαώσομεν ὄβριμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ·
409  ἀλλά τοι ἐγγύθεν ἦμαρ ὀλέθριον· οὐδέ τοι ἡμεῖς
410  αἴτιοι, ἀλλὰ θεός τε μέγας καὶ Μοῖρα κραταιή.
411  οὐδὲ γὰρ ἡμετέρῃ βραδυτῆτί τε νωχελίῃ τε
412  Τρῶες ἀπʼ ὤμοιιν Πατρόκλου τεύχεʼ ἕλοντο·
413  ἀλλὰ θεῶν ὤριστος, ὃν ἠΰκομος τέκε Λητώ,
414  ἔκτανʼ ἐνὶ προμάχοισι καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ἔδωκε.
415  νῶϊ δὲ καί κεν ἅμα πνοιῇ Ζεφύροιο θέοιμεν,
416  ἥν περ ἐλαφροτάτην φάσʼ ἔμμεναι· ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ
417  μόρσιμόν ἐστι θεῷ τε καὶ ἀνέρι ἶφι δαμῆναι.
418  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντος Ἐρινύες ἔσχεθον αὐδήν.
419  τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
420  Ξάνθε τί μοι θάνατον μαντεύεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή.
421  εὖ νυ τὸ οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ μοι μόρος ἐνθάδʼ ὀλέσθαι
422  νόσφι φίλου πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔμπης
423  οὐ λήξω πρὶν Τρῶας ἅδην ἐλάσαι πολέμοιο.
424  ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐν πρώτοις ἰάχων ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους.


The gods hold a council and determine to watch the fight, from
      the hill Callicolone, and the barrow of Hercules—A fight between
      Achilles and AEneas is interrupted by Neptune, who saves
      AEneas—Achilles kills many Trojans.

      Thus, then, did the Achaeans arm by their ships round you, O son
      of Peleus, who were hungering for battle; while the Trojans over
      against them armed upon the rise of the plain.

      Meanwhile Jove from the top of many-delled Olympus, bade Themis
      gather the gods in council, whereon she went about and called
      them to the house of Jove. There was not a river absent except
      Oceanus, nor a single one of the nymphs that haunt fair groves,
      or springs of rivers and meadows of green grass. When they
      reached the house of cloud-compelling Jove, they took their seats
      in the arcades of polished marble which Vulcan with his
      consummate skill had made for father Jove.

      In such wise, therefore, did they gather in the house of Jove.
      Neptune also, lord of the earthquake, obeyed the call of the
      goddess, and came up out of the sea to join them. There, sitting
      in the midst of them, he asked what Jove’s purpose might be.
      “Why,” said he, “wielder of the lightning, have you called the
      gods in council? Are you considering some matter that concerns
      the Trojans and Achaeans—for the blaze of battle is on the point
      of being kindled between them?”

      And Jove answered, “You know my purpose, shaker of earth, and
      wherefore I have called you hither. I take thought for them even
      in their destruction. For my own part I shall stay here seated on
      Mt. Olympus and look on in peace, but do you others go about
      among Trojans and Achaeans, and help either side as you may be
      severally disposed. If Achilles fights the Trojans without
      hindrance they will make no stand against him; they have ever
      trembled at the sight of him, and now that he is roused to such
      fury about his comrade, he will override fate itself and storm
      their city.”

      Thus spoke Jove and gave the word for war, whereon the gods took
      their several sides and went into battle. Juno, Pallas Minerva,
      earth-encircling Neptune, Mercury bringer of good luck and
      excellent in all cunning—all these joined the host that came from
      the ships; with them also came Vulcan in all his glory, limping,
      but yet with his thin legs plying lustily under him. Mars of
      gleaming helmet joined the Trojans, and with him Apollo of locks
      unshorn, and the archer goddess Diana, Leto, Xanthus, and
      laughter-loving Venus.

      So long as the gods held themselves aloof from mortal warriors
      the Achaeans were triumphant, for Achilles who had long refused
      to fight was now with them. There was not a Trojan but his limbs
      failed him for fear as he beheld the fleet son of Peleus all
      glorious in his armour, and looking like Mars himself. When,
      however, the Olympians came to take their part among men,
      forthwith uprose strong Strife, rouser of hosts, and Minerva
      raised her loud voice, now standing by the deep trench that ran
      outside the wall, and now shouting with all her might upon the
      shore of the sounding sea. Mars also bellowed out upon the other
      side, dark as some black thunder-cloud, and called on the Trojans
      at the top of his voice, now from the acropolis, and now speeding
      up the side of the river Simois till he came to the hill
      Callicolone.

      Thus did the gods spur on both hosts to fight, and rouse fierce
      contention also among themselves. The sire of gods and men
      thundered from heaven above, while from beneath Neptune shook the
      vast earth, and bade the high hills tremble. The spurs and crests
      of many-fountained Ida quaked, as also the city of the Trojans
      and the ships of the Achaeans. Hades, king of the realms below,
      was struck with fear; he sprang panic-stricken from his throne
      and cried aloud in terror lest Neptune, lord of the earthquake,
      should crack the ground over his head, and lay bare his mouldy
      mansions to the sight of mortals and immortals—mansions so
      ghastly grim that even the gods shudder to think of them. Such
      was the uproar as the gods came together in battle. Apollo with
      his arrows took his stand to face King Neptune, while Minerva
      took hers against the god of war; the archer goddess Diana with
      her golden arrows, sister of far-darting Apollo, stood to face
      Juno; Mercury the lusty bringer of good luck faced Leto, while
      the mighty eddying river whom men can Scamander, but gods
      Xanthus, matched himself against Vulcan.

      The gods, then, were thus ranged against one another. But the
      heart of Achilles was set on meeting Hector son of Priam, for it
      was with his blood that he longed above all things else to glut
      the stubborn lord of battle. Meanwhile Apollo set Aeneas on to
      attack the son of Peleus, and put courage into his heart,
      speaking with the voice of Lycaon son of Priam. In his likeness
      therefore, he said to Aeneas, “Aeneas, counsellor of the Trojans,
      where are now the brave words with which you vaunted over your
      wine before the Trojan princes, saying that you would fight
      Achilles son of Peleus in single combat?”

      And Aeneas answered, “Why do you thus bid me fight the proud son
      of Peleus, when I am in no mind to do so? Were I to face him now,
      it would not be for the first time. His spear has already put me
      to flight from Ida, when he attacked our cattle and sacked
      Lyrnessus and Pedasus; Jove indeed saved me in that he vouchsafed
      me strength to fly, else had I fallen by the hands of Achilles
      and Minerva, who went before him to protect him and urged him to
      fall upon the Lelegae and Trojans. No man may fight Achilles, for
      one of the gods is always with him as his guardian angel, and
      even were it not so, his weapon flies ever straight, and fails
      not to pierce the flesh of him who is against him; if heaven
      would let me fight him on even terms he should not soon overcome
      me, though he boasts that he is made of bronze.”

      Then said King Apollo, son to Jove, “Nay, hero, pray to the
      ever-living gods, for men say that you were born of Jove’s
      daughter Venus, whereas Achilles is son to a goddess of inferior
      rank. Venus is child to Jove, while Thetis is but daughter to the
      old man of the sea. Bring, therefore, your spear to bear upon
      him, and let him not scare you with his taunts and menaces.”

      As he spoke he put courage into the heart of the shepherd of his
      people, and he strode in full armour among the ranks of the
      foremost fighters. Nor did the son of Anchises escape the notice
      of white-armed Juno, as he went forth into the throng to meet
      Achilles. She called the gods about her, and said, “Look to it,
      you two, Neptune and Minerva, and consider how this shall be;
      Phoebus Apollo has been sending Aeneas clad in full armour to
      fight Achilles. Shall we turn him back at once, or shall one of
      us stand by Achilles and endow him with strength so that his
      heart fail not, and he may learn that the chiefs of the immortals
      are on his side, while the others who have all along been
      defending the Trojans are but vain helpers? Let us all come down
      from Olympus and join in the fight, that this day he may take no
      hurt at the hands of the Trojans. Hereafter let him suffer
      whatever fate may have spun out for him when he was begotten and
      his mother bore him. If Achilles be not thus assured by the voice
      of a god, he may come to fear presently when one of us meets him
      in battle, for the gods are terrible if they are seen face to
      face.”

      Neptune lord of the earthquake answered her saying, “Juno,
      restrain your fury; it is not well; I am not in favour of forcing
      the other gods to fight us, for the advantage is too greatly on
      our own side; let us take our places on some hill out of the
      beaten track, and let mortals fight it out among themselves. If
      Mars or Phoebus Apollo begin fighting, or keep Achilles in check
      so that he cannot fight, we too, will at once raise the cry of
      battle, and in that case they will soon leave the field and go
      back vanquished to Olympus among the other gods.”

      With these words the dark-haired god led the way to the high
      earth-barrow of Hercules, built round solid masonry, and made by
      the Trojans and Pallas Minerva for him to fly to when the
      sea-monster was chasing him from the shore on to the plain. Here
      Neptune and those that were with him took their seats, wrapped in
      a thick cloud of darkness; but the other gods seated themselves
      on the brow of Callicolone round you, O Phoebus, and Mars the
      waster of cities.

      Thus did the gods sit apart and form their plans, but neither
      side was willing to begin battle with the other, and Jove from
      his seat on high was in command over them all. Meanwhile the
      whole plain was alive with men and horses, and blazing with the
      gleam of armour. The earth rang again under the tramp of their
      feet as they rushed towards each other, and two champions, by far
      the foremost of them all, met between the hosts to fight—to wit,
      Aeneas son of Anchises, and noble Achilles.

      Aeneas was first to stride forward in attack, his doughty helmet
      tossing defiance as he came on. He held his strong shield before
      his breast, and brandished his bronze spear. The son of Peleus
      from the other side sprang forth to meet him, like some fierce
      lion that the whole country-side has met to hunt and kill—at
      first he bodes no ill, but when some daring youth has struck him
      with a spear, he crouches openmouthed, his jaws foam, he roars
      with fury, he lashes his tail from side to side about his ribs
      and loins, and glares as he springs straight before him, to find
      out whether he is to slay, or be slain among the foremost of his
      foes—even with such fury did Achilles burn to spring upon Aeneas.

      When they were now close up with one another Achilles was first
      to speak. “Aeneas,” said he, “why do you stand thus out before
      the host to fight me? Is it that you hope to reign over the
      Trojans in the seat of Priam? Nay, though you kill me Priam will
      not hand his kingdom over to you. He is a man of sound judgement,
      and he has sons of his own. Or have the Trojans been allotting
      you a demesne of passing richness, fair with orchard lawns and
      corn lands, if you should slay me? This you shall hardly do. I
      have discomfited you once already. Have you forgotten how when
      you were alone I chased you from your herds helter-skelter down
      the slopes of Ida? You did not turn round to look behind you; you
      took refuge in Lyrnessus, but I attacked the city, and with the
      help of Minerva and father Jove I sacked it and carried its women
      into captivity, though Jove and the other gods rescued you. You
      think they will protect you now, but they will not do so;
      therefore I say go back into the host, and do not face me, or you
      will rue it. Even a fool may be wise after the event.”

      Then Aeneas answered, “Son of Peleus, think not that your words
      can scare me as though I were a child. I too, if I will, can brag
      and talk unseemly. We know one another’s race and parentage as
      matters of common fame, though neither have you ever seen my
      parents nor I yours. Men say that you are son to noble Peleus,
      and that your mother is Thetis, fair-haired daughter of the sea.
      I have noble Anchises for my father, and Venus for my mother; the
      parents of one or other of us shall this day mourn a son, for it
      will be more than silly talk that shall part us when the fight is
      over. Learn, then, my lineage if you will—and it is known to
      many.

      “In the beginning Dardanus was the son of Jove, and founded
      Dardania, for Ilius was not yet stablished on the plain for men
      to dwell in, and her people still abode on the spurs of
      many-fountained Ida. Dardanus had a son, king Erichthonius, who
      was wealthiest of all men living; he had three thousand mares
      that fed by the water-meadows, they and their foals with them.
      Boreas was enamoured of them as they were feeding, and covered
      them in the semblance of a dark-maned stallion. Twelve filly
      foals did they conceive and bear him, and these, as they sped
      over the rich plain, would go bounding on over the ripe ears of
      corn and not break them; or again when they would disport
      themselves on the broad back of Ocean they could gallop on the
      crest of a breaker. Erichthonius begat Tros, king of the Trojans,
      and Tros had three noble sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and Ganymede who
      was comeliest of mortal men; wherefore the gods carried him off
      to be Jove’s cup-bearer, for his beauty’s sake, that he might
      dwell among the immortals. Ilus begat Laomedon, and Laomedon
      begat Tithonus, Priam, Lampus, Clytius, and Hiketaon of the stock
      of Mars. But Assaracus was father to Capys, and Capys to
      Anchises, who was my father, while Hector is son to Priam.

      “Such do I declare my blood and lineage, but as for valour, Jove
      gives it or takes it as he will, for he is lord of all. And now
      let there be no more of this prating in mid-battle as though we
      were children. We could fling taunts without end at one another;
      a hundred-oared galley would not hold them. The tongue can run
      all whithers and talk all wise; it can go here and there, and as
      a man says, so shall he be gainsaid. What is the use of our
      bandying hard like women who when they fall foul of one another
      go out and wrangle in the streets, one half true and the other
      lies, as rage inspires them? No words of yours shall turn me now
      that I am fain to fight—therefore let us make trial of one
      another with our spears.”

      As he spoke he drove his spear at the great and terrible shield
      of Achilles, which rang out as the point struck it. The son of
      Peleus held the shield before him with his strong hand, and he
      was afraid, for he deemed that Aeneas’s spear would go through it
      quite easily, not reflecting that the god’s glorious gifts were
      little likely to yield before the blows of mortal men; and indeed
      Aeneas’s spear did not pierce the shield, for the layer of gold,
      gift of the god, stayed the point. It went through two layers,
      but the god had made the shield in five, two of bronze, the two
      innermost ones of tin, and one of gold; it was in this that the
      spear was stayed.

      Achilles in his turn threw, and struck the round shield of Aeneas
      at the very edge, where the bronze was thinnest; the spear of
      Pelian ash went clean through, and the shield rang under the
      blow; Aeneas was afraid, and crouched backwards, holding the
      shield away from him; the spear, however, flew over his back, and
      stuck quivering in the ground, after having gone through both
      circles of the sheltering shield. Aeneas though he had avoided
      the spear, stood still, blinded with fear and grief because the
      weapon had gone so near him; then Achilles sprang furiously upon
      him, with a cry as of death and with his keen blade drawn, and
      Aeneas seized a great stone, so huge that two men, as men now
      are, would be unable to lift it, but Aeneas wielded it quite
      easily.

      Aeneas would then have struck Achilles as he was springing
      towards him, either on the helmet, or on the shield that covered
      him, and Achilles would have closed with him and despatched him
      with his sword, had not Neptune lord of the earthquake been quick
      to mark, and said forthwith to the immortals, “Alas, I am sorry
      for great Aeneas, who will now go down to the house of Hades,
      vanquished by the son of Peleus. Fool that he was to give ear to
      the counsel of Apollo. Apollo will never save him from
      destruction. Why should this man suffer when he is guiltless, to
      no purpose, and in another’s quarrel? Has he not at all times
      offered acceptable sacrifice to the gods that dwell in heaven?
      Let us then snatch him from death’s jaws, lest the son of Saturn
      be angry should Achilles slay him. It is fated, moreover, that he
      should escape, and that the race of Dardanus, whom Jove loved
      above all the sons born to him of mortal women, shall not perish
      utterly without seed or sign. For now indeed has Jove hated the
      blood of Priam, while Aeneas shall reign over the Trojans, he and
      his children’s children that shall be born hereafter.”

      Then answered Juno, “Earth-shaker, look to this matter yourself,
      and consider concerning Aeneas, whether you will save him, or
      suffer him, brave though he be, to fall by the hand of Achilles
      son of Peleus. For of a truth we two, I and Pallas Minerva, have
      sworn full many a time before all the immortals, that never would
      we shield Trojans from destruction, not even when all Troy is
      burning in the flames that the Achaeans shall kindle.”

      When earth-encircling Neptune heard this he went into the battle
      amid the clash of spears, and came to the place where Achilles
      and Aeneas were. Forthwith he shed a darkness before the eyes of
      the son of Peleus, drew the bronze-headed ashen spear from the
      shield of Aeneas, and laid it at the feet of Achilles. Then he
      lifted Aeneas on high from off the earth and hurried him away.
      Over the heads of many a band of warriors both horse and foot did
      he soar as the god’s hand sped him, till he came to the very
      fringe of the battle where the Cauconians were arming themselves
      for fight. Neptune, shaker of the earth, then came near to him
      and said, “Aeneas, what god has egged you on to this folly in
      fighting the son of Peleus, who is both a mightier man of valour
      and more beloved of heaven than you are? Give way before him
      whensoever you meet him, lest you go down to the house of Hades
      even though fate would have it otherwise. When Achilles is dead
      you may then fight among the foremost undaunted, for none other
      of the Achaeans shall slay you.”

      The god left him when he had given him these instructions, and at
      once removed the darkness from before the eyes of Achilles, who
      opened them wide indeed and said in great anger, “Alas! what
      marvel am I now beholding? Here is my spear upon the ground, but
      I see not him whom I meant to kill when I hurled it. Of a truth
      Aeneas also must be under heaven’s protection, although I had
      thought his boasting was idle. Let him go hang; he will be in no
      mood to fight me further, seeing how narrowly he has missed being
      killed. I will now give my orders to the Danaans and attack some
      other of the Trojans.”

      He sprang forward along the line and cheered his men on as he did
      so. “Let not the Trojans,” he cried, “keep you at arm’s length,
      Achaeans, but go for them and fight them man for man. However
      valiant I may be, I cannot give chase to so many and fight all of
      them. Even Mars, who is an immortal, or Minerva, would shrink
      from flinging himself into the jaws of such a fight and laying
      about him; nevertheless, so far as in me lies I will show no
      slackness of hand or foot nor want of endurance, not even for a
      moment; I will utterly break their ranks, and woe to the Trojan
      who shall venture within reach of my spear.”

      Thus did he exhort them. Meanwhile Hector called upon the Trojans
      and declared that he would fight Achilles. “Be not afraid, proud
      Trojans,” said he, “to face the son of Peleus; I could fight gods
      myself if the battle were one of words only, but they would be
      more than a match for me, if we had to use our spears. Even so
      the deed of Achilles will fall somewhat short of his word; he
      will do in part, and the other part he will clip short. I will go
      up against him though his hands be as fire—though his hands be
      fire and his strength iron.”

      Thus urged the Trojans lifted up their spears against the
      Achaeans, and raised the cry of battle as they flung themselves
      into the midst of their ranks. But Phoebus Apollo came up to
      Hector and said, “Hector, on no account must you challenge
      Achilles to single combat; keep a look-out for him while you are
      under cover of the others and away from the thick of the fight,
      otherwise he will either hit you with a spear or cut you down at
      close quarters.”

      Thus he spoke, and Hector drew back within the crowd, for he was
      afraid when he heard what the god had said to him. Achilles then
      sprang upon the Trojans with a terrible cry, clothed in valour as
      with a garment. First he killed Iphition son of Otrynteus, a
      leader of much people whom a naiad nymph had borne to Otrynteus
      waster of cities, in the land of Hyde under the snowy heights of
      Mt. Tmolus. Achilles struck him full on the head as he was coming
      on towards him, and split it clean in two; whereon he fell
      heavily to the ground and Achilles vaunted over him saying, “You
      be low, son of Otrynteus, mighty hero; your death is here, but
      your lineage is on the Gygaean lake where your father’s estate
      lies, by Hyllus, rich in fish, and the eddying waters of Hermus.”

      Thus did he vaunt, but darkness closed the eyes of the other. The
      chariots of the Achaeans cut him up as their wheels passed over
      him in the front of the battle, and after him Achilles killed
      Demoleon, a valiant man of war and son to Antenor. He struck him
      on the temple through his bronze-cheeked helmet. The helmet did
      not stay the spear, but it went right on, crushing the bone so
      that the brain inside was shed in all directions, and his lust of
      fighting was ended. Then he struck Hippodamas in the midriff as
      he was springing down from his chariot in front of him, and
      trying to escape. He breathed his last, bellowing like a bull
      bellows when young men are dragging him to offer him in sacrifice
      to the King of Helice, and the heart of the earth-shaker is glad;
      even so did he bellow as he lay dying. Achilles then went in
      pursuit of Polydorus son of Priam, whom his father had always
      forbidden to fight because he was the youngest of his sons, the
      one he loved best, and the fastest runner. He, in his folly and
      showing off the fleetness of his feet, was rushing about among
      front ranks until he lost his life, for Achilles struck him in
      the middle of the back as he was darting past him: he struck him
      just at the golden fastenings of his belt and where the two
      pieces of the double breastplate overlapped. The point of the
      spear pierced him through and came out by the navel, whereon he
      fell groaning on to his knees and a cloud of darkness
      overshadowed him as he sank holding his entrails in his hands.

      When Hector saw his brother Polydorus with his entrails in his
      hands and sinking down upon the ground, a mist came over his
      eyes, and he could not bear to keep longer at a distance; he
      therefore poised his spear and darted towards Achilles like a
      flame of fire. When Achilles saw him he bounded forward and
      vaunted saying, “This is he that has wounded my heart most deeply
      and has slain my beloved comrade. Not for long shall we two quail
      before one another on the highways of war.”

      He looked fiercely on Hector and said, “Draw near, that you may
      meet your doom the sooner.” Hector feared him not and answered,
      “Son of Peleus, think not that your words can scare me as though
      I were a child; I too if I will can brag and talk unseemly; I
      know that you are a mighty warrior, mightier by far than I,
      nevertheless the issue lies in the lap of heaven whether I, worse
      man though I be, may not slay you with my spear, for this too has
      been found keen ere now.”

      He hurled his spear as he spoke, but Minerva breathed upon it,
      and though she breathed but very lightly she turned it back from
      going towards Achilles, so that it returned to Hector and lay at
      his feet in front of him. Achilles then sprang furiously on him
      with a loud cry, bent on killing him, but Apollo caught him up
      easily as a god can, and hid him in a thick darkness. Thrice did
      Achilles spring towards him spear in hand, and thrice did he
      waste his blow upon the air. When he rushed forward for the
      fourth time as though he were a god, he shouted aloud saying,
      “Hound, this time too you have escaped death—but of a truth it
      came exceedingly near you. Phoebus Apollo, to whom it seems you
      pray before you go into battle, has again saved you; but if I too
      have any friend among the gods I will surely make an end of you
      when I come across you at some other time. Now, however, I will
      pursue and overtake other Trojans.”

      On this he struck Dryops with his spear, about the middle of his
      neck, and he fell headlong at his feet. There he let him lie and
      stayed Demouchus son of Philetor, a man both brave and of great
      stature, by hitting him on the knee with a spear; then he smote
      him with his sword and killed him. After this he sprang on
      Laogonus and Dardanus, sons of Bias, and threw them from their
      chariot, the one with a blow from a thrown spear, while the other
      he cut down in hand-to-hand fight. There was also Tros the son of
      Alastor—he came up to Achilles and clasped his knees in the hope
      that he would spare him and not kill him but let him go, because
      they were both of the same age. Fool, he might have known that he
      should not prevail with him, for the man was in no mood for pity
      or forbearance but was in grim earnest. Therefore when Tros laid
      hold of his knees and sought a hearing for his prayers, Achilles
      drove his sword into his liver, and the liver came rolling out,
      while his bosom was all covered with the black blood that welled
      from the wound. Thus did death close his eyes as he lay lifeless.

      Achilles then went up to Mulius and struck him on the ear with a
      spear, and the bronze spear-head came right out at the other ear.
      He also struck Echeclus son of Agenor on the head with his sword,
      which became warm with the blood, while death and stern fate
      closed the eyes of Echeclus. Next in order the bronze point of
      his spear wounded Deucalion in the fore-arm where the sinews of
      the elbow are united, whereon he waited Achilles’ onset with his
      arm hanging down and death staring him in the face. Achilles cut
      his head off with a blow from his sword and flung it helmet and
      all away from him, and the marrow came oozing out of his backbone
      as he lay. He then went in pursuit of Rhigmus, noble son of
      Peires, who had come from fertile Thrace, and struck him through
      the middle with a spear which fixed itself in his belly, so that
      he fell headlong from his chariot. He also speared Areithous
      squire to Rhigmus in the back as he was turning his horses in
      flight, and thrust him from his chariot, while the horses were
      struck with panic.

      As a fire raging in some mountain glen after long drought—and the
      dense forest is in a blaze, while the wind carries great tongues
      of fire in every direction—even so furiously did Achilles rage,
      wielding his spear as though he were a god, and giving chase to
      those whom he would slay, till the dark earth ran with blood. Or
      as one who yokes broad-browed oxen that they may tread barley in
      a threshing-floor—and it is soon bruised small under the feet of
      the lowing cattle—even so did the horses of Achilles trample on
      the shields and bodies of the slain. The axle underneath and the
      railing that ran round the car were bespattered with clots of
      blood thrown up by the horses’ hoofs, and from the tyres of the
      wheels; but the son of Peleus pressed on to win still further
      glory, and his hands were bedrabbled with gore.


1  ὣς οἳ μὲν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσι θωρήσσοντο
2  ἀμφὶ σὲ Πηλέος υἱὲ μάχης ἀκόρητον Ἀχαιοί,
3  Τρῶες δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐπὶ θρωσμῷ πεδίοιο·
4  Ζεὺς δὲ Θέμιστα κέλευσε θεοὺς ἀγορὴν δὲ καλέσσαι
5  κρατὸς ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο πολυπτύχου· ἣ δʼ ἄρα πάντῃ
6  φοιτήσασα κέλευσε Διὸς πρὸς δῶμα νέεσθαι.
7  οὔτέ τις οὖν ποταμῶν ἀπέην νόσφʼ Ὠκεανοῖο,
8  οὔτʼ ἄρα νυμφάων αἵ τʼ ἄλσεα καλὰ νέμονται
9  καὶ πηγὰς ποταμῶν καὶ πίσεα ποιήεντα.
10  ἐλθόντες δʼ ἐς δῶμα Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο
11  ξεστῇς αἰθούσῃσιν ἐνίζανον, ἃς Διὶ πατρὶ
12  Ἥφαιστος ποίησεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσιν.
13  ὣς οἳ μὲν Διὸς ἔνδον ἀγηγέρατʼ· οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων
14  νηκούστησε θεᾶς, ἀλλʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθε μετʼ αὐτούς,
15  ἷζε δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν μέσσοισι, Διὸς δʼ ἐξείρετο βουλήν·
16  τίπτʼ αὖτʼ ἀργικέραυνε θεοὺς ἀγορὴν δὲ κάλεσσας;
17  ἦ τι περὶ Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν μερμηρίζεις;
18  τῶν γὰρ νῦν ἄγχιστα μάχη πόλεμός τε δέδηε.
19  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
20  ἔγνως ἐννοσίγαιε ἐμὴν ἐν στήθεσι βουλὴν
21  ὧν ἕνεκα ξυνάγειρα· μέλουσί μοι ὀλλύμενοί περ.
22  ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ μενέω πτυχὶ Οὐλύμποιο
23  ἥμενος, ἔνθʼ ὁρόων φρένα τέρψομαι· οἳ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι
24  ἔρχεσθʼ ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκησθε μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς,
25  ἀμφοτέροισι δʼ ἀρήγεθʼ ὅπῃ νόος ἐστὶν ἑκάστου.
26  εἰ γὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς οἶος ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι μαχεῖται
27  οὐδὲ μίνυνθʼ ἕξουσι ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα.
28  καὶ δέ τί μιν καὶ πρόσθεν ὑποτρομέεσκον ὁρῶντες·
29  νῦν δʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ θυμὸν ἑταίρου χώεται αἰνῶς
30  δείδω μὴ καὶ τεῖχος ὑπέρμορον ἐξαλαπάξῃ.
31  ὣς ἔφατο Κρονίδης, πόλεμον δʼ ἀλίαστον ἔγειρε.
32  βὰν δʼ ἴμεναι πόλεμον δὲ θεοὶ δίχα θυμὸν ἔχοντες·
33  Ἥρη μὲν μετʼ ἀγῶνα νεῶν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
34  ἠδὲ Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος ἠδʼ ἐριούνης
35  Ἑρμείας, ὃς ἐπὶ φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσι κέκασται·
36  Ἥφαιστος δʼ ἅμα τοῖσι κίε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνων
37  χωλεύων, ὑπὸ δὲ κνῆμαι ῥώοντο ἀραιαί.
38  ἐς δὲ Τρῶας Ἄρης κορυθαίολος, αὐτὰρ ἅμʼ αὐτῷ
39  Φοῖβος ἀκερσεκόμης ἠδʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα
40  Λητώ τε Ξάνθός τε φιλομειδής τʼ Ἀφροδίτη.
41  εἷος μέν ῥʼ ἀπάνευθε θεοὶ θνητῶν ἔσαν ἀνδρῶν,
42  τεῖος Ἀχαιοὶ μὲν μέγα κύδανον, οὕνεκʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
43  ἐξεφάνη, δηρὸν δὲ μάχης ἐπέπαυτʼ ἀλεγεινῆς·
44  Τρῶας δὲ τρόμος αἰνὸς ὑπήλυθε γυῖα ἕκαστον
45  δειδιότας, ὅθʼ ὁρῶντο ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα
46  τεύχεσι λαμπόμενον βροτολοιγῷ ἶσον Ἄρηϊ.
47  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ μεθʼ ὅμιλον Ὀλύμπιοι ἤλυθον ἀνδρῶν,
48  ὦρτο δʼ Ἔρις κρατερὴ λαοσσόος, αὖε δʼ Ἀθήνη
49  στᾶσʼ ὁτὲ μὲν παρὰ τάφρον ὀρυκτὴν τείχεος ἐκτός,
50  ἄλλοτʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτάων ἐριδούπων μακρὸν ἀΰτει.
51  αὖε δʼ Ἄρης ἑτέρωθεν ἐρεμνῇ λαίλαπι ἶσος
52  ὀξὺ κατʼ ἀκροτάτης πόλιος Τρώεσσι κελεύων,
53  ἄλλοτε πὰρ Σιμόεντι θέων ἐπὶ Καλλικολώνῃ.
54  ὣς τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους μάκαρες θεοὶ ὀτρύνοντες
55  σύμβαλον, ἐν δʼ αὐτοῖς ἔριδα ῥήγνυντο βαρεῖαν·
56  δεινὸν δὲ βρόντησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε
57  ὑψόθεν· αὐτὰρ νέρθε Ποσειδάων ἐτίναξε
58  γαῖαν ἀπειρεσίην ὀρέων τʼ αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα.
59  πάντες δʼ ἐσσείοντο πόδες πολυπίδακος Ἴδης
60  καὶ κορυφαί, Τρώων τε πόλις καὶ νῆες Ἀχαιῶν.
61  ἔδεισεν δʼ ὑπένερθεν ἄναξ ἐνέρων Ἀϊδωνεύς,
62  δείσας δʼ ἐκ θρόνου ἆλτο καὶ ἴαχε, μή οἱ ὕπερθε
63  γαῖαν ἀναρρήξειε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
64  οἰκία δὲ θνητοῖσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι φανείη
65  σμερδαλέʼ εὐρώεντα, τά τε στυγέουσι θεοί περ·
66  τόσσος ἄρα κτύπος ὦρτο θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνιόντων.
67  ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ ἔναντα Ποσειδάωνος ἄνακτος
68  ἵστατʼ Ἀπόλλων Φοῖβος ἔχων ἰὰ πτερόεντα,
69  ἄντα δʼ Ἐνυαλίοιο θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
70  Ἥρῃ δʼ ἀντέστη χρυσηλάκατος κελαδεινὴ
71  Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα κασιγνήτη ἑκάτοιο·
72  Λητοῖ δʼ ἀντέστη σῶκος ἐριούνιος Ἑρμῆς,
73  ἄντα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἡφαίστοιο μέγας ποταμὸς βαθυδίνης,
74  ὃν Ξάνθον καλέουσι θεοί, ἄνδρες δὲ Σκάμανδρον.
75  ὣς οἳ μὲν θεοὶ ἄντα θεῶν ἴσαν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
76  Ἕκτορος ἄντα μάλιστα λιλαίετο δῦναι ὅμιλον
77  Πριαμίδεω· τοῦ γάρ ῥα μάλιστά ἑ θυμὸς ἀνώγει
78  αἵματος ἆσαι Ἄρηα ταλαύρινον πολεμιστήν.
79  Αἰνείαν δʼ ἰθὺς λαοσσόος ὦρσεν Ἀπόλλων
80  ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος, ἐνῆκε δέ οἱ μένος ἠΰ·
81  υἱέϊ δὲ Πριάμοιο Λυκάονι εἴσατο φωνήν·
82  τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
83  Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε ποῦ τοι ἀπειλαὶ
84  ἃς Τρώων βασιλεῦσιν ὑπίσχεο οἰνοποτάζων
85  Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος ἐναντίβιον πολεμίξειν;
86  τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
87  Πριαμίδη τί με ταῦτα καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα κελεύεις
88  ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ὑπερθύμοιο μάχεσθαι;
89  οὐ μὲν γὰρ νῦν πρῶτα ποδώκεος ἄντʼ Ἀχιλῆος
90  στήσομαι, ἀλλʼ ἤδη με καὶ ἄλλοτε δουρὶ φόβησεν
91  ἐξ Ἴδης, ὅτε βουσὶν ἐπήλυθεν ἡμετέρῃσι,
92  πέρσε δὲ Λυρνησσὸν καὶ Πήδασον· αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ Ζεὺς
93  εἰρύσαθʼ, ὅς μοι ἐπῶρσε μένος λαιψηρά τε γοῦνα.
94  ἦ κʼ ἐδάμην ὑπὸ χερσὶν Ἀχιλλῆος καὶ Ἀθήνης,
95  ἥ οἱ πρόσθεν ἰοῦσα τίθει φάος ἠδʼ ἐκέλευεν
96  ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ Λέλεγας καὶ Τρῶας ἐναίρειν.
97  τὼ οὐκ ἔστʼ Ἀχιλῆος ἐναντίον ἄνδρα μάχεσθαι·
98  αἰεὶ γὰρ πάρα εἷς γε θεῶν ὃς λοιγὸν ἀμύνει.
99  καὶ δʼ ἄλλως τοῦ γʼ ἰθὺ βέλος πέτετʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπολήγει
100  πρὶν χροὸς ἀνδρομέοιο διελθέμεν. εἰ δὲ θεός περ
101  ἶσον τείνειεν πολέμου τέλος, οὔ κε μάλα ῥέα
102  νικήσειʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ παγχάλκεος εὔχεται εἶναι.
103  τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
104  ἥρως ἀλλʼ ἄγε καὶ σὺ θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσιν
105  εὔχεο· καὶ δὲ σέ φασι Διὸς κούρης Ἀφροδίτης
106  ἐκγεγάμεν, κεῖνος δὲ χερείονος ἐκ θεοῦ ἐστίν·
107  ἣ μὲν γὰρ Διός ἐσθʼ, ἣ δʼ ἐξ ἁλίοιο γέροντος.
108  ἀλλʼ ἰθὺς φέρε χαλκὸν ἀτειρέα, μηδέ σε πάμπαν
109  λευγαλέοις ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρεπέτω καὶ ἀρειῇ.
110  ὣς εἰπὼν ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα ποιμένι λαῶν,
111  βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.
112  οὐδʼ ἔλαθʼ Ἀγχίσαο πάϊς λευκώλενον Ἥρην
113  ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ἰὼν ἀνὰ οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν·
114  ἣ δʼ ἄμυδις στήσασα θεοὺς μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπε·
115  φράζεσθον δὴ σφῶϊ Ποσείδαον καὶ Ἀθήνη
116  ἐν φρεσὶν ὑμετέρῃσιν, ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα.
117  Αἰνείας ὅδʼ ἔβη κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ
118  ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος, ἀνῆκε δὲ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.
119  ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ἡμεῖς πέρ μιν ἀποτρωπῶμεν ὀπίσσω
120  αὐτόθεν· ἤ τις ἔπειτα καὶ ἡμείων Ἀχιλῆϊ
121  παρσταίη, δοίη δὲ κράτος μέγα, μηδέ τι θυμῷ
122  δευέσθω, ἵνα εἰδῇ ὅ μιν φιλέουσιν ἄριστοι
123  ἀθανάτων, οἳ δʼ αὖτʼ ἀνεμώλιοι οἳ τὸ πάρος περ
124  Τρωσὶν ἀμύνουσιν πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα.
125  πάντες δʼ Οὐλύμποιο κατήλθομεν ἀντιόωντες
126  τῆσδε μάχης, ἵνα μή τι μετὰ Τρώεσσι πάθῃσι
127  σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε τὰ πείσεται ἅσσά οἱ αἶσα
128  γιγνομένῳ ἐπένησε λίνῳ ὅτε μιν τέκε μήτηρ.
129  εἰ δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς οὐ ταῦτα θεῶν ἐκ πεύσεται ὀμφῆς
130  δείσετʼ ἔπειθʼ, ὅτε κέν τις ἐναντίβιον θεὸς ἔλθῃ
131  ἐν πολέμῳ· χαλεποὶ δὲ θεοὶ φαίνεσθαι ἐναργεῖς.
132  τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
133  Ἥρη μὴ χαλέπαινε παρʼ ἐκ νόον· οὐδέ τί σε χρή.
134  οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι θεοὺς ἔριδι ξυνελάσσαι
135  ἡμέας τοὺς ἄλλους, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰμεν·
136  ἀλλʼ ἡμεῖς μὲν ἔπειτα καθεζώμεσθα κιόντες
137  ἐκ πάτου ἐς σκοπιήν, πόλεμος δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει.
138  εἰ δέ κʼ Ἄρης ἄρχωσι μάχης ἢ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
139  ἢ Ἀχιλῆʼ ἴσχωσι καὶ οὐκ εἰῶσι μάχεσθαι,
140  αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ἄμμι παρʼ αὐτόθι νεῖκος ὀρεῖται
141  φυλόπιδος· μάλα δʼ ὦκα διακρινθέντας ὀΐω
142  ἂψ ἴμεν Οὔλυμπον δὲ θεῶν μεθʼ ὁμήγυριν ἄλλων
143  ἡμετέρῃς ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἀναγκαίηφι δαμέντας.
144  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο κυανοχαίτης
145  τεῖχος ἐς ἀμφίχυτον Ἡρακλῆος θείοιο
146  ὑψηλόν, τό ῥά οἱ Τρῶες καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
147  ποίεον, ὄφρα τὸ κῆτος ὑπεκπροφυγὼν ἀλέαιτο,
148  ὁππότε μιν σεύαιτο ἀπʼ ἠϊόνος πεδίον δέ.
149  ἔνθα Ποσειδάων κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι,
150  ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄρρηκτον νεφέλην ὤμοισιν ἕσαντο·
151  οἳ δʼ ἑτέρωσε καθῖζον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι Καλλικολώνης
152  ἀμφὶ σὲ ἤϊε Φοῖβε καὶ Ἄρηα πτολίπορθον.
153  ὣς οἳ μέν ῥʼ ἑκάτερθε καθήατο μητιόωντες
154  βουλάς· ἀρχέμεναι δὲ δυσηλεγέος πολέμοιο
155  ὄκνεον ἀμφότεροι, Ζεὺς δʼ ἥμενος ὕψι κέλευε.
156  τῶν δʼ ἅπαν ἐπλήσθη πεδίον καὶ λάμπετο χαλκῷ
157  ἀνδρῶν ἠδʼ ἵππων· κάρκαιρε δὲ γαῖα πόδεσσιν
158  ὀρνυμένων ἄμυδις. δύο δʼ ἀνέρες ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι
159  ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρων συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι
160  Αἰνείας τʼ Ἀγχισιάδης καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
161  Αἰνείας δὲ πρῶτος ἀπειλήσας ἐβεβήκει
162  νευστάζων κόρυθι βριαρῇ· ἀτὰρ ἀσπίδα θοῦριν
163  πρόσθεν ἔχε στέρνοιο, τίνασσε δὲ χάλκεον ἔγχος.
164  Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐναντίον ὦρτο λέων ὣς
165  σίντης, ὅν τε καὶ ἄνδρες ἀποκτάμεναι μεμάασιν
166  ἀγρόμενοι πᾶς δῆμος· ὃ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν ἀτίζων
167  ἔρχεται, ἀλλʼ ὅτε κέν τις ἀρηϊθόων αἰζηῶν
168  δουρὶ βάλῃ ἐάλη τε χανών, περί τʼ ἀφρὸς ὀδόντας
169  γίγνεται, ἐν δέ τέ οἱ κραδίῃ στένει ἄλκιμον ἦτορ,
170  οὐρῇ δὲ πλευράς τε καὶ ἰσχία ἀμφοτέρωθεν
171  μαστίεται, ἑὲ δʼ αὐτὸν ἐποτρύνει μαχέσασθαι,
172  γλαυκιόων δʼ ἰθὺς φέρεται μένει, ἤν τινα πέφνῃ
173  ἀνδρῶν, ἢ αὐτὸς φθίεται πρώτῳ ἐν ὁμίλῳ·
174  ὣς Ἀχιλῆʼ ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
175  ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο.
176  οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
177  τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
178  Αἰνεία τί σὺ τόσσον ὁμίλου πολλὸν ἐπελθὼν
179  ἔστης; ἦ σέ γε θυμὸς ἐμοὶ μαχέσασθαι ἀνώγει
180  ἐλπόμενον Τρώεσσιν ἀνάξειν ἱπποδάμοισι
181  τιμῆς τῆς Πριάμου; ἀτὰρ εἴ κεν ἔμʼ ἐξεναρίξῃς,
182  οὔ τοι τοὔνεκά γε Πρίαμος γέρας ἐν χερὶ θήσει·
183  εἰσὶν γάρ οἱ παῖδες, ὃ δʼ ἔμπεδος οὐδʼ ἀεσίφρων.
184  ἦ νύ τί τοι Τρῶες τέμενος τάμον ἔξοχον ἄλλων
185  καλὸν φυταλιῆς καὶ ἀρούρης, ὄφρα νέμηαι
186  αἴ κεν ἐμὲ κτείνῃς; χαλεπῶς δέ σʼ ἔολπα τὸ ῥέξειν.
187  ἤδη μὲν σέ γέ φημι καὶ ἄλλοτε δουρὶ φοβῆσαι.
188  ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε πέρ σε βοῶν ἄπο μοῦνον ἐόντα
189  σεῦα κατʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ταχέεσσι πόδεσσι
190  καρπαλίμως; τότε δʼ οὔ τι μετατροπαλίζεο φεύγων.
191  ἔνθεν δʼ ἐς Λυρνησσὸν ὑπέκφυγες· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τὴν
192  πέρσα μεθορμηθεὶς σὺν Ἀθήνῃ καὶ Διὶ πατρί,
193  ληϊάδας δὲ γυναῖκας ἐλεύθερον ἦμαρ ἀπούρας
194  ἦγον· ἀτὰρ σὲ Ζεὺς ἐρρύσατο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι.
195  ἀλλʼ οὐ νῦν ἐρύεσθαι ὀΐομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ
196  βάλλεαι· ἀλλά σʼ ἔγωγʼ ἀναχωρήσαντα κελεύω
197  ἐς πληθὺν ἰέναι, μηδʼ ἀντίος ἵστασʼ ἐμεῖο,
198  πρίν τι κακὸν παθέειν· ῥεχθὲν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω.
199  τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
200  Πηλεΐδη μὴ δὴ ἐπέεσσί με νηπύτιον ὣς
201  ἔλπεο δειδίξεσθαι, ἐπεὶ σάφα οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς
202  ἠμὲν κερτομίας ἠδʼ αἴσυλα μυθήσασθαι.
203  ἴδμεν δʼ ἀλλήλων γενεήν, ἴδμεν δὲ τοκῆας
204  πρόκλυτʼ ἀκούοντες ἔπεα θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·
205  ὄψει δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πω σὺ ἐμοὺς ἴδες οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐγὼ σούς.
206  φασὶ σὲ μὲν Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος ἔκγονον εἶναι,
207  μητρὸς δʼ ἐκ Θέτιδος καλλιπλοκάμου ἁλοσύδνης·
208  αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν υἱὸς μεγαλήτορος Ἀγχίσαο
209  εὔχομαι ἐκγεγάμεν, μήτηρ δέ μοί ἐστʼ Ἀφροδίτη·
210  τῶν δὴ νῦν ἕτεροί γε φίλον παῖδα κλαύσονται
211  σήμερον· οὐ γάρ φημʼ ἐπέεσσί γε νηπυτίοισιν
212  ὧδε διακρινθέντε μάχης ἐξαπονέεσθαι.
213  εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις καὶ ταῦτα δαήμεναι, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῇς
214  ἡμετέρην γενεήν, πολλοὶ δέ μιν ἄνδρες ἴσασι·
215  Δάρδανον αὖ πρῶτον τέκετο νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,
216  κτίσσε δὲ Δαρδανίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω Ἴλιος ἱρὴ
217  ἐν πεδίῳ πεπόλιστο πόλις μερόπων ἀνθρώπων,
218  ἀλλʼ ἔθʼ ὑπωρείας ᾤκεον πολυπίδακος Ἴδης.
219  Δάρδανος αὖ τέκεθʼ υἱὸν Ἐριχθόνιον βασιλῆα,
220  ὃς δὴ ἀφνειότατος γένετο θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·
221  τοῦ τρισχίλιαι ἵπποι ἕλος κάτα βουκολέοντο
222  θήλειαι, πώλοισιν ἀγαλλόμεναι ἀταλῇσι.
223  τάων καὶ Βορέης ἠράσσατο βοσκομενάων,
224  ἵππῳ δʼ εἰσάμενος παρελέξατο κυανοχαίτῃ·
225  αἳ δʼ ὑποκυσάμεναι ἔτεκον δυοκαίδεκα πώλους.
226  αἳ δʼ ὅτε μὲν σκιρτῷεν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν,
227  ἄκρον ἐπʼ ἀνθερίκων καρπὸν θέον οὐδὲ κατέκλων·
228  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σκιρτῷεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,
229  ἄκρον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνος ἁλὸς πολιοῖο θέεσκον.
230  Τρῶα δʼ Ἐριχθόνιος τέκετο Τρώεσσιν ἄνακτα·
231  Τρωὸς δʼ αὖ τρεῖς παῖδες ἀμύμονες ἐξεγένοντο
232  Ἶλός τʼ Ἀσσάρακός τε καὶ ἀντίθεος Γανυμήδης,
233  ὃς δὴ κάλλιστος γένετο θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·
234  τὸν καὶ ἀνηρείψαντο θεοὶ Διὶ οἰνοχοεύειν
235  κάλλεος εἵνεκα οἷο ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετείη.
236  Ἶλος δʼ αὖ τέκεθʼ υἱὸν ἀμύμονα Λαομέδοντα·
237  Λαομέδων δʼ ἄρα Τιθωνὸν τέκετο Πρίαμόν τε
238  Λάμπόν τε Κλυτίον θʼ Ἱκετάονά τʼ ὄζον Ἄρηος·
239  Ἀσσάρακος δὲ Κάπυν, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀγχίσην τέκε παῖδα·
240  αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ Ἀγχίσης, Πρίαμος δʼ ἔτεχʼ Ἕκτορα δῖον.
241  ταύτης τοι γενεῆς τε καὶ αἵματος εὔχομαι εἶναι.
242  Ζεὺς δʼ ἀρετὴν ἄνδρεσσιν ὀφέλλει τε μινύθει τε
243  ὅππως κεν ἐθέλῃσιν· ὃ γὰρ κάρτιστος ἁπάντων.
244  ἀλλʼ ἄγε μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα νηπύτιοι ὣς
245  ἑσταότʼ ἐν μέσσῃ ὑσμίνῃ δηϊοτῆτος.
246  ἔστι γὰρ ἀμφοτέροισιν ὀνείδεα μυθήσασθαι
247  πολλὰ μάλʼ, οὐδʼ ἂν νηῦς ἑκατόζυγος ἄχθος ἄροιτο.
248  στρεπτὴ δὲ γλῶσσʼ ἐστὶ βροτῶν, πολέες δʼ ἔνι μῦθοι
249  παντοῖοι, ἐπέων δὲ πολὺς νομὸς ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.
250  ὁπποῖόν κʼ εἴπῃσθα ἔπος, τοῖόν κʼ ἐπακούσαις.
251  ἀλλὰ τί ἢ ἔριδας καὶ νείκεα νῶϊν ἀνάγκη
252  νεικεῖν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐναντίον ὥς τε γυναῖκας,
253  αἵ τε χολωσάμεναι ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο
254  νεικεῦσʼ ἀλλήλῃσι μέσην ἐς ἄγυιαν ἰοῦσαι
255  πόλλʼ ἐτεά τε καὶ οὐκί· χόλος δέ τε καὶ τὰ κελεύει.
256  ἀλκῆς δʼ οὔ μʼ ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρέψεις μεμαῶτα
257  πρὶν χαλκῷ μαχέσασθαι ἐναντίον· ἀλλʼ ἄγε θᾶσσον
258  γευσόμεθʼ ἀλλήλων χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν.
259  ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐν δεινῷ σάκει ἤλασεν ὄβριμον ἔγχος
260  σμερδαλέῳ· μέγα δʼ ἀμφὶ σάκος μύκε δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ.
261  Πηλεΐδης δὲ σάκος μὲν ἀπὸ ἕο χειρὶ παχείῃ
262  ἔσχετο ταρβήσας· φάτο γὰρ δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος
263  ῥέα διελεύσεσθαι μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο
264  νήπιος, οὐδʼ ἐνόησε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
265  ὡς οὐ ῥηΐδιʼ ἐστὶ θεῶν ἐρικυδέα δῶρα
266  ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι δαμήμεναι οὐδʼ ὑποείκειν.
267  οὐδὲ τότʼ Αἰνείαο δαΐφρονος ὄβριμον ἔγχος
268  ῥῆξε σάκος· χρυσὸς γὰρ ἐρύκακε, δῶρα θεοῖο·
269  ἀλλὰ δύω μὲν ἔλασσε διὰ πτύχας, αἳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι τρεῖς
270  ἦσαν, ἐπεὶ πέντε πτύχας ἤλασε κυλλοποδίων,
271  τὰς δύο χαλκείας, δύο δʼ ἔνδοθι κασσιτέροιο,
272  τὴν δὲ μίαν χρυσῆν, τῇ ῥʼ ἔσχετο μείλινον ἔγχος.
273  δεύτερος αὖτʼ Ἀχιλεὺς προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
274  καὶ βάλεν Αἰνείαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην
275  ἄντυγʼ ὕπο πρώτην, ᾗ λεπτότατος θέε χαλκός,
276  λεπτοτάτη δʼ ἐπέην ῥινὸς βοός· ἣ δὲ διὰ πρὸ
277  Πηλιὰς ἤϊξεν μελίη, λάκε δʼ ἀσπὶς ὑπʼ αὐτῆς.
278  Αἰνείας δʼ ἐάλη καὶ ἀπὸ ἕθεν ἀσπίδʼ ἀνέσχε
279  δείσας· ἐγχείη δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ νώτου ἐνὶ γαίῃ
280  ἔστη ἱεμένη, διὰ δʼ ἀμφοτέρους ἕλε κύκλους
281  ἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης· ὃ δʼ ἀλευάμενος δόρυ μακρὸν
282  ἔστη, κὰδ δʼ ἄχος οἱ χύτο μυρίον ὀφθαλμοῖσι,
283  ταρβήσας ὅ οἱ ἄγχι πάγη βέλος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
284  ἐμμεμαὼς ἐπόρουσεν ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ὀξὺ
285  σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὃ δὲ χερμάδιον λάβε χειρὶ
286  Αἰνείας, μέγα ἔργον, ὃ οὐ δύο γʼ ἄνδρε φέροιεν,
287  οἷοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσʼ· ὃ δέ μιν ῥέα πάλλε καὶ οἶος.
288  ἔνθά κεν Αἰνείας μὲν ἐπεσσύμενον βάλε πέτρῳ
289  ἢ κόρυθʼ ἠὲ σάκος, τό οἱ ἤρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,
290  τὸν δέ κε Πηλεΐδης σχεδὸν ἄορι θυμὸν ἀπηύρα,
291  εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
292  αὐτίκα δʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπεν·
293  ὢ πόποι ἦ μοι ἄχος μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο,
294  ὃς τάχα Πηλεΐωνι δαμεὶς Ἄϊδος δὲ κάτεισι
295  πειθόμενος μύθοισιν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο
296  νήπιος, οὐδέ τί οἱ χραισμήσει λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον.
297  ἀλλὰ τί ἢ νῦν οὗτος ἀναίτιος ἄλγεα πάσχει
298  μὰψ ἕνεκʼ ἀλλοτρίων ἀχέων, κεχαρισμένα δʼ αἰεὶ
299  δῶρα θεοῖσι δίδωσι τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν;
300  ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ἡμεῖς πέρ μιν ὑπὲκ θανάτου ἀγάγωμεν,
301  μή πως καὶ Κρονίδης κεχολώσεται, αἴ κεν Ἀχιλλεὺς
302  τόνδε κατακτείνῃ· μόριμον δέ οἵ ἐστʼ ἀλέασθαι,
303  ὄφρα μὴ ἄσπερμος γενεὴ καὶ ἄφαντος ὄληται
304  Δαρδάνου, ὃν Κρονίδης περὶ πάντων φίλατο παίδων
305  οἳ ἕθεν ἐξεγένοντο γυναικῶν τε θνητάων.
306  ἤδη γὰρ Πριάμου γενεὴν ἔχθηρε Κρονίων·
307  νῦν δὲ δὴ Αἰνείαο βίη Τρώεσσιν ἀνάξει
308  καὶ παίδων παῖδες, τοί κεν μετόπισθε γένωνται.
309  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·
310  ἐννοσίγαιʼ, αὐτὸς σὺ μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι νόησον
311  Αἰνείαν ἤ κέν μιν ἐρύσσεαι ἦ κεν ἐάσῃς
312  Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ δαμήμεναι, ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα.
313  ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ νῶϊ πολέας ὠμόσσαμεν ὅρκους
314  πᾶσι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ἐγὼ καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
315  μή ποτʼ ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀλεξήσειν κακὸν ἦμαρ,
316  μηδʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν Τροίη μαλερῷ πυρὶ πᾶσα δάηται
317  καιομένη, καίωσι δʼ ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
318  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
319  βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἄν τε μάχην καὶ ἀνὰ κλόνον ἐγχειάων,
320  ἷξε δʼ ὅθʼ Αἰνείας ἠδʼ ὃ κλυτὸς ἦεν Ἀχιλλεύς.
321  αὐτίκα τῷ μὲν ἔπειτα κατʼ ὀφθαλμῶν χέεν ἀχλὺν
322  Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ· ὃ δὲ μελίην εὔχαλκον
323  ἀσπίδος ἐξέρυσεν μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο·
324  καὶ τὴν μὲν προπάροιθε ποδῶν Ἀχιλῆος ἔθηκεν,
325  Αἰνείαν δʼ ἔσσευεν ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας.
326  πολλὰς δὲ στίχας ἡρώων, πολλὰς δὲ καὶ ἵππων
327  Αἰνείας ὑπερᾶλτο θεοῦ ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὀρούσας,
328  ἷξε δʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιὴν πολυάϊκος πολέμοιο,
329  ἔνθά τε Καύκωνες πόλεμον μέτα θωρήσσοντο.
330  τῷ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
331  καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
332  Αἰνεία, τίς σʼ ὧδε θεῶν ἀτέοντα κελεύει
333  ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ὑπερθύμοιο μάχεσθαι,
334  ὃς σεῦ ἅμα κρείσσων καὶ φίλτερος ἀθανάτοισιν;
335  ἀλλʼ ἀναχωρῆσαι ὅτε κεν συμβλήσεαι αὐτῷ,
336  μὴ καὶ ὑπὲρ μοῖραν δόμον Ἄϊδος εἰσαφίκηαι.
337  αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ Ἀχιλεὺς θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ,
338  θαρσήσας δὴ ἔπειτα μετὰ πρώτοισι μάχεσθαι·
339  οὐ μὲν γάρ τίς σʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν ἐξεναρίξει.
340  ὣς εἰπὼν λίπεν αὐτόθʼ, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε πάντα.
341  αἶψα δʼ ἔπειτʼ Ἀχιλῆος ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν σκέδασʼ ἀχλὺν
342  θεσπεσίην· ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα μέγʼ ἔξιδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
343  ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
344  ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι·
345  ἔγχος μὲν τόδε κεῖται ἐπὶ χθονός, οὐδέ τι φῶτα
346  λεύσσω, τῷ ἐφέηκα κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων.
347  ἦ ῥα καὶ Αἰνείας φίλος ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν
348  ἦεν· ἀτάρ μιν ἔφην μὰψ αὔτως εὐχετάασθαι.
349  ἐρρέτω· οὔ οἱ θυμὸς ἐμεῦ ἔτι πειρηθῆναι
350  ἔσσεται, ὃς καὶ νῦν φύγεν ἄσμενος ἐκ θανάτοιο.
351  ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ Δαναοῖσι φιλοπτολέμοισι κελεύσας
352  τῶν ἄλλων Τρώων πειρήσομαι ἀντίος ἐλθών.
353  ἦ, καὶ ἐπὶ στίχας ἆλτο, κέλευε δὲ φωτὶ ἑκάστῳ·
354  μηκέτι νῦν Τρώων ἑκὰς ἕστατε δῖοι Ἀχαιοί,
355  ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἀνὴρ ἄντʼ ἀνδρὸς ἴτω, μεμάτω δὲ μάχεσθαι.
356  ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι καὶ ἰφθίμῳ περ ἐόντι
357  τοσσούσδʼ ἀνθρώπους ἐφέπειν καὶ πᾶσι μάχεσθαι·
358  οὐδέ κʼ Ἄρης, ὅς περ θεὸς ἄμβροτος, οὐδέ κʼ Ἀθήνη
359  τοσσῆσδʼ ὑσμίνης ἐφέποι στόμα καὶ πονέοιτο·
360  ἀλλʼ ὅσσον μὲν ἐγὼ δύναμαι χερσίν τε ποσίν τε
361  καὶ σθένει, οὔ μʼ ἔτι φημὶ μεθησέμεν οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν,
362  ἀλλὰ μάλα στιχὸς εἶμι διαμπερές, οὐδέ τινʼ οἴω
363  Τρώων χαιρήσειν, ὅς τις σχεδὸν ἔγχεος ἔλθῃ.
364  ὣς φάτʼ ἐποτρύνων· Τρώεσσι δὲ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ
365  κέκλεθʼ ὁμοκλήσας, φάτο δʼ ἴμεναι ἄντʼ Ἀχιλῆος·
366  Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι μὴ δείδιτε Πηλεΐωνα.
367  καί κεν ἐγὼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι μαχοίμην,
368  ἔγχεϊ δʼ ἀργαλέον, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσιν.
369  οὐδʼ Ἀχιλεὺς πάντεσσι τέλος μύθοις ἐπιθήσει,
370  ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν τελέει, τὸ δὲ καὶ μεσσηγὺ κολούει.
371  τοῦ δʼ ἐγὼ ἀντίος εἶμι καὶ εἰ πυρὶ χεῖρας ἔοικεν,
372  εἰ πυρὶ χεῖρας ἔοικε, μένος δʼ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ.
373  ὣς φάτʼ ἐποτρύνων, οἳ δʼ ἀντίοι ἔγχεʼ ἄειραν
374  Τρῶες· τῶν δʼ ἄμυδις μίχθη μένος, ὦρτο δʼ ἀϋτή.
375  καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτορα εἶπε παραστὰς Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·
376  Ἕκτορ μηκέτι πάμπαν Ἀχιλλῆϊ προμάχιζε,
377  ἀλλὰ κατὰ πληθύν τε καὶ ἐκ φλοίσβοιο δέδεξο,
378  μή πώς σʼ ἠὲ βάλῃ ἠὲ σχεδὸν ἄορι τύψῃ.
379  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτις ἐδύσετο οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν
380  ταρβήσας, ὅτʼ ἄκουσε θεοῦ ὄπα φωνήσαντος.
381  ἐν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς Τρώεσσι θόρε φρεσὶν εἱμένος ἀλκὴν
382  σμερδαλέα ἰάχων, πρῶτον δʼ ἕλεν Ἰφιτίωνα
383  ἐσθλὸν Ὀτρυντεΐδην πολέων ἡγήτορα λαῶν,
384  ὃν νύμφη τέκε νηῒς Ὀτρυντῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ
385  Τμώλῳ ὕπο νιφόεντι Ὕδης ἐν πίονι δήμῳ·
386  τὸν δʼ ἰθὺς μεμαῶτα βάλʼ ἔγχεϊ δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
387  μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλήν· ἣ δʼ ἄνδιχα πᾶσα κεάσθη,
388  δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ὃ δʼ ἐπεύξατο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
389  κεῖσαι Ὀτρυντεΐδη πάντων ἐκπαγλότατʼ ἀνδρῶν·
390  ἐνθάδε τοι θάνατος, γενεὴ δέ τοί ἐστʼ ἐπὶ λίμνῃ
391  Γυγαίῃ, ὅθι τοι τέμενος πατρώϊόν ἐστιν
392  Ὕλλῳ ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντι καὶ Ἕρμῳ δινήεντι.
393  ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.
394  τὸν μὲν Ἀχαιῶν ἵπποι ἐπισσώτροις δατέοντο
395  πρώτῃ ἐν ὑσμίνῃ· ὃ δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ Δημολέοντα
396  ἐσθλὸν ἀλεξητῆρα μάχης Ἀντήνορος υἱὸν
397  νύξε κατὰ κρόταφον, κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου.
398  οὐδʼ ἄρα χαλκείη κόρυς ἔσχεθεν, ἀλλὰ διʼ αὐτῆς
399  αἰχμὴ ἱεμένη ῥῆξʼ ὀστέον, ἐγκέφαλος δὲ
400  ἔνδον ἅπας πεπάλακτο· δάμασσε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα.
401  Ἱπποδάμαντα δʼ ἔπειτα καθʼ ἵππων ἀΐξαντα
402  πρόσθεν ἕθεν φεύγοντα μετάφρενον οὔτασε δουρί.
403  αὐτὰρ ὃ θυμὸν ἄϊσθε καὶ ἤρυγεν, ὡς ὅτε ταῦρος
404  ἤρυγεν ἑλκόμενος Ἑλικώνιον ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα
405  κούρων ἑλκόντων· γάνυται δέ τε τοῖς ἐνοσίχθων·
406  ὣς ἄρα τόν γʼ ἐρυγόντα λίπʼ ὀστέα θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ·
407  αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ σὺν δουρὶ μετʼ ἀντίθεον Πολύδωρον
408  Πριαμίδην. τὸν δʼ οὔ τι πατὴρ εἴασκε μάχεσθαι,
409  οὕνεκά οἱ μετὰ παισὶ νεώτατος ἔσκε γόνοιο,
410  καί οἱ φίλτατος ἔσκε, πόδεσσι δὲ πάντας ἐνίκα
411  δὴ τότε νηπιέῃσι ποδῶν ἀρετὴν ἀναφαίνων
412  θῦνε διὰ προμάχων, εἷος φίλον ὤλεσε θυμόν.
413  τὸν βάλε μέσσον ἄκοντι ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
414  νῶτα παραΐσσοντος, ὅθι ζωστῆρος ὀχῆες
415  χρύσειοι σύνεχον καὶ διπλόος ἤντετο θώρηξ·
416  ἀντικρὺ δὲ διέσχε παρʼ ὀμφαλὸν ἔγχεος αἰχμή,
417  γνὺξ δʼ ἔριπʼ οἰμώξας, νεφέλη δέ μιν ἀμφεκάλυψε
418  κυανέη, προτὶ οἷ δʼ ἔλαβʼ ἔντερα χερσὶ λιασθείς.
419  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὡς ἐνόησε κασίγνητον Πολύδωρον
420  ἔντερα χερσὶν ἔχοντα λιαζόμενον ποτὶ γαίη
421  κάρ ῥά οἱ ὀφθαλμῶν κέχυτʼ ἀχλύς· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ ἔτλη
422  δηρὸν ἑκὰς στρωφᾶσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀντίος ἦλθʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ
423  ὀξὺ δόρυ κραδάων φλογὶ εἴκελος· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
424  ὡς εἶδʼ, ὣς ἀνεπᾶλτο, καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·
425  ἐγγὺς ἀνὴρ ὃς ἐμόν γε μάλιστʼ ἐσεμάσσατο θυμόν,
426  ὅς μοι ἑταῖρον ἔπεφνε τετιμένον· οὐδʼ ἂν ἔτι δὴν
427  ἀλλήλους πτώσσοιμεν ἀνὰ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας.
428  ἦ, καὶ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσεφώνεεν Ἕκτορα δῖον·
429  ἆσσον ἴθʼ ὥς κεν θᾶσσον ὀλέθρου πείραθʼ ἵκηαι.
430  τὸν δʼ οὐ ταρβήσας προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
431  Πηλεΐδη μὴ δὴ ἐπέεσσί με νηπύτιον ὣς
432  ἔλπεο δειδίξεσθαι, ἐπεὶ σάφα οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς
433  ἠμὲν κερτομίας ἠδʼ αἴσυλα μυθήσασθαι.
434  οἶδα δʼ ὅτι σὺ μὲν ἐσθλός, ἐγὼ δὲ σέθεν πολὺ χείρων.
435  ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται,
436  αἴ κέ σε χειρότερός περ ἐὼν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλωμαι
437  δουρὶ βαλών, ἐπεὶ ἦ καὶ ἐμὸν βέλος ὀξὺ πάροιθεν.
438  ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δόρυ, καὶ τό γʼ Ἀθήνη
439  πνοιῇ Ἀχιλλῆος πάλιν ἔτραπε κυδαλίμοιο
440  ἦκα μάλα ψύξασα· τὸ δʼ ἂψ ἵκεθʼ Ἕκτορα δῖον,
441  αὐτοῦ δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν πέσεν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
442  ἐμμεμαὼς ἐπόρουσε κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων,
443  σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· τὸν δʼ ἐξήρπαξεν Ἀπόλλων
444  ῥεῖα μάλʼ ὥς τε θεός, ἐκάλυψε δʼ ἄρʼ ἠέρι πολλῇ.
445  τρὶς μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἐπόρουσε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
446  ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ, τρὶς δʼ ἠέρα τύψε βαθεῖαν.
447  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸ τέταρτον ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος,
448  δεινὰ δʼ ὁμοκλήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
449  ἐξ αὖ νῦν ἔφυγες θάνατον κύον· ἦ τέ τοι ἄγχι
450  ἦλθε κακόν· νῦν αὖτέ σʼ ἐρύσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
451  ᾧ μέλλεις εὔχεσθαι ἰὼν ἐς δοῦπον ἀκόντων.
452  ἦ θήν σʼ ἐξανύω γε καὶ ὕστερον ἀντιβολήσας,
453  εἴ πού τις καὶ ἔμοιγε θεῶν ἐπιτάρροθός ἐστι.
454  νῦν αὖ τοὺς ἄλλους ἐπιείσομαι, ὅν κε κιχείω.
455  ὣς εἰπὼν Δρύοπʼ οὖτα κατʼ αὐχένα μέσσον ἄκοντι·
456  ἤριπε δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν· ὃ δὲ τὸν μὲν ἔασε,
457  Δημοῦχον δὲ Φιλητορίδην ἠΰν τε μέγαν τε
458  κὰγ γόνυ δουρὶ βαλὼν ἠρύκακε. τὸν μὲν ἔπειτα
459  οὐτάζων ξίφεϊ μεγάλῳ ἐξαίνυτο θυμόν·
460  αὐτὰρ ὃ Λαόγονον καὶ Δάρδανον υἷε Βίαντος
461  ἄμφω ἐφορμηθεὶς ἐξ ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζε,
462  τὸν μὲν δουρὶ βαλών, τὸν δὲ σχεδὸν ἄορι τύψας.
463  Τρῶα δʼ Ἀλαστορίδην, ὃ μὲν ἀντίος ἤλυθε γούνων,
464  εἴ πώς εὑ πεφίδοιτο λαβὼν καὶ ζωὸν ἀφείη
465  μηδὲ κατακτείνειεν ὁμηλικίην ἐλεήσας,
466  νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὸ ᾔδη ὃ οὐ πείσεσθαι ἔμελλεν·
467  οὐ γάρ τι γλυκύθυμος ἀνὴρ ἦν οὐδʼ ἀγανόφρων,
468  ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐμμεμαώς· ὃ μὲν ἥπτετο χείρεσι γούνων
469  ἱέμενος λίσσεσθʼ, ὃ δὲ φασγάνῳ οὖτα καθʼ ἧπαρ·
470  ἐκ δέ οἱ ἧπαρ ὄλισθεν, ἀτὰρ μέλαν αἷμα κατʼ αὐτοῦ
471  κόλπον ἐνέπλησεν· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε
472  θυμοῦ δευόμενον· ὃ δὲ Μούλιον οὖτα παραστὰς
473  δουρὶ κατʼ οὖς· εἶθαρ δὲ διʼ οὔατος ἦλθʼ ἑτέροιο
474  αἰχμὴ χαλκείη· ὃ δʼ Ἀγήνορος υἱὸν Ἔχεκλον
475  μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλὴν ξίφει ἤλασε κωπήεντι,
476  πᾶν δʼ ὑπεθερμάνθη ξίφος αἵματι· τὸν δὲ κατʼ ὄσσε
477  ἔλλαβε πορφύρεος θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή.
478  Δευκαλίωνα δʼ ἔπειθʼ, ἵνα τε ξυνέχουσι τένοντες
479  ἀγκῶνος, τῇ τόν γε φίλης διὰ χειρὸς ἔπειρεν
480  αἰχμῇ χαλκείῃ· ὃ δέ μιν μένε χεῖρα βαρυνθεὶς
481  πρόσθʼ ὁρόων θάνατον· ὃ δὲ φασγάνῳ αὐχένα θείνας
482  τῆλʼ αὐτῇ πήληκι κάρη βάλε· μυελὸς αὖτε
483  σφονδυλίων ἔκπαλθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐπὶ χθονὶ κεῖτο τανυσθείς.
484  αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ ῥʼ ἰέναι μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πείρεω υἱὸν
485  Ῥίγμον, ὃς ἐκ Θρῄκης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει·
486  τὸν βάλε μέσσον ἄκοντι, πάγη δʼ ἐν νηδύϊ χαλκός,
487  ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων· ὃ δʼ Ἀρηΐθοον θεράποντα
488  ἂψ ἵππους στρέψαντα μετάφρενον ὀξέϊ δουρὶ
489  νύξʼ, ἀπὸ δʼ ἅρματος ὦσε· κυκήθησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι.
490  ὡς δʼ ἀναμαιμάει βαθέʼ ἄγκεα θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ
491  οὔρεος ἀζαλέοιο, βαθεῖα δὲ καίεται ὕλη,
492  πάντῃ τε κλονέων ἄνεμος φλόγα εἰλυφάζει,
493  ὣς ὅ γε πάντῃ θῦνε σὺν ἔγχεϊ δαίμονι ἶσος
494  κτεινομένους ἐφέπων· ῥέε δʼ αἵματι γαῖα μέλαινα.
495  ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις ζεύξῃ βόας ἄρσενας εὐρυμετώπους
496  τριβέμεναι κρῖ λευκὸν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν ἀλωῇ,
497  ῥίμφά τε λέπτʼ ἐγένοντο βοῶν ὑπὸ πόσσʼ ἐριμύκων,
498  ὣς ὑπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος μεγαθύμου μώνυχες ἵπποι
499  στεῖβον ὁμοῦ νέκυάς τε καὶ ἀσπίδας· αἵματι δʼ ἄξων
500  νέρθεν ἅπας πεπάλακτο καὶ ἄντυγες αἳ περὶ δίφρον,
501  ἃς ἄρʼ ἀφʼ ἱππείων ὁπλέων ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον
502  αἵ τʼ ἀπʼ ἐπισσώτρων· ὃ δὲ ἵετο κῦδος ἀρέσθαι
503  Πηλεΐδης, λύθρῳ δὲ παλάσσετο χεῖρας ἀάπτους.