Iliad

Rage—Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles...

The will of Zeus was accomplished.

The Iliad (Ancient Greek: Ἰλιάς, Iliás, "[a poem] about Ilion (Troy)") is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. As with the Odyssey, the poem is divided into 24 books and was written in dactylic hexameter. It contains 15,693 lines in its most widely accepted version. Set towards the end of the Trojan War, a ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Mycenaean Greek states, the poem depicts significant events in the siege's final weeks. In particular, it depicts a fierce quarrel between King Agamemnon and a celebrated warrior, Achilles. It is a central part of the Epic Cycle. The Iliad is often regarded as the first substantial piece of European literature and a foundational work of the Western canon.

Quotes

Book I

Alpha the prayer of Chryses sings:
The army’s plague: the strife of kings.
—Chapman's Argument

• Μῆνιν ἄειδε, θεά, Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
  οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρί᾽ Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγε᾽ ἔθηκε,
  πολλὰς δ᾽ ἰφθίμους ψυχὰς Ἄϊδι προΐαψεν
  ἡρώων, αὐτοὺς δὲ ἑλώρια τεῦχε κύνεσσιν
  οἰωνοῖσί τε πᾶσι.
  • Rage—Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,
    murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
    hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls,
    great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion,
    feasts for the dogs and birds.
  • I. 1–5 (tr. Robert Fagles).

• Διὸς δ’ ἐτελείετο βουλή.
  • The will of Zeus was accomplished.
  • I. 5 (tr. Richmond Lattimore).

• Ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν.
  • King of Men.
  • I. 7, passim; of Agamemnon.

• Παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης.
  • Along the shore of the loud-roaring sea.
  • I. 34.

• Καὶ γάρ τ' ὄναρ ἐκ Διός ἐστιν.
  • Dreams come from Zeus.
  • I. 63; Achilles to Agamemnon.

• Ἔπεα πτερόεντα.
  • Winged words.
  • I. 201; Iliad and Odyssey, passim.

• Ὅς κε θεοῖς ἐπιπείθηται μάλα τ' ἔκλυον αὐτοῦ.
  • If any man obeys the gods, they listen to him also.
  • I. 218 (tr. Richmond Lattimore).

• Οἰνοβαρές, κυνὸς ὄμματ' ἔχων, κραδίην δ' ἐλάφοιο.
  • You wine sack, with a dog's eyes, with a deer's heart.
  • I. 225 (tr. Richmond Lattimore); Achilles to Agamemnon.

• Τοῦ καὶ ἀπὸ γλώσσης μέλιτος γλυκίων ῥέεν αὐδή.
  • From whose lips the streams of words ran sweeter than honey.
  • I. 249 (tr. Richmond Lattimore); of Nestor.

• Οὐδέ τι οἶδε νοῆσαι ἅμα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω.
  • He lacks the sense to see a day behind, a day ahead.
  • I. 343 (tr. Robert Fagles).

• Ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς.
  • Rosy-fingered Dawn.
  • I. 477 (tr. Samuel Butler).

• Ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπ' ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων·
  ἀμβρόσιαι δ' ἄρα χαῖται ἐπεῤῥώσαντο ἄνακτος
  κρατὸς ἀπ' ἀθανάτοιο· μέγαν δ' ἐλέλιξεν Ὄλυμπον.
  • He spoke, the son of Kronos, and nodded his head with the dark brows,
    and the immortally anointed hair of the great god
    swept from his divine head, and all Olympos was shaken.
  • I. 528–530 (tr. Richmond Lattimore).

• Ἄσβεστος δ' ἄρ' ἐνῶρτο γέλως μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν
  ὡς ἴδον Ἥφαιστον διὰ δώματα ποιπνύοντα.
  • And uncontrollable laughter broke from the happy gods
    as they watched the god of fire breathing hard
    and bustling through the halls.
  • I. 599–600 (tr. Robert Fagles); whence the expression "Homeric laughter".

Book II

Beta the dream and synod cites;
And catalogues the naval knights.
—Chapman's Argument

• Οὐκ ἀγαθὸν πολυκοιρανίη· εἷς κοίρανος ἔστω,
  εἷς βασιλεύς.
  • Lordship for many is no good thing. Let there be one ruler,
    one king.
  • II. 204–205 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• Μένεα πνείοντες.
  • Breathing fury.
  • II. 536 (tr. Robert Fagles).

Book III

Gamma the single fight doth sing
'Twixt Paris and the Spartan king.
—Chapman's Argument

Ah, no wonder the men of Troy and Argives under arms have suffered years of agony all for her, for such a woman. Beauty, terrible beauty!

• Μή μοι δῶρ' ἐρατὰ πρόφερε χρυσέης Ἀφροδίτης·
  οὔ τοι ἀπόβλητ' ἐστὶ θεῶν ἐρικυδέα δῶρα
  ὅσσά κεν αὐτοὶ δῶσιν, ἑκὼν δ' οὐκ ἄν τις ἕλοιτο.
  • Yet do not bring up against me the sweet favours of golden Aphrodite.
    Never to be cast away are the gifts of the gods, magnificent,
    which they give of their own will, no man could have them for wanting them.
  • III. 64–66 (tr. Richmond Lattimore).

• Αἰεὶ δ' ὁπλοτέρων ἀνδρῶν φρένες ἠερέθονται·
  οἷς δ' ὁ γέρων μετέῃσιν ἅμα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω
  λεύσσει, ὅπως ὄχ' ἄριστα μετ' ἀμφοτέροισι γένηται.
  • Always it is, that the hearts in the younger men are frivolous,
    but when an elder man is among them, he looks behind him
    and in front, so that all comes out far better for both sides.
  • III. 108–110 (tr. Richmond Lattimore).

• Οὐ νέμεσις Τρῶας καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς
  τοιῇδ' ἀμφὶ γυναικὶ πολὺν χρόνον ἄλγεα πάσχειν·
  αἰνῶς ἀθανάτῃσι θεῇς εἰς ὦπα ἔοικεν.
  • Who on earth could blame them? Ah, no wonder
    the men of Troy and Argives under arms have suffered
    years of agony all for her, for such a woman.
    Beauty, terrible beauty!
    A deathless goddess—so she strikes our eyes!
  • III. 156–158 (tr. Robert Fagles); of Helen.
  • Richmond Lattimore's translation:

    Surely there is no blame on Trojans and strong-greaved Achaians
    if for long time they suffer hardship for a woman like this one.
    Terrible is the likeness of her face to immortal goddesses.

• Ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ ὄπα τε μεγάλην ἐκ στήθεος εἵη
  καὶ ἔπεα νιφάδεσσιν ἐοικότα χειμερίῃσιν,
  ἂν ἔπειτ' Ὀδυσῆΐ γ' ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος·
  οὐ τότε γ' ὧδ' Ὀδυσῆος ἀγασσάμεθ' εἶδος ἰδόντες.
  • But when he let loose that great voice from his chest
    and the words came piling on like a driving winter blizzard —
    then no man alive could rival Odysseus! Odysseus...
    we no longer gazed in wonder at his looks.
  • III. 221–224 (tr. Robert Fagles).

• Ἠέλιός θ', ὃς πάντ' ἐφορᾷς καὶ πάντ' ἐπακούεις.
  • Helios, Sun above us, you who see all, hear all things!
  • III. 277 (tr. Robert Fagles).

Book IV

In Delta is the Gods’ Assize;
The truce is broke; wars freshly rise.
—Chapman's Argument

The day will come when sacred Troy must die.

• Ἔσσεται ἦμαρ ὅτ' ἄν ποτ' ὀλώλῃ Ἴλιος ἱρὴ
  καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο.
  • The day will come when sacred Troy must die,
    Priam must die and all his people with him,
    Priam who hurls the strong ash spear!
  • IV. 164–165 (tr. Robert Fagles); spoken by Agamemnon.

• Τῷ μὲν κλέος, ἄμμι δὲ πένθος.
  • Glory to him, but to us a sorrow.
  • IV. 197 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• Ἀλλ' οὔ πως ἅμα πάντα θεοὶ δόσαν ἀνθρώποισιν.
  • But the gods give to mortals not everything at the same time.
  • IV. 320 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• Τὸν δ' ἄρ' ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
  Ἀτρεΐδη ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων.
  • Then looking at him darkly resourceful Odysseus spoke to him:
    "What is this word that broke through the fence of your teeth, Atreides?"
  • IV. 350–351 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• Ἥ τ' ὀλίγη μὲν πρῶτα κορύσσεται, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
  οὐρανῷ ἐστήριξε κάρη καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ βαίνει.
  • She who is only a little thing at the first, but thereafter
    grows until she strides on the earth with her head striking heaven.
  • IV. 442–443 (tr. R. Lattimore).

Book V

In Epsilon, Heav’n’s blood is shed
By sacred rage of Diomed.
—Chapman's Argument

• Ὅττι μάλ' οὐ δηναιὸς ὃς ἀθανάτοισι μάχηται,
  οὐδέ τί μιν παῖδες ποτὶ γούνασι παππάζουσιν
  ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.
  • No man who fights with gods will live long or hear his children prattling about his knees when he returns from battle.
  • V. 407–409 (tr. Samuel Butler).

• Μηδὲ θεοῖσιν
  ἶσ' ἔθελε φρονέειν, ἐπεὶ οὔ ποτε φῦλον ὁμοῖον
  ἀθανάτων τε θεῶν χαμαὶ ἐρχομένων τ' ἀνθρώπων.
  • Think not to match yourself against gods, for men that walk the earth cannot hold their own with the immortals.
  • V. 440–442 (tr. Samuel Butler).

• Τοίω τὼ χείρεσσιν ὑπ' Αἰνείαο δαμέντε
  καππεσέτην, ἐλάτῃσιν ἐοικότες ὑψηλῇσι.
  • So here the twins were laid low at Aeneas' hands,
    down they crashed like lofty pine trees axed.
  • V. 559–560 (tr. Robert Fagles).

• Στέντορι εἰσαμένη μεγαλήτορι χαλκεοφώνῳ,
  ὃς τόσον αὐδήσασχ' ὅσον ἄλλοι πεντήκοντα.
  • In form of Stentor of the brazen voice,
    Whose shout was as the shout of fifty men.
  • V. 785–786 (tr. Lord Derby).

Book VI

In Zeta, Hector prophesies;
Prays for his son; wills sacrifice.
—Chapman's Argument

• Εἰ δέ τίς ἐσσι βροτῶν οἳ ἀρούρης καρπὸν ἔδουσιν,
  ἆσσον ἴθ' ὥς κεν θᾶσσον ὀλέθρου πείραθ' ἵκηαι.
  • But if you're a man who eats the crops of the earth,
    a mortal born for death—here, come closer,
    the sooner you will meet your day to die!
  • VI. 142–143 (tr. Robert Fagles).

As is the generation of leaves, so is that of humanity.

• Οἵη περ φύλλων γενεὴ τοίη δὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν.
  φύλλα τὰ μέν τ' ἄνεμος χαμάδις χέει, ἄλλα δέ θ' ὕλη
  τηλεθόωσα φύει, ἔαρος δ' ἐπιγίγνεται ὥρη·
  ὣς ἀνδρῶν γενεὴ ἣ μὲν φύει ἣ δ' ἀπολήγει.
  • As is the generation of leaves, so is that of humanity.
    The wind scatters the leaves on the ground, but the live timber
    Burgeons with leaves again in the season of spring returning.
    So one generation of men will grow while another dies.
  • VI. 146–149 (tr. R. Lattimore); Glaucus to Diomed.
  • Alexander Pope's translation:

    Like leaves on trees the race of man is found,
    Now green in youth, now withering on the ground:
    Another race the following spring supplies,
    They fall successive, and successive rise:
    So generations in their course decay;
    So flourish these, when those are past away.

Always be the best, my boy, the bravest, and hold your head up high above the others.

• Αἰὲν ἀριστεύειν καὶ ὑπείροχον ἔμμεναι ἄλλων.
  • Now always be the best, my boy, the bravest,
    and hold your head up high above the others.
  • VI. 208 (tr. Robert Fagles).

• Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντε καθ' ἵππων ἀΐξαντε
  χεῖράς τ' ἀλλήλων λαβέτην καὶ πιστώσαντο·
  ἔνθ' αὖτε Γλαύκῳ Κρονίδης φρένας ἐξέλετο Ζεύς,
  ὃς πρὸς Τυδεΐδην Διομήδεα τεύχε' ἄμειβε
  χρύσεα χαλκείων, ἑκατόμβοι' ἐννεαβοίων.
  • So they spoke, and both springing down from behind their horses
    gripped each other's hands and exchanged the promise of friendship;
    but Zeus the son of Kronos stole away the wits of Glaukos
    who exchanged with Diomedes the son of Tydeus armour
    of gold for bronze, for nine oxen's worth the worth of a hundred.
  • VI. 232–236 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• Ἀνδρὶ δὲ κεκμηῶτι μένος μέγα οἶνος ἀέξει.
  • When a Man's exhausted, wine will build his strength.
  • VI. 261 (tr. Robert Fagles).

• Νίκη δ᾽ ἐπαμείβεται ἄνδρας.
  • Victory passes back and forth between men.
  • VI. 339 (tr. R. Lattimore); Paris contemplates the fickleness of victory as he prepares to go into battle.

• Καί ποτέ τις εἴποι πατρός γ' ὅδε πολλὸν ἀμείνων.
  • And some day let them say of him:
    'He is better by far than his father.'
  • VI. 479 (tr. R. Lattimore).

Smiling through tears.

• Δακρυόεν γελάσασα.
  • Smiling through tears.
  • VI. 484 (tr. Lord Derby); of Andromache.

• Μοῖραν δ' οὔ τινά φημι πεφυγμένον ἔμμεναι ἀνδρῶν,
  οὐ κακὸν οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλόν, ἐπὴν τὰ πρῶτα γένηται.
  • And fate? No one alive has ever escaped it,
    neither brave man nor coward, I tell you—
    it's born with us the day that we are born.
  • VI. 488–489 (tr. Robert Fagles).

Book VII

In Eta, Priam’s strongest son
Combats with Ajax Telamon.
—Chapman's Argument

• Αἴδεσθεν μὲν ἀνήνασθαι, δεῖσαν δ' ὑποδέχθαι.
  • Ashamed to decline the challenge, yet fearing to accept it.
  • VII. 93 (tr. Samuel Butler).

• Ἀλλ' ὑμεῖς μὲν πάντες ὕδωρ καὶ γαῖα γένοισθε
  ἥμενοι αὖθι ἕκαστοι ἀκήριοι ἀκλεὲς αὔτως.
  • May you be turned every man of you into earth and water as you sit spiritless and inglorious in your places.
  • VII. 99–100 (tr. Samuel Butler).

Book VIII

In Theta, Gods a Council have.
Troy’s conquest. Glorious Hector’s brave.
—Chapman's Argument

• Μήκων δ' ὡς ἑτέρωσε κάρη βάλεν, ἥ τ' ἐνὶ κήπῳ
  καρπῷ βριθομένη νοτίῃσί τε εἰαρινῇσιν,
  ὣς ἑτέρωσ' ἤμυσε κάρη πήληκι βαρυνθέν.
  • He bent drooping his head to one side, as a garden poppy
    bends beneath the weight of its yield and the rains of springtime;
    so his head bent slack to one side beneath the helm's weight.
  • VIII. 306–308 (tr. R. Lattimore); the death of Gorgythion.
  • Alexander Pope's translation:

    As full-blown poppies, overcharged with rain,
    Decline the head, and drooping kiss the plain, —
    So sinks the youth; his beauteous head, depressed
    Beneath his helmet, drops upon his breast.

• Ἐν δ' ἔπεσ' Ὠκεανῷ λαμπρὸν φάος ἠελίοιο
  ἕλκον νύκτα μέλαιναν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.
  • Now down in the Ocean sank the fiery light of day,
    drawing the dark night across the grain-giving earth.
  • VIII. 485–486 (tr. Robert Fagles).

As stars in the night sky glittering
round the moon's brilliance blaze in all their glory
when the air falls to a sudden, windless calm...

• Ὡς δ' ὅτ' ἐν οὐρανῷ ἄστρα φαεινὴν ἀμφὶ σελήνην
  φαίνετ' ἀριπρεπέα, ὅτε τ' ἔπλετο νήνεμος αἰθήρ·
  ἔκ τ' ἔφανεν πᾶσαι σκοπιαὶ καὶ πρώονες ἄκροι
  καὶ νάπαι· οὐρανόθεν δ' ἄρ' ὑπεῤῥάγη ἄσπετος αἰθήρ,
  πάντα δὲ εἴδεται ἄστρα, γέγηθε δέ τε φρένα ποιμήν.
  • As stars in the night sky glittering
    round the moon's brilliance blaze in all their glory
    when the air falls to a sudden, windless calm...
    all the lookout peaks stand out and the jutting cliffs
    and the steep ravines and down from the high heavens bursts
    the boundless, bright air and all the stars shine clear
    and the shepherd's heart exults.
  • VIII. 551–555 (tr. Robert Fagles).
  • Alexander Pope's translation:

    As when the moon, refulgent lamp of night,
    O'er heaven's clear azure spreads her sacred light,
    When not a breath disturbs the deep serene,
    And not a cloud o'ercasts the solemn scene;
    Around her throne the vivid planets roll,
    And stars unnumbered gild the glowing pole,
    O'er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed,
    And tip with silver every mountain's head;
    Then shine the vales, the rocks in prospect rise,
    A flood of glory bursts from all the skies.

Book IX

Iota sings the Ambassy,
And great Achilles’ stern reply.
—Chapman's Argument

Who dares think one thing, and another tell,
My heart detests him as the gates of hell.

• Ἀφρήτωρ ἀθέμιστος ἀνέστιός ἐστιν ἐκεῖνος
  ὃς πολέμου ἔραται ἐπιδημίου ὀκρυόεντος.
  • Cursed is the man, and void of law and right,
    Unworthy property, unworthy light,
    Unfit for public rule, or private care,
    That wretch, that monster, that delights in war:
    Whose lust is murder, and whose horrid joy
    To tear his country, and his kind destroy!
  • IX. 63–64 (tr. Alexander Pope).

• Ἐχθρὸς γάρ μοι κεῖνος ὁμῶς Ἀΐδαο πύλῃσιν
  ὅς χ' ἕτερον μὲν κεύθῃ ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἄλλο δὲ εἴπῃ.
  • Who dares think one thing, and another tell,
    My heart detests him as the gates of hell.
  • IX. 312–313 (tr. Alexander Pope).
  • A. H. Chase and W. G. Perry, Jr.'s translation:

    Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is the man who hides one thing in his heart and speaks another.

• Κάτθαν' ὁμῶς ὅ τ' ἀεργὸς ἀνὴρ ὅ τε πολλὰ ἐοργώς.
  • Alike the idlers and the active die.
  • IX. 320 (tr. Lord Derby).

• Ἀνδρὸς δὲ ψυχὴ πάλιν ἐλθεῖν οὔτε λεϊστὴ
  οὔθ' ἑλετή, ἐπεὶ ἄρ κεν ἀμείψεται ἕρκος ὀδόντων.
  • But a man's life breath cannot come back again—
    no raiders in force, no trading brings it back,
    once it slips through a man's clenched teeth.
  • IX. 408–409 (tr. Robert Fagles).

Be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds.

• εἰ μέν κ᾽ αὖθι μένων Τρώων πόλιν ἀμφιμάχωμαι,
  ὤλετο μέν μοι νόστος, ἀτὰρ κλέος ἄφθιτον ἔσται.
  • If I hold out here and I lay siege to Troy,
    my journey home is gone, but my glory never dies.
  • IX. 412-413 (tr. Robert Fagles); spoken by Achilles.

• Μύθων τε ῥητῆρ' ἔμεναι πρηκτῆρά τε ἔργων.
  • Be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds.
  • IX. 443 (tr. Andrew Lang).

• Καὶ γάρ τε λιταί εἰσι Διὸς κοῦραι μεγάλοιο
  χωλαί τε ῥυσαί τε παραβλῶπές τ' ὀφθαλμώ,
  αἵ ῥά τε καὶ μετόπισθ' ἄτης ἀλέγουσι κιοῦσαι.
  • Prayers are Jove's daughters, of celestial race,
    Lame are their feet, and wrinkled is their face;
    With humble mien, and with dejected eyes,
    Constant they follow where Injustice flies.
  • IX. 498–500 (tr. Alexander Pope).

Book X

Kappa the night exploits applies:
Rhesus’ and Dolons tragedies.
—Chapman's Argument

• Ἐπὶ ξυροῦ ἵσταται ἀκμῆς
  ...ὄλεθρος...Ἀχαιοῖς ἠὲ βιῶναι.
  • Life and death are balanced as it were on the edge of a razor.
  • X. 173–174 (tr. Samuel Butler).

Book XI

Lambda presents the General,
In fight the worthiest man of all.
—Chapman's Argument

• Ἰητρὸς γὰρ ἀνὴρ πολλῶν ἀντάξιος ἄλλων
  ἰούς τ' ἐκτάμνειν ἐπί τ' ἤπια φάρμακα πάσσειν.
  • A physician is worth more than several other men put together, for he can cut out arrows and spread healing herbs.
  • XI. 514–515 (tr. Samuel Butler).

Book XII

Μu works the Trojans all the grace,
And doth the Grecian fort deface.
—Chapman's Argument

• Εἷς οἰωνὸς ἄριστος ἀμύνεσθαι περὶ πάτρης.
  • Bird-signs!
    Fight for your country—that is the best, the only omen!
  • XII. 243 (tr. Robert Fagles).

Man, supposing you and I, escaping this battle, would be able to live on forever, ageless, immortal, so neither would I myself go on fighting in the foremost, nor would I urge you into the fighting where men win glory. But now, seeing that the spirits of death stand close about us in their thousands, no man can turn aside or escape them, let us go on and win glory for ourselves, or yield it to others.

• Ὦ πέπον εἰ μὲν γὰρ πόλεμον περὶ τόνδε φυγόντε
  αἰεὶ δὴ μέλλοιμεν ἀγήρω τ' ἀθανάτω τε
  ἔσσεσθ', οὔτέ κεν αὐτὸς ἐνὶ πρώτοισι μαχοίμην
  οὔτέ κε σὲ στέλλοιμι μάχην ἐς κυδιάνειραν·
  νῦν δ' ἔμπης γὰρ κῆρες ἐφεστᾶσιν θανάτοιο
  μυρίαι, ἃς οὐκ ἔστι φυγεῖν βροτὸν οὐδ' ὑπαλύξαι,
  ἴομεν ἠέ τῳ εὖχος ὀρέξομεν ἠέ τις ἡμῖν.
  • Man, supposing you and I, escaping this battle,
    would be able to live on forever, ageless, immortal,
    so neither would I myself go on fighting in the foremost,
    nor would I urge you into the fighting where men win glory.
    But now, seeing that the spirits of death stand close about us
    in their thousands, no man can turn aside or escape them,
    let us go on and win glory for ourselves, or yield it to others.
  • XII. 322–328 (tr. R. Lattimore); Sarpedon to Glaukos.

Book XIII

The Greeks, with Troy’s bold pow’r dismay’d,
Are cheer’d by Neptune’s secret aid.
—Chapman's Argument

• Φράξαντες δόρυ δουρί, σάκος σάκεϊ προθελύμνῳ·
  ἀσπὶς ἄρ' ἀσπίδ' ἔρειδε, κόρυς κόρυν, ἀνέρα δ' ἀνήρ.
  • Locking spear by spear, shield against shield at the base, so buckler
    leaned on buckler, helmet on helmet, man against man.
  • XIII, 130–131 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• Τοὶ δ' ἔριδος κρατερῆς καὶ ὁμοιΐου πτολέμοιο
  πεῖραρ ἐπαλλάξαντες ἐπ' ἀμφοτέροισι τάνυσσαν
  ἄῤῥηκτόν τ' ἄλυτόν τε, τὸ πολλῶν γούνατ' ἔλυσεν.
  • Both gods knotted the rope of strife and leveling war,
    strangling both sides at once by stretching the mighty cable,
    never broken, never slipped, that snapped the knees of thousands.
  • XIII. 358–360 (tr. Robert Fagles).

• Ἄλλῳ μὲν γὰρ ἔδωκε θεὸς πολεμήϊα ἔργα,
  ἄλλῳ δ' ὀρχηστύν, ἑτέρῳ κίθαριν καὶ ἀοιδήν,
  ἄλλῳ δ' ἐν στήθεσσι τιθεῖ νόον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
  ἐσθλόν, τοῦ δέ τε πολλοὶ ἐπαυρίσκοντ' ἄνθρωποι.
  • To some the powers of bloody war belong,
    To some, sweet music, and the charm of song;
    To few, and wondrous few, has Jove assigned
    A wise, extensive, all-considering mind.
  • XIII. 730–733 (tr. Alexander Pope).

Book XIV

In Xi with sleep, and bed, heav’n’s Queen
Ev’n Jove himself makes overseen.
—Chapman's Argument

• Οὐ γάρ τις νέμεσις φυγέειν κακόν, οὐδ' ἀνὰ νύκτα.
  βέλτερον ὃς φεύγων προφύγῃ κακὸν ἠὲ ἁλώῃ.
  • No shame in running,
    fleeing disaster, even in pitch darkness.
    Better to flee from death than feel its grip.
  • XIV. 80–81 (tr. Robert Fagles).
  • Richmond Lattimore's translation:

    There is no shame in running, even by night, from disaster.
    The man does better who runs from disaster than he who is caught by it.

There is the heat of Love, the pulsing rush of Longing, the lover's whisper, irresistible—magic to make the sanest man go mad.

• Ἔνθ' ἔνι μὲν φιλότης, ἐν δ' ἵμερος, ἐν δ' ὀαριστὺς
  πάρφασις, ἥ τ' ἔκλεψε νόον πύκα περ φρονεόντων.
  • There is the heat of Love,
    the pulsing rush of Longing, the lover's whisper,
    irresistible—magic to make the sanest man go mad.
  • XIV. 216–217 (tr. Robert Fagles).
  • Alexander Pope's translation:

    In this was every art, and every charm,
    To win the wisest, and the coldest warm:
    Fond love, the gentle vow, the gay desire,
    The kind deceit, the still reviving fire,
    Persuasive speech, and more persuasive sighs,
    Silence that spoke, and eloquence of eyes.

• Ἔνθ' Ὕπνῳ ξύμβλητο κασιγνήτῳ Θανάτοιο.
  • There she encountered Sleep, the brother of Death.
  • XIV. 231 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• Ὕπνε ἄναξ πάντων τε θεῶν πάντων τ' ἀνθρώπων.
  • Sleep, universal king of gods and men.
  • XIV. 233 (tr. Lord Derby).

Book XV

Jove sees in O his oversight,
Chides Juno, Neptune calls from fight.
—Chapman's Argument

A glorious death is his
Who for his country falls.

• Ῥεῖα δ' ἀρίγνωτος Διὸς ἀνδράσι γίγνεται ἀλκή.
  • Easily seen is the strength that is given from Zeus to mortals.
  • XV. 490 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• Οὔ οἱ ἀεικὲς ἀμυνομένῳ περὶ πάτρης
  τεθνάμεν.
  • A glorious death is his
    Who for his country falls.
  • XV. 496–497 (tr. Lord Derby); spoken by Hector.

• Αἰδομένων δ' ἀνδρῶν πλέονες σόοι ἠὲ πέφανται·
  φευγόντων δ' οὔτ' ἂρ κλέος ὄρνυται οὔτέ τις ἀλκή.
  • On valour's side the odds of combat lie,
    The brave live glorious, or lamented die;
    The wretch who trembles in the field of fame,
    Meets death, and worse than death, eternal shame.
  • XV. 563–564 (tr. Alexander Pope).

• Ἀλλ' εἰ δή ῥα τότε βλάπτε φρένας εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
  ἡμετέρας, νῦν αὐτὸς ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει.
  • Oh but if Zeus's lightning blinded us those days,
    it's Zeus who drives us, hurls us on today!
  • XV. 724–725 (tr. Robert Fagles).

Book XVI

In Pi Patroclus bears the chance
Of death, impos’d by Hector’s lance.
—Chapman's Argument

• Ἐν γὰρ χερσὶ τέλος πολέμου, ἐπέων δ' ἐνὶ βουλῇ.
  • The proof of battle is action, proof of words, debate.
  • XVI. 630 (tr. Robert Fagles).

• Πέμπε δέ μιν πομποῖσιν ἅμα κραιπνοῖσι φέρεσθαι
  ὕπνῳ καὶ θανάτῳ διδυμάοσιν, οἵ ῥά μιν ὦκα
  θήσουσ' ἐν Λυκίης εὐρείης πίονι δήμῳ.
  • Then give him into the charge of swift messengers to carry him,
    of Sleep and Death, who are twin brothers, and these two shall lay him
    down presently within the rich countryside of broad Lykia.
  • XVI. 671–673 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• Ἀλλ' αἰεί τε Διὸς κρείσσων νόος ἠέ περ ἀνδρῶν.
  • But the will of Zeus will always overpower the will of men.
  • XVI. 688 (tr. Robert Fagles).

• Ὃ δ' ἐν στροφάλιγγι κονίης
  κεῖτο μέγας μεγαλωστί, λελασμένος ἱπποσυνάων.
  • He in the turning dust lay
    mightily in his might, his horsemanship all forgotten.
  • XVI. 775–776 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• I am foremost of all the Trojan warriors to stave the day of bondage from off them; as for you, vultures shall devour you here.
  • XVI (tr. Samuel Butler); Hector to Patroclus.

• I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, you too shall live but for a little season; death and the day of your doom are close upon you, and they will lay you low by the hand of Achilles son of Aiakos.
  • XVI (tr. S. Butler); Patroclus to Hector.

Book XVII

In Rho the vent’rous hosts maintain
A slaught’rous conflict for the slain.
—Chapman's Argument

Among all creatures that breathe on earth and crawl on it
there is not anywhere a thing more dismal than man is.

• Ῥεχθὲν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω.
  • Once a thing has been done, the fool sees it.
  • XVII. 32 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• Οὐ μὲν γάρ τί πού ἐστιν ὀϊζυρώτερον ἀνδρὸς
  πάντων, ὅσσά τε γαῖαν ἔπι πνείει τε καὶ ἕρπει.
  • Among all creatures that breathe on earth and crawl on it
    there is not anywhere a thing more dismal than man is.
  • XVII. 446–447 (tr. R. Lattimore); Zeus.
  • Robert Fagles's translation:

    There is nothing alive more agonized than man
    of all that breathe and crawl across the earth.

• Ἥσω γὰρ καὶ ἐγώ, τὰ δέ κεν Διὶ πάντα μελήσει.
  • I'll fling a spear myself and leave the rest to Zeus.
  • XVII. 515 (tr. Robert Fagles).

Book XVIII

Sigma continues the alarms,
And fashions the renownèd arms.
—Chapman's Argument

• Ὡς ἔρις ἔκ τε θεῶν ἔκ τ' ἀνθρώπων ἀπόλοιτο
  καὶ χόλος, ὅς τ' ἐφέηκε πολύφρονά περ χαλεπῆναι,
  ὅς τε πολὺ γλυκίων μέλιτος καταλειβομένοιο
  ἀνδρῶν ἐν στήθεσσιν ἀέξεται ἠΰτε καπνός.
  • If only strife could die from the lives of gods and men
    and anger that drives the sanest man to flare in outrage—
    bitter gall, sweeter than dripping streams of honey,
    that swarms in people's chests and blinds like smoke.
  • XVIII. 107–110 (tr. Robert Fagles); spoken by Achilles.

• Ἀλλ' οὐ Ζεὺς ἄνδρεσσι νοήματα πάντα τελευτᾷ.
  • But Zeus does not bring to accomplishment all thoughts in men's minds.
  • XVIII. 328 (tr. R. Lattimore).

Book XIX

Τau gives the anger period,
And great Achilles comes abroad.
—Chapman's Argument

• Θεὸς διὰ πάντα τελευτᾷ.
  • It is the god who accomplishes all things.
  • XIX. 90 (tr. R. Lattimore).

• Οὐ γὰρ ἀνὴρ πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
  ἄκμηνος σίτοιο δυνήσεται ἄντα μάχεσθαι.
  • For a man will not have strength to fight his way forward all day
    long until the sun goes down if he is starved for food.
  • XIX. 162–163 (tr. R. Lattimore).

Book XX

In Upsilon, Strife stirs in heav’n;
The day’s grace to the Greeks is giv’n.
—Chapman's Argument

• Στρεπτὴ δὲ γλῶσσ' ἐστὶ βροτῶν, πολέες δ' ἔνι μῦθοι
  παντοῖοι, ἐπέων δὲ πολὺς νομὸς ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.
  • The tongue of man is a twisty thing, there are plenty of words there
    of every kind, the range of words is wide, and their variance.
  • XX. 248–249 (tr. R. Lattimore).

Book XXI

Phy at the flood’s shore doth express
The labours of Æacides.
—Chapman's Argument

• Ἀλλ' ἔπι τοι καὶ ἐμοὶ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή·
  ἔσσεται ἢ ἠὼς ἢ δείλη ἢ μέσον ἦμαρ
  ὁππότε τις καὶ ἐμεῖο Ἄρῃ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕληται
  ἢ ὅ γε δουρὶ βαλὼν ἢ ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ὀϊστῷ.
  • There shall be a dawn or an afternoon or a noontime
    when some man in the fighting will take the life from me also
    either with a spearcast or an arrow flown from the bowstring.
  • XXI. 110 (tr. R. Lattimore); spoken by Achilles.

• Ἐννοσίγαι' οὐκ ἄν με σαόφρονα μυθήσαιο
  ἔμμεναι, εἰ δὴ σοί γε βροτῶν ἕνεκα πτολεμίξω
  δειλῶν, οἳ φύλλοισιν ἐοικότες ἄλλοτε μέν τε
  ζαφλεγέες τελέθουσιν ἀρούρης καρπὸν ἔδοντες,
  ἄλλοτε δὲ φθινύθουσιν ἀκήριοι.
  • Shaker of the earth, you would have me be as one without prudence
    if I am to fight even you for the sake of insignificant
    mortals, who are as leaves are, and now flourish and grow warm
    with life, and feed on what the ground gives, but then again
    fade away and are dead.
  • XXI. 462–466 (tr. R. Lattimore); Apollo to Poseidon.

Book XXII

Hector, in Chi, to death is done,
By pow’r of Peleus’ angry son.
—Chapman's Argument

There can be no covenants between men and lions, wolves and lambs can never be of one mind.

• Ὡς οὐκ ἔστι λέουσι καὶ ἀνδράσιν ὅρκια πιστά,
  οὐδὲ λύκοι τε καὶ ἄρνες ὁμόφρονα θυμὸν ἔχουσιν.
  • There can be no covenants between men and lions, wolves and lambs can never be of one mind.
  • XXII. 262–263 (tr. Samuel Butler); Achilles to Hector.

• Νῦν αὖτέ με μοῖρα κιχάνει.
  μὴ μὰν ἀσπουδί γε καὶ ἀκλειῶς ἀπολοίμην,
  ἀλλὰ μέγα ῥέξας τι καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι.
  • So now I meet my doom. Well let me die—
    but not without struggle, not without glory, no,
    in some great clash of arms that even men to come
    will hear of down the years!
  • XXII. 303 (tr. Robert Fagles); spoken by Hector.
  • Richmond Lattimore's translation:

    But now my death is upon me.
    Let me at least not die without a struggle, inglorious,
    but do some big thing first, that men to come shall know of it.

• Μή με κύον γούνων γουνάζεο μὴ δὲ τοκήων.
  • No more entreating of me, you dog, by knees or parents.
  • XXII. 345 (tr. R. Lattimore); Achilles to Hector.

Book XXIII

Psi sings the rites of the decease,
Ordain’d by great Æacides.
—Chapman's Argument

• Ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι
  ψυχὴ καὶ εἴδωλον, ἀτὰρ φρένες οὐκ ἔνι πάμπαν.
  • Oh, wonder! Even in the house of Hades there is left something,
    a soul and an image, but there is no real heart of life in it.
  • XXIII. 103–104 (tr. R. Lattimore); Achilles after seeing Patroclus' ghost.

• Μήτι τοι δρυτόμος μέγ' ἀμείνων ἠὲ βίηφι·
  μήτι δ' αὖτε κυβερνήτης ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ
  νῆα θοὴν ἰθύνει ἐρεχθομένην ἀνέμοισι·
  μήτι δ' ἡνίοχος περιγίγνεται ἡνιόχοιο.
  • The woodcutter is far better for skill than he is for brute strength.
    It is by skill that the sea captain holds his rapid ship
    on its course, though torn by winds, over the wine-blue water.
    By skill charioteer outpasses charioteer.
  • XXIII. 315–318 (tr. R. Lattimore).

Book XXIV

Omega sings the Exsequies,
And Hector’s redemptory prise.
—Chapman's Argument

• Τλητὸν γὰρ Μοῖραι θυμὸν θέσαν ἀνθρώποισιν.
  • The Fates have given mortals hearts that can endure.
  • XXIV. 49 (tr. Robert Fagles).

I have endured what no one on earth has ever done before—
I put to my lips the hands of the man who killed my son.

• Ἄγχι δ' ἄρα στὰς ...
  χερσὶν Ἀχιλλῆος λάβε γούνατα καὶ κύσε χεῖρας
  δεινὰς ἀνδροφόνους, αἵ οἱ πολέας κτάνον υἷας.
  • The majestic king of Troy slipped past the rest
    and kneeling down beside Achilles, clasped his knees
    and kissed his hands, those terrible, man-killing hands
    that had slaughtered Priam's many sons in battle.
  • XXIV. 477–479 (tr. Robert Fagles).

• Ἔτλην δ' οἷ' οὔ πώ τις ἐπιχθόνιος βροτὸς ἄλλος,
  ἀνδρὸς παιδοφόνοιο ποτὶ στόμα χεῖρ' ὀρέγεσθαι.
  • I have endured what no one on earth has ever done before—
    I put to my lips the hands of the man who killed my son.
  • XXIV. 505–506 (tr. Robert Fagles); Priam to Achilles.
  • Richmond Lattimore's translation:

    I have gone through what no other mortal on earth has gone through;
    I put my lips to the hands of the man who has killed my children.

• Ἄλγεα δ' ἔμπης
  ἐν θυμῷ κατακεῖσθαι ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ·
  οὐ γάρ τις πρῆξις πέλεται κρυεροῖο γόοιο·
  ὡς γὰρ ἐπεκλώσαντο θεοὶ δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσι
  ζώειν ἀχνυμένοις· αὐτοὶ δέ τ' ἀκηδέες εἰσί.
  • Let us put our griefs to rest in our own hearts...
    What good's to be won from tears that chill the spirit?
    So the immortals spun our lives that we, we wretched men
    live on to bear such torments—the gods live free of sorrows.
  • XXIV. 522–526 (tr. Robert Fagles).

• Καὶ σὲ γέρον τὸ πρὶν μὲν ἀκούομεν ὄλβιον εἶναι.
  • And you, old sir, we are told you prospered once.
  • XXIV. 543 (tr. R. Lattimore); Achilles to Priam.