Iliad 1 Translation Flashcards
μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρίʼ Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγεʼ ἔθηκε,
Sing, goddess, of the wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus, the destructive (wrath) which caused countless pains for the Achaeans,
πολλὰς δʼ ἰφθίμους ψυχὰς Ἄϊδι προΐαψεν
ἡρώων, αὐτοὺς δὲ ἑλώρια τεῦχε κύνεσσιν
οἰωνοῖσί τε πᾶσι, Διὸς δʼ ἐτελείετο βουλή,
and sent/hurled down to Hades many brave souls of warriors, and made their bodies carrion for the dogs, and for all the birds - and the plan of Zeus was being fulfilled;
ἐξ οὗ δὴ τὰ πρῶτα διαστήτην ἐρίσαντε
Ἀτρεΐδης τε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
from the time when they two first parted in strife, Atreides lord of men and god-like Achilles.
τίς τʼ ἄρ σφωε θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι;
Now which of the gods set those two together to fight in strife?
Λητοῦς καὶ Διὸς υἱός· ὃ γὰρ βασιλῆϊ χολωθεὶς
It was the son of Leto and Zeus, for he was angry with the king
νοῦσον ἀνὰ στρατὸν ὄρσε κακήν, ὀλέκοντο δὲ λαοί,
and stirred up an evil plague throughout the army, and the troops were perishing,
οὕνεκα τὸν Χρύσην ἠτίμασεν ἀρητῆρα Ἀτρεΐδης·
because the son of Atreus had dishonoured Chryses the priest
ὃ γὰρ ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
λυσόμενός τε θύγατρα φέρων τʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα,
For he had come to the swift ships of the Achaeans to ransom/redeem his daughter, bringing a boundless ransom,
στέμματʼ ἔχων ἐν χερσὶν ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος
χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ,
and having in his hands the ribbons of Apollo who shoots from afar (fixed) on his golden staff,
καὶ λίσσετο πάντας Ἀχαιούς,
and he besought all Achaeans,
Ἀτρεΐδα δὲ μάλιστα δύω, κοσμήτορε λαῶν·
and especially the two sons of Atreus, commanders/marshals of the troops,
“Ἀτρεΐδαι τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί
‘You sons of Atreus and you other well-greaved Achaeans
ὑμῖν μὲν θεοὶ δοῖεν Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες
ἐκπέρσαι Πριάμοιο πόλιν, εὖ δʼ οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι·
may the gods who have their homes on Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam and get safely home
παῖδα δʼ ἐμοὶ λύσαιτε φίλην, τὰ δʼ ἄποινα δέχεσθαι,
But release my dear daughter, and accept the ransom,
ἁζόμενοι Διὸς υἱὸν ἑκηβόλον Ἀπόλλωνα.”
showing reverence to the son of Zeus, Apollo who shoots from afar’
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ
αἰδεῖσθαί θʼ ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα·
Then all the rest of the Achaeans shouted their approval for respecting the priest and receiving the illustrious ransom.
ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἥνδανε θυμῷ,
But it did not please Agamemnon the son of Atreus in his heart,
ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δʼ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε·
but he dismissed him injuriously and laid a strong command upon him:
“μή σε γέρον κοίλῃσιν ἐγὼ παρὰ νηυσὶ κιχείω
‘Let me not find you, old man, by the hollow ships
ἢ νῦν δηθύνοντʼ ἢ ὕστερον αὖτις ἰόντα,
either loitering now or coming again later,
μή νύ τοι οὐ χραίσμῃ σκῆπτρον καὶ στέμμα θεοῖο·
lest indeed the staff and ribbons of the god do you no good.
τὴν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐ λύσω·
Her, however, I will not free.
πρίν μιν καὶ γῆρας ἔπεισιν
Before that happens, old age shall come upon her
ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ ἐν Ἄργεϊ τηλόθι πάτρης
in our house in Argos far from her homeland
ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένην καὶ ἐμὸν λέχος ἀντιόωσαν·
as she approachees the loom and services (shares) my bed.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι μή μʼ ἐρέθιζε σαώτερος ὥς κε νέηαι.”
But go, do not anger me, if you want to return on the safe side (more safely).’
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δʼ ὃ γέρων καὶ ἐπείθετο μύθῳ·
So he spoke, and the old man was afraid and obeyed the command.
βῆ δʼ ἀκέων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης·
He went in silence by the shore of the ever-roaring sea
πολλὰ δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἠρᾶθʼ ὃ γεραιὸς
Ἀπόλλωνι ἄνακτι, τὸν ἠΰκομος τέκε Λητώ·
Then, going far away, the old man prayed much (fervently?) to lord Apollo. whom Leto of the lovely hair bore:
“κλῦθί μευ ἀργυρότοξʼ, ὃς Χρύσην ἀμφιβέβηκας
Κίλλαν τε ζαθέην Τενέδοιό τε ἶφι ἀνάσσεις,
‘Hear me, (god) of the silver bow, (you) who protect Chryses and holiest Cilla, and rule over Tenedos in might,
Σμινθεῦ εἴ ποτέ τοι χαρίεντʼ ἐπὶ νηὸν ἔρεψα,
Smintheus (Apollo): if I ever roofed over a beautiful temple for you,
ἢ εἰ δή ποτέ τοι κατὰ πίονα μηρίʼ ἔκηα
ταύρων ἠδʼ αἰγῶν,
or if ever I burnt up for you fat thighs of bulls and goats,
τὸ δέ μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·
fulfil this wish, I ask you:
τείσειαν Δαναοὶ ἐμὰ δάκρυα σοῖσι βέλεσσιν.”
may the Danaans pay for my tears by (means of) your arrows”
ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
So he spoke in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him,
βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων χωόμενος κῆρ,
and went down from the peaks of Olympus with anger in his heart,
τόξʼ ὤμοισιν ἔχων ἀμφηρεφέα τε φαρέτρην·
with his bow on his shoulders and his quiver covered at both ends.
ἔκλαγξαν δʼ ἄρʼ ὀϊστοὶ ἐπʼ ὤμων χωομένοιο, αὐτοῦ κινηθέντος·
The arrows rattled on the shoulders of the angry god, as [Apollo] himself moved,
ὃ δʼ ἤϊε νυκτὶ ἐοικώς.
And he came like the night
ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπάνευθε νεῶν, μετὰ δʼ ἰὸν ἕηκε·
Then he sat down, at a distance from the ships, and let fly an arrow:
δεινὴ δὲ κλαγγὴ γένετʼ ἀργυρέοιο βιοῖο·
terrible was the twang of his silver bow.
οὐρῆας μὲν πρῶτον ἐπῴχετο καὶ κύνας ἀργούς,
First he attacked the asses and the swift dogs,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ αὐτοῖσι βέλος ἐχεπευκὲς ἐφιεὶς
βάλλʼ·
but then, shooting a piercing dart at the men themselves, he kept on shooting.
αἰεὶ δὲ πυραὶ νεκύων καίοντο θαμειαί.
And the pyres of the dead were always burning thickly/numerously
ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ἀνὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο κῆλα θεοῖο,
For nine days the arrows of the god went throughout the army,
τῇ δεκάτῃ δʼ ἀγορὴνδὲ καλέσσατο λαὸν Ἀχιλλεύς·
But on the tenth (day) Achilles called the people to an assembly.
τῷ γὰρ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη·
For the white-armed goddess Hera had put [it] into his mind;
κήδετο γὰρ Δαναῶν, ὅτι ῥα θνῄσκοντας ὁρᾶτο.
for she was concerned about the Danaans, because she was seeing them dying.
οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τ’ ἐγένοντο,
When they were assembled and gathered together,
τοῖσι δʼ ἀνιστάμενος μετέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
swift-footed Achilles, standing up, spoke before them:
“Ἀτρεΐδη, νῦν ἄμμε παλιμπλαγχθέντας ὀΐω
ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἴ κεν θάνατόν γε φύγοιμεν,
“Son of Atreus, I now rather think that we, having been driven back, will return home, supposing that we should escape death,
εἰ δὴ ὁμοῦ πόλεμός τε δαμᾷ καὶ λοιμὸς Ἀχαιούς·
if indeed war and plague together shall overcome the Achaeans.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δή τινα μάντιν ἐρείομεν ἢ ἱερῆα
ἢ καὶ ὀνειροπόλον,
But come, let us ask some seer or a priest, or an interpreter of dreams,
καὶ γάρ τʼ ὄναρ ἐκ Διός ἐστιν,
- for a dream is also from Zeus,
ὅς κʼ εἴποι ὅ τι τόσσον ἐχώσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
who might tell us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry,
εἴτʼ ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται εἲθʼ ἑκατόμβης,
whether he finds fault with a vow or a hecatomb;
αἴ κέν πως ἀρνῶν κνίσης αἰγῶν τε τελείων
βούλεται ἀντιάσας ἡμῖν ἀπὸ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι.’
in the hope that he may accept the odor of lambs and unblemished goats and be willing to ward off destruction from us.”
ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο·
Indeed having spoken thus he sat down:
τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη
Κάλχας Θεστορίδης οἰωνοπόλων ὄχʼ ἄριστος,
but in front of these men stood up Calchas, son of Thestor, by far the best of the interpreters of omens,
ὃς ᾔδη τά τʼ ἐόντα τά τʼ ἐσσόμενα πρό τʼ ἐόντα,
who knew what was, what was to be, and what had been before,
καὶ νήεσσʼ ἡγήσατʼ Ἀχαιῶν Ἴλιον εἴσω
ἣν διὰ μαντοσύνην,
and had led the ships of the Achaeans into Ilium through his prophecy,
τήν οἱ πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·
which Phoebus Apollo had given him.
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
With wise intent, he addressed them and said:
“ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ κέλεαί με Διῒ φίλε μυθήσασθαι
μῆνιν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκατηβελέταο ἄνακτος·
“Achilles, dear to Zeus, you bid me teach of the wrath of Apollo, the far-shooting lord.
τοὶγὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω·
So then I shall speak:
σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μοι ὄμοσσον
ἦ μέν μοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν·
and you pay attention and swear to me that you will indeed readily help me with words or with [the strength of] your hands.
ἦ γὰρ ὀΐομαι ἄνδρα χολωσέμεν, ὃς μέγα πάντων
Ἀργείων κρατέει καί οἱ πείθονται Ἀχαιοί·
For indeed I think I shall anger a man, who mightily rules over all the Argives and the Acheaens obey him.
κρείσσων γὰρ βασιλεὺς ὅτε χώσεται ἀνδρὶ χέρηϊ·
For a king is stronger when he is angry with an inferior man.
εἴ περ γάρ τε χόλον γε καὶ αὐτῆμαρ καταπέψῃ,
For even if he swallows his anger on the same day,
ἀλλά τε καὶ μετόπισθεν ἔχει κότον, ὄφρα τελέσσῃ,
yet he nurses resentment afterwards in his heart, until he achieves his end.
ἐν στήθεσσιν ἑοῖσι· σὺ δὲ φράσαι εἴ με σαώσεις.”
But you, consider whether you will save me.”
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
In answer to him spoke swift-footed Achilles:
“θαρσήσας μάλα εἰπὲ θεοπρόπιον ὅ τι οἶσθα·
Take heart fully, and speak whatever oracle you know.
οὐ μὰ γὰρ Ἀπόλλωνα Διῒ φίλον, ᾧ τε σὺ Κάλχαν
εὐχόμενος Δαναοῖσι θεοπροπίας ἀναφαίνεις,
For, by Apollo, dear to Zeus, to whom you, Calchas, pray as you reveal oracles to the Danaans,
