Rhapsōdia Alpha - Book I
Argument:
The poem's very first word gives us our theme: wrath, or more accurately, the wrath of Pēleus' son, Akhilleus, the "best of the Akhaioi". The poet invokes the Muse (called "goddess", she would have been the Muse of epic poetry, Kalliope) asking that she aid him in his song.After Homer briefly foreshadows the destructive nature of Akhilleus' wrath, the poet describes the arrival of the priest Khrysēs to the Akhaian camp. This Khrysēs has come with gifts meant to ransom his daughter who is held by the Akhaian wanax ("lord, high commander"), Agamemnōn. But even though everything is in order and it is agreed by the men that Agamemnōn should return the girl, the warlord refuses and angers the god Apollōn with his haughty pride and ill treatment of the priest. The angered Apollōn responds in kind by raising a deadly plague upon the army for nine days; and so the men were dying and the funeral fires never stopped burning.
The Akhaian basileis ("kings, chieftains") meet in assembly and ask the seer Kalkhas to reveal the reason for the plague. After being assured of his safety for speaking truthfully, Kalkhas proclaims that Agamemnōn's pride in refusing Khrysēs the priest has wrought this fate upon them; to reverse their fortunes, they must forthwith return the girl unransomed to her father and perform placating sacrifices. Though angry, Agamemnōn agrees, but demands that a suitable replacement be given to him from the prizes of the basileis, lest his honor be tarnished. When Akhilleus speaks out against this injustice, Agamemnōn deems that Akhilleus' own prize, the daughter of Brisēs, shall be his for his insolence. Enraged at the loss of his prize and the insult done to his honor and standing amongst the men, Akhilleus vows to abandon the siege and return home. Despite the wise (and lengthy) words of the elderly warrior Nestor, the two men angrily quarrel and Akhilleus departs to his tent, promising that he will not come back to fight unless Agamemnōn shows him the proper respect as "the best of the Akhaioi".
Alone by the shore of the sea and dishonored, Akhilleus weeps and his tears draw his mother, the sea goddess Thetis to him. She promises him that she will intercede with Zeus on his behalf to regain his honor and she departs for Olympos.
It is here that Homer outlines the initial conflict of the poem described in his proem by summarizing the events which have set the action in motion:
But he in wrath beside the swift-faring ships remained,
Pēleus' god-born son, he swift of foot Akhilleus.
And n'er to the assembly did he go, where men win renown;
N'er to war, but he wasted away in his dear heart
By just staying there -- he yearned for the war-cry and for battle.
On the peaks of Mount Olympos, Thetis appeals to Zeus at a feast of the gods. Reminded of when Thetis once helped him, the king of the gods reluctantly agrees to help her son by aiding the Trojans in battle against the Akhaioi -- confronted with the full might of a Trojan onslaught led by the Trojan prince "Hektōr the man-slayer", the Akhaioi will beg Akhilleus to return to the field and give him the honor he deserves.
Wrath! sing, O goddess, of the wrath of Pēleus' son, Akhilleus,
The destructive wrath, which bore countless woes upon the Akhaioi,
And cast many strong souls to Haidēs downward,
Warriors' souls, and their bodies it made carrion for the hounds
And all the birds; and Zeus' will was brought about 5
From that time when first the two lords both stood apart in strife:
Atreus' son, the lord of men, and godlike Akhilleus.
Who indeed among the gods did cast both of them to fight in strife?
Why, Lētō and Zeus' son! for the god had with the king grown wroth,
And a sickness upon the army he roused, a foul one; and dying were the men, 10
On account that Khrysēs, that famous priest, had Atreus' son
Dishonored; for the man came upon the swift ships of the Akhaioi,
That his daughter he might release by bearing ransom-gifts without count.
Garlands holding in his hand, the garlands of far-shooter Apollōn,
High up on a golden staff, then addresseth he all the Akhaioi, 15
And most of all Atreus' sons, both of them, marshalers of men:
"Both ye, Atreus' sons, and all ye other well-greaved Akhaioi,
May unto ye the gods grant, the gods who on Olympos have their homes,
That ye lay waste to Priamos' city, and that well may ye homeward arrive!
But my child -- prithee, to me release my dear one, and accept these ransom-gifts! 20
And so honoring Zeus' son, Far-Shooter Apollōn!"
And then the others, all of them, yelled the Akhaioi in consent,
To both honor the holy man and accept the shining ransom-gifts.
But not did this please Atreus' son, Agamemnon, in his heart.
But wickedly the king sent him off, and a mighty speech upon him laid: 25
"Let me not, old man, catch thee near the hollow ships,
Either if now thou linger'st, or if ever again thou return!
Lest then for thee shall there not be an aid in the scepter and garlands of the god!
But her I shall not release! Before that, old age will upon her settle
In mine own home in Argos, far off from her father's land, 30
At the distaff she shall stay -- and my bed she shall share.
But get thee gone, anger me not, so that safer may'st thou go!"
And so he spoke, and the old man feared him and obeyed his speech.
And he went silently alongside the shore of the much-roaring sea,
And then far off apart he went, and lifted up in prayer did the old man 35
To the lord Apollōn, whom fair-haired Lētō bore:
"Harken unto me, Silver-Bow: thou who protect Khrysēs,
And holy Killa and Tenedos with force thou rule'st,
Thou Mouse-Slayer! If ever for thee an elegant temple have I roofed,
Or if yea ever for thee fatty thighs have I kindled, 40
The thighs of bulls and even of goats, then to me grant this wish:
Let prithee the Danaoi pay for my tears by thy shafts!"
And so he spoke in prayer, and unto him did harken Phoibos Apollōn,
And he went along Olympos' peaks, raging in his heart,
And his bow he took upon his shoulders as well as his double-closed quiver, 45
And clanked the arrows on the shoulders of the angry god
As he strode, and he came like the night.
Then he sat apart from the ships, and an arrow he let fly;
And terrible was the clang made by the silver bow.
At the mules he first aimed, and then the fleet-footed dogs, 50
But then at the men themselves his piercing shafts he let fly --
And he kept shooting. And ever the fires of the dead burned thickly.
For nine days upon the army did assail the arrows of the god,
And on the tenth day, assembly-ward Akhilleus called the people,
For this there in his mind placed the goddess, white-armed Hērē; 55
For she pitied the Danaoi when them she saw dying.
And so when they gathered and into assemblage came
And to them he spoke after standing, he swift of foot Akhilleus:
"Son of Atreus! In my eyes beaten back I believe we are,
And should homeward turn back, if even from death we can fly, 60
Since truly as one both War and Pestilence do o'ertake the Akhaioi!
But come now! Some seer let us ask, or a holy man,
Or even a dream-reader -- for also does a dream hail from Zeus --
Someone who might tell why rageth Phoibos Apollōn,
Or if he with some prayer finds fault or even with a hekatomb. 65
And if he will, once the odor of lambs' fat and unblemished goats
He hath accepted, wish to from us ward off the plague."
And so once he spoke he sat down. And among them stood
Kalkhas, son of Thestor, a bird-reader by far the best.
He knew the things that are, that shall be, and have come to pass, 70
And the ships of the Akhaioi he guided Ilion-ward
On account of his sight which to him had bestowed Phoibos Apollōn.
To them he was well-intentioned and amidst them he addressed and spoke:
"O Akhilleus, me dost thou, dear to Zeus, bid to divulge
The wrath of Apollōn, the lord who shoots from afar? 75
For to thee I shall speak -- but thou, consider and swear by oath
That, yea, to me be thou fore-hearted and with thy words and hands offer aid:
For I think that a man I shall enrage, a great man who o'er all
The Argeioi rules and whom the Akhaioi obey;
For mightier is a king whenever he be angry with a meaner man: 80
For even if he shall keep down his bile on the selfsame day,
Yet henceforth he bears rancor until he fulfills it,
He bears it in his heart. So thou consider whether me thou shalt keep safe."
And him in answer spake forth, he swift of foot Akhilleus:
"Take heart! Without fail, speak the god-sent sign thou know'st! 85
For no one -- this by Apollōn, dear to Zeus, by whom thou, Kalkhas,
In praying do make plain to the Danaoi these god-sent signs --
No one, while I live and do upon this earth see clearly,
Shall upon thee alongside the hollow ships lay heavy hands,
Whoever of all the Danaoi, not even if Agamemnon thou name'st, 90
Who now by far the best of the Akhaioi he boasts to be."
And then yea, he took heart and so spoke the blameless seer:
"Nay indeed: the god with a prayer finds no fault, nor with a hekatomb;
'Tis because of the priest whom Agamemnōn did dishonor;
Nor did he release his daughter and he did not accept the ransom-gifts. 95
Yea, for this, woe has the Far-Shooter given and still yet shall give.
Nay, not the god shall yet drive off from the Danaoi the loathsome plague,
Nay! not until back to her dear father be she given, she the bright-eyed maid --
Unbought, unransomed -- and we lead a holy hekatomb
To Khrysēs. Then perchance -- once him we have appeased, him we may persuade." 100
And thus he spoke and sat down. And amongst them stood
The warrior, Atreus' son, wide-ruling Agamemnōn,
Deeply vexed. And with wrath was his great, black-steeped heart
Glutted, his two eyes both like fire burning bright.
At Kalkhas first of all, casting a look foreboding ill, he spake:
"Seer of ills! Not ever -- at any time! -- to me a favorable thing didst thou utter,
In truth, always are ills dear to thy heart to foresee!
A good word? Nay! None hast thou uttered nor hast brought to pass!
And now amongst the Danaoi these god-sent signs proclaim'st thou,
That verily for this woes upon them hath the Far-Shooter wrought,
That I -- yes, I! -- instead of the maid, Khrysēs' daughter, the splendid ransom-gifts
I did not fain accept, when rather I wish that her
At mine own home I keep. Yea, indeed! For her over Klytaimnēstrē do I prefer,
She my wedded wife, since not is she inferior to her,
Neither in shape nor in stature, nor indeed in wit nor in any work.
But yes, so do I wish to give her back if that is better.
Wish do I rather that the men be safe than utterly destroyed.
Nevertheless for me a prize forthwith furnish, lest alone
Of the Argeioi prize-less I be, since that is not seemly.
For look ye -- all of ye! -- at this: that my prize goeth elsewhere!"
And him then answered swift of foot, he god-like Akhilleus:
"Son of Atreus, thou most noble, most wealth-loving of us all,
Why! how to thee shall they give a prize, they great-hearted Akhaioi?
Nor anything anywhere know we of much common plunder lying about!
But whatever from the cities which we did sack, it hath been given;
Nor be it seemly for the men that these spoils already garnered they gather again!
But thou, now the girl in honor of the god do yield. And the Akhaioi,
Thrice -- nay! four times that we shall pay back, if ever Zeus
Shall grant that the city, Troy the well-walled, we sack!"
And him in answer spoke forth, he the lord Agamemnōn:
"Do not in such a way -- though good thou art, god-seeming Akhilleus --
Deceive me in thy wit! For not wilt thou give the go-by, nor me persuade!
Really, dost thou wish that thou hold'st a prize, while me in this way
To sit idle wanting one bid'st thou, and me to give the girl back?
Nay, if they shall give a prize, they the great-hearted Akhaioi,
Suiting it according to my spirit, so worth just as much it shall be --
But if not they should give, then I myself should take
Either thine, or to Aias' hut I come, or to Odysseus'
I shall lead off in taking! And he should be wroth, him whom I visit!
But yea indeed, of these things we shall speak after and again.
And now come! A black ship let us drag to the shining saltsea;
And in it rowers, men fit for the task, let us gather; and within it a hekatomb
Let us place; and on it the girl, the daughter of Khrysēs, she the fair-cheeked,
Let us cast off. And let one, someone, be captain -- a man of good counsel --
Either Aias, or Idomeneus, or godlike Odysseus,
Or thou, son of Pēleus, of all men the most terrible,
So that on our behalf the Far-Shooter thou may'st appease by sacrificing."
And at him yea, under his own brow did he look darkly, he swift of foot Akhilleus:
"Ah me! Thou art in shamefulness cloaked, of gain thou art greedy!
How shall any for thee be fore-hearted, any of the Akhaioi thy words obey,
Either to lead a march or with men and with violence to fight?
For not I on account of Trojan spearmen did come
Hither to fight, since in no way are they to me at fault.
For never my cattle have they carried off, nor my horses,
Nor ever in Phthiē the clod-filled, the nurse of men,
Did my harvest they lay waste -- nay, since betwixt are many
Both shadowy mountains and roaring sea.
But for thee, oh great shameless one, as one we followed that thou may'st rejoice
And honor to win for Menelaos and for thee, thou dog-eyed,
At Troy! From this never dost thou turn nor dost thou heed,
And yea, from me my prize thou thyself to take dost threaten,
For which much did I toil, and they bestowed to me, they the sons of the Akhaioi.
Nay -- not ever equal to thine do I have a prize, whenever the Akhaioi
Shall utterly raze a well-dwelt city of the Trojans,
Though yet the greater share of much-onrushed battle
Mine own hands do deal! But yet if the allotment of spoils comes,
To thee goeth the prize -- by far greater! -- but what both few and yet dear
Do I keep and go back to my ships, when I did my work in battling.
But now I go Phthiē-ward, since it is by far the best that
Homeward I go with my beaked ships, since not do I think
That here dishonored I be that riches and wealth I draw for thee as well-water!"
And him he answered then, he the lord of men Agamemnōn:
"Fly then, if thee thy spirit urgeth! Nor to thee shall I
Beg on account of myself to stay! And alongside me are others
Who shall to me do honor, most of all he, the counselor Zeus.
And most hateful to me art thou of all the god-born kings.
For ever for thee is strife dear, and wars, and battles!
If very strong thou art, then a god somewhere to thee this 'gift' did grant.
Once homeward thou art got with thy ships and thy companions --
Those Myrmidons, over them be lord! But on thee I myself do not take the trouble
Nor do I take heed of thee in thy anger! But I shall threaten thee thus:
Since from me shall he take Khrysēs' daughter, he Phoibos Apollōn,
While her I with my ship and with my companions
I shall send, then I shall lead off Brisēs' daughter, she the fair-cheeked,
When I myself go upon thy hut and thy prize, so that well may'st thou know
How much better I am than thee, and may any other man openly abhor
To say that equal he be to me and to liken himself to me to my face."
And so he spoke. And in Pēleus' son pain was roused and within him the heart
In his shaggy breast was divided, and debate it did concerning
Whether the warrior, once his sharp blade he hath drawn from his flank,
Might he then the assembly break up and Atreus' son he might slay,
Or might he his anger check and stay his spirit.
While he these things tossed in his mind and spirit,
Grasping was he from his sheath his great sword, but came then Athēnē
From the heavens. For her forth did she send, she the goddess white-armed Hērē,
For both of the men the same in her heart she loved and cared.
And standeth Athēnē behind him, and by his fair hair she grabbed Pēleus' son.
To him alone she was seen -- of those others, none saw her.
And amazed was Akhilleus, and about he turned, and instantly knew
Pallas Athēnaiē -- and terrible did both her eyes flash.
Then her he addressed and winged words uttered he:
"Why now hast thou, aigis-bearing Zeus' child, hither come?
Yea, so that this pride thou may'st see, the pride of Agamemnōn, Atreus' son?
But to thee I shall say this: this shall be brought to its end I think,
That by his overweening pride forthwith he shall one day his spirit destroy."
And him in turn she addressed, she the goddess, gleaming-eyed Athēnē:
"I did come myself to stop thy rage -- if thou shalt obey --
From the heavens. For me forth did she send, she the goddess, white-armed Hērē,
For both of ye the same in her heart she loves and cares.
But come, lay off this strife, nor thy sword grasp in thy hand.
But yea, with words do taunt him of how it shall be,
For thus shall I speak to thee, and this shall be brought about:
That yea, someday alongside thee thrice so great shall be shining gifts
On account of this pride. And thou, refrain and heed us."
And her in answer he spake forth, he swift of foot Akhilleus:
"I must needs that the word of both of ye indeed, thou goddess, I honor,
Even however much in spirit I be wroth. For thus is it better:
Whosoever doth obey the gods, much do they give him ear."
And upon the silver hilt laieth he a heavy hand,
And into the sheath thrust he his great sword, and not did he disobey
The speech of Athēnaiē. And she Olympos-ward went
To the homes of aigis-bearing Zeus and the other gods.
And Pēleus' son again with baneful words
Did he Atreus' son address, and in no way did he lay off his anger:
"Thou wine-sodden, dog eyes thou hast and the heart of a deer!
N'er so to battle alongside thy men hast thou been armed,
Nor to an ambuscade go with the chiefest of the Akhaioi
Hast thou had the courage in thy spirit! That to thee as death doth seem to be!
Yea, it be much better throughout the wide army of the Akhaioi
For to thee to snatch up the gifts of whomever against thee speaks.
People-devouring king art thou, since o'er nobodies thou art ruling!
For yea, son of Atreus, here now for the last time thou shalt be insolent,
Since to thee I shall speak and a great oath I shall vow:
That by this scepter, which n'er leaf nor even branch
Shall it bear forth, when first its hewn stump in the mountains it did leave,
And not shall it sprout afresh, for yea, did the bronze strip it
Of its leaf and bark. And now it the sons of the Akhaioi
In their palms do bear as judges, those who o'er the decrees
Of Zeus do keep their watch. And this shall to thee be a great oath:
That one day shall desire for Akhilleus come upon the sons of the Akhaioi --
Every one of them! And at that time, not shalt thou be able in thy grief
To help them, when many under Hektōr the man-slayer
In death do fall! And thou shalt the heart within thee rend
As thou rage's, since the best of the Akhaioi thou didst not do honor!"
And so he spoke, and down his scepter he cast to the earth,
The scepter with golden nails studded, and sitteth down he.
And Atreus' son apart from him kept raging, while among them Nestōr,
He a sweet-speaker started up, the clear speaker of the Pylioi,
And from his tongue like sweet honey flowed his speech.
And in his time, yea had two generations of mortal men
Waned, those who before alongside him were reared and born
In Pylos most holy, and among the third stock he reigned.
He to them both well was intentioned, and he proclaimed and among them spake:
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| Achille donnant à Nestor le Prix de la Sagasse, Joseph Désiré Court A.D. 1796-1865 |
"O, alas! What a great sorrow has upon the land of Akhaia come!
That rejoice would Priamos and Priamos' children
And all the other Trojans, each greatly would be glad in spirit,
If of ye both these things they knew -- that ye both are wrangling --
Ye who are in the council of the Danaoi and also in battling are the chiefest.
But harken, for ye younger are than me:
For yea, once I used to be amongst greater men than ye,
Among these men I walked, and n'er of me did they make light.
For not since have such men I seen nor shall I see,
Such like Peirithoös and Dryas, shepherd of people,
And Kaineus and Exadios, and also godlike Polyphēmos,
And Thēseus, son of Aigeus, who was like unto the deathless.
Yea, mightiest of those were the men reared upon the earth,
Mightiest were they and with the mightiest they battled
With the Centaurs, mountain-dwellers, and terribly they destroyed them.
And with these I myself held discourse when from Pylos I came,
Far off from that distant land; for they beckoned me, they themselves.
And I also fought on mine own -- myself, I. With those men none
Of these mortals who live now upon the earth could do battle.
And my counsels they heard and obeyed they my speech.
But now obey me, both of ye, since to obey is better.
And do not thou from him -- although thou art good -- take the girl;
But let her be as they first gave her, a prize, they the sons of the Akhaioi.
And do not thou, son of Pēleus, wish to strive with the king
To his face, since not ever is it an alike honor to receive
As his due to be a scepter-holding king, to whom Zeus renown gives.
And if thou art mighty and a goddess thee bore, a goddess thy mother,
Yet he is stronger since over more he doth rule.
Son of Atreus, cease thou thy wrath. And I do myself
Beseech thee that against Akhilleus check thy anger, who for all
The Akhaioi a great bulwark is he against wicked war."
And him in answer spoke, he the lord Agamemnōn:
"Oh, yea indeed, old man, all meet and rightly thou hast spoken!
But this man wishes to be chiefest of all others,
All others he wishes to rule, and o'er all to be lord,
And to all giveth he commands -- but some will not obey, methinks!
And if him a spearman made they the gods, a spearmen forever be,
Because of what do they allow him insults to keep speaking?"
And him then by interruption answered, he godlike Akhilleus:
"For yea, cowardly and of no account would I be called,
If indeed to thee in every deed I shall give way to whate'er thou utter'st.
Upon the others, yea these commands lay thou -- but do not to me
Give an order! For not I any longer shall thee obey, methinks!
And this else to thee I shall speak, and store it thou in thy breast:
With these hands n'er for thee shall I do battle on account of the maid,
Neither for thee nor for any other, since from me ye all do steal what ye gave!
As for all else which is mine beside my swift black ship --
All else! -- n'er shall thou carry off after stealing from me unwilling be!
Come on! Make'st an attempt so that then these men may know
That so quick thy blood so black shall rush forth about my spear!"
And so the both of them with opposing words did battle,
And they stood and broke up the assembly beside the ships of the Akhaioi.
While Pēleus' son did upon his tents and balanced ships
Hither hie his way with the son of Menoitios and his companions,
The son of Atreus did a swift ship upon the sea launch forth,
And on it twenty rowers he picked; and within it a hekatomb
He drove for the god; and on it the daughter of Khrysēs, she the fair-cheeked,
He led and set down; and on it as captain went he, he many-wiled Odysseus.
Then setting out they sailed the watery ways,
And the men Atreus' son did command with water to purify,
And they were with water purified and into the sea the scourings they cast.
And they offered to Apollōn perfect hekatombs
Of bulls and goats alongside the shore of the unplowable sea,
And the odor of fat to heaven went, churning with the smoke.
So thus things were busied about the camp -- but not did Agamemnōn
Lay off of his strife which first he threatened Akhilleus.
So he himself to Talthybios and Eurybatēs spoke,
Who they, the two of them, were his heralds and ready squires:
"Make ye both your way to the tent of Pēleus' son, Akhilleus.
With thy hand taking, lead off Brisēs' daughter, she the fair-cheeked.
And should he not give her, they I shall myself seize her
When I come with more men. This to him worse shall be."
Having thus spoken, he sent them off, and a mighty speech upon them laid.
And the two unwilling went along the shore of the unplowable sea,
And the Myrmidons' tents, and then at the ships they arrived.
And him they found beside his tent and black ship
Sitting -- and not yea, when the two of them he espied did rejoice Akhilleus.
And the both of them afraid and with shame were filled as before the king
They stood, and nothing they uttered, and nothing they asked.
But he knew in his heart and called to them:
"Be well, heralds of Zeus, ye messengers of men,
Nearer come! In now way to me are ye at fault, but Agamemnōn,
Who ye he hath sent on account of the daughter of Brisēs', the maid.
But come, god-born Patroklos, lead out thou the maid
And to the both of them give her. And ye both witnesses be
Before the blessed gods, and before mortal men,
And before that cruel king -- that yet some day again
Desire of me should grow that I shameful ruin ward off
From the others. For yea he with a destructive heart rages!
In no way does he know how to perceive both before and after,
So that they might beside their ships in safety fight, they the Akhaioi."
And so he spoke, and Patroklos his dear companion obeyed,
And from out of the tent led he the daughter of Brisēs, she the fair-cheeked,
And he gave her to take away. And the two went beside the ships of the Akhaioi,
And unwilling with them the woman went. But Akhilleus
Wept, and forthwith from his companions apart he sat after withdrawing
Beside the shore of the gray salt, looking out on the boundless sea.
And much to his dear mother he implored with hands outstretched:
"O mother, since me thou didst bear with so short-lived a life,
Then honor to me ought the Olympian put into my hands,
Zeus, high thunderer! As of now he hath not to me paid a little.
For it was me the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnōn
He hath dishonored -- for he took her, he has my prize, he took her!"
And so he spoke shedding tears, and him she heard, she his queenly mother,
Sitting in the depths of the saltsea alongside her old father.
And swiftly she came to the top of the gray saltsea like a mist.
And yea, before him she sat down as he shed his tears,
And with her hand him she caressed, and words she spake and called him by name:
"Child, why dost thou cry? Why does to thy breast come grief?
Speak out! Hide it not inside thy mind so that we may know, the both of us."
At her he deeply groaned and spake, he swift of foot Akhilleus:
"Thou know'st. Why yea indeed to thee who all things know, should I tell?
Went forth we to Thebe, holy city of Eetion,
And it we sacked and we led hither everything.
And these things well they divvied up among us, they the sons of the Akhaioi,
And here they took for Atreus' son the daughter of Khrysēs, she the fair-cheeked.
And then Khrysēs the priest of far-shooter Apollōn
Did come upon the swift ships of the bronze-greaved Akhaioi
To release his daughter by bearing ransom-gifts beyond count.
Garlands holding in his hand, the garlands of far-shooter Apollōn,
High up on a golden staff, then addresseth he all the Akhaioi,
And most of all Atreus' sons, both of them, marshallers of men.
And then the others, all of them, yelled the Akhaioi in consent,
To both honor the holy man and the shining ransom-gifts accept.
But not did this please Atreus' son, Agamemnōn, in his heart.
But wickedly he sent him off, and a mighty speech upon him laid.
And wroth grew the old man as he went back again, and him Apollōn
In prayer heeded -- since to him the old man was very dear --
And came upon the Argeioi his wicked shafts. And then the men
Kept dying, one after the other, and ranged the shafts of the gods
All throughout the wide camp of the Akhaioi. And to us the seer,
Who knew well, did speak the god-sent signs of the far-shooter.
And so I first urged that the god we appease,
And then anger seized Atreus' son, and forthwith he stood up
And threatened a speech which is just now brought about:
For her with a swift ship the quick-glancing Akhaioi
To Khrysēs did send and they led gifts to the lord, the god.
And the young girl from my tent they went, the heralds did take
The daughter of Brisēs, whom to me they gave, they the sons of the Akhaioi.
But if thou art able, then guard thy noble son!
When goest thou to Olympos, to Zeus beg thou if e'er
In word thou hast pleased the heart of Zeus or even in deed.
For often thee in my father's halls have I heard
In boasting that thou hast said that from the stormcloud-enshrouded son of Kronos
Thou alone amongst the deathless didst from him ruin ward off.
Once when him they wished to bind, they the other Olympioi --
Hērē, and yea, Poseidaōn, and even Pallas Athēnē.
But from Zeus when thou didst come, O goddess, thou underloosed his bonds,
When quickly the Hundred-Handed thou didst call to great Olympos,
He whom Briareus call they the gods, while men -- all of them -- call him
Aigaiōn -- for he is in might than his father's the greater.
Yea, he who beside the son of Kronos sat down in glory exulting,
And him they feared, the blessed gods, and not then did they bind him.
Of such things now bring to his mind -- sit alongside him and seize his knees!
If he should wish upon the Trojans to offer succor,
And against the sterns and about the saltsea to pen in the Akhaioi,
Where they shall die! -- so that all may partake in their king!
And may he know, he the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnōn,
His blindness in that the best of the Akhaioi he did not do honor!"
And him she answered then, Thetis, letting fall tears:
"O, my dear child, why did thee I raise, I grim in child-bearing?
Oh, would that thou hadst beside the ships, tearless and unharmed
Be, since now thy lot is a short time by far, and in no way very long.
And now both early-dying and toilful of all others
Thou art -- for this thee with a wicked lot did I bear in the halls!
What thou said I shall speak, yea, a word to Zeus, who delights in thunder.
I will go myself to Olympos the snow-capped, that he may be persuaded.
But now thou beside thy swift-flying ships keep up
Thy wrath against the Akhaioi, and from war cease altogether.
For Zeus upon Okeanos among the blameless Ethiopians
Yesterday went for a feast, and the gods together -- all of them -- followed.
And on the twelfth day he shall again go to Olympos,
And once then I shall go to Zeus' house with the bronze foundations,
And him I shall grasp at the knees -- and him I shall persuade, I think."
And so having spoken, she went and him she left at that place
Angry in his heart a the well-girded woman
Whom, yea, by force they took from him unwilling. But Odysseus
To Khrysēs went, leading a holy hekatomb.
And when within the deep harbor they arrived,
The sails they furled and placed them within the black ship,
And the mast tot he mast-holder they fixed, it with the forestays they lowered
Swiftly, and the girl to the mooring place they rowed forth with oars.
And outward the anchoring stones they threw, and at the stern cables they fastened.
And outward they went upon the surf of the sea,
And outward the hekatomb they brought for far-shooter Apollōn,
And outward the daughter of Khrysēs came from the sea-roving ship.
And her then to the altar led many-wiled Odysseus,
Into her dear father's arms he set and to him he spake:
"O Khrysēs, forth me hath sent the lord of men Agamemnōn,
That thy child to thee to sent and for Phoibos a holy hekatomb
He offered on behalf of the Danaoi so that we may appease thy lord,
He who now upon the Argeioi much-mourning distress hath inflicted."
And so he spoke and into his arms he set her, and the man took her rejoicing,
His dear child. And then swiftly for the god the holy hekatomb
One after another they set up about the well-built altar,
And they then washed their hands and the barley-grains they took up.
And for them Khrysēs aloud prayed and his hands he held up:
"Harken unto me, Silver-Bow: thou who protect Khrysēs,
And holy Killa and Tenedos with force thou rule'st,
And yea, me once before in prayer thou harkened,
And thou honored me and greatly smote the people the of Akhaioi.
And so now for me bring to pass this wish:
Now from the Danaoi shameful ruin ward off!"
And so he spoke in prayer, and unto him did harken Phoibos Apollōn.
And then when they prayed and the barley-grain they cast forth,
They drew back the victims' heads first and then cut; and then flayed them,
And their flanks they cut and with fat they covered them,
A two-fold layer of fat they made and upon it placed the raw pieces.
And kindled them upon wooden sticks did the old man, and fire-flashing wine
Upon them he poured. And the youths beside him held five-pronged forks in hands,
And when the thighs he wholly burnt and the entrails they tasted,
And yea, they cut up the rest and upon spits they pierced,
And they burned them thoroughly, and drew off all the spits.
And when they ceased from toil and made ready the feast,
They feasted, and not did their spirits lack anything of the equal feast.
And when desire of drink and food they sent away,
The boys then the kratērs they filled with drink,
And they dealt out to all by pouring wine into cups.
And all the day long in dance to the god they appeased,
Beautifully singing the paiēona, they the youths of the Akhaioi,
Singing for the far-shooter. And in his heart he was gladdened when he heard.
And when the sun went down and upon them night came,
There they then laid down in rest by the sterns of the ships,
And as soon as when the morn-born goddess appeared, she rosy-fingered Eōs,
Then they were busied about the wide camp of the Akhaioi.
And to them a favorable fair-wind sendeth he, far-shooter Apollōn.
And the mast they set up, and upwards the white sails they flew,
And into them a wind blew, striking the middle -- and the swell
All about the keel was surging, and loudly it struck the ship as she sailed,
As she ran along the surf, sweeping through her path.
And when they arrived to the wide camp of the Akhaioi,
Then the black ship upon dry land they did drag,
High upon the sands of the seashore, and underneath her the props they stretched,
And they themselves scattered about the tents and the ships.
But he in wrath beside the swift-faring ships remained,
Pēleus' god-born son, he swift of foot Akhilleus:
And n'er to the assembly did he go, where men win renown;
N'er to war, but he wasted away in his dear heart
By just staying there -- he yearned for the war-cry and for battle.
But yea, when from that time the twelfth morning had been born,
And then to Olympos went the gods who are ever-being,
All of them together with Zeus at their head. And Thetis did not forget the behest
Of her child, but yea, she rose up from the swell of the sea,
And early in the morn she went to great heaven and Olympos.
And she found the wide-seeing son of Kronos, apart he sat from the others,
On a high peak of many-ridged Olympos.
And beside him she sat down and seized his knees
With her left hand, and yea, under his chin she grabbed.
Beseeching him, she spoke to Zeus, son of Kronos, the lord:
"Zeus Father, if e'er thee I among the deathless have aided
In either word or in deed, then for me bring to pass this wish:
Honor thou my son who the most swift-doomed of all others
Be. But him -- just now -- the lord of men Agamemnōn,
Hath dishonored -- for he took her, he has his prize, he took her!
But thou -- privy -- to him do honor, thou Olympian, O counselor Zeus!
And so upon the Trojans instill power until the Akhaioi
Mine own son they do honor and advance him in esteem!"
And so she spoke. And to her did not speak cloud-gatherer Zeus,
But in silence for a long time he sat. And Thetis as she clung to his knees
She held to them, keeping fast -- and spake she again, a second time:
"O unerring lord, to me promise and nod assent,
Or refuse me, since upon thee no fear rests, so that well I know
How much I among all am the most dishonored god."
And at her he, sorely angered, spoke, he cloud-gatherer Zeus:
"Yea, full of sorrow shall be this work -- and me to strive thou send'st,
To strive with Hērē when me she shall anger with taunting words,
And in such way me ever among the deathless gods
She dost wrangle, and me claimeth she that in battle to the Trojans I offer aid.
But thou now again go home lest anything perceiveth
Hērē. And to me shall these thoughts be a care so that I bring them to pass.
But come now, to thee my head I shall now so that thou shall be persuaded.
For this from me is among the deathless the greatest
Sign. For naught of mine is taken back, nor false,
Nor unfulfilled. To this my head I nod."
So he spoke, and with his dark brows nodded he the son of Kronos.
And the deathless locks of flowing hair waved from the lord's
Immortal head -- and great Olympos he shook.
And as those two finished counseling, they parted in twain. And then
To the salt she leapt, to the deep, away from dazzling Olympos,
And Zeus went to his home. And there the gods together all stood
From their seats to meet their father's face. And none suffered
To wait for his coming, but before him they stood -- all of them.
And so there he sat upon his throne. And not him did Hērē
Fail to perceive in seeing that with him she had taken counsel,
She, silver-footed Thetis, daughter of the Old Man of the Sea.
Forthwith with reproaches did she Zeus, Kronos' son address:
 |
| Hera Enthroned with Cuckoo Bird and Lotus-tipped Scepter. Red figure Attic lekythos, Brygos painter, c. 500 B.C. |
"And who of the gods with thee, O deceit-lover, hath taken counsel?
Forever to thee is it dear to be aloof from me,
And having on hidden things pondered, make'st thou judgment. N'er to me
Art thou fore-minded and suffer to tell what word thou hast perceived!"
And her he answered then, he the father of men and gods:
"Hērē, do not all my words have thou hope
To know. Hard they shall be for thee, though thou art my wife.
But whatever word it be fitting for any to hear, none then
Of neither the gods shall before thee know -- nor of any men.
But what I apart from the gods wish to devise,
Do not thou these things ask after nor question."
And him she answered then, ox-eyed queenly Hērē:
"Most dread son of Kronos, what a thing hast thou said!
Much aforetimes I have not asked, nor questioned --But much at ease thou art when these things thou ponder, whate'er thou wish'st!
And now with dread have I fear in my heart that to thee she spoke,
She, silver-footed Thetis, daughter of the Old Man of the Sea,
And beside thee she sat down and seized thy knees!
To her I think that thou nodded a true vow that Akhilleus
Thou shalt honor, and slay many upon the ships of the Akhaioi."
And her he answered and spoke, cloud-gatherer Zeus:
"O my poor lady, ever thou art suspicious and not from thee do I escape.
But n'ertheless, to accomplish this thou shalt not be able -- but from the heart,
Mine own heart instead thou shalt be removed -- this to thee worse shall be.
And if in this way it is as thou saiest -- this to me must be pleasing.
But in silence sit thee down and my speech obey,
Lest now to thee they shall not aid, they the so many gods on Olympos
When nearer I come and upon thee my invincible hands I lay!"
And so he spoke and she feared him, ox-eyed queenly Hērē,
And yea, in silence she sat down, curbing her dear heart.
And sorely vexed were they about the home of Zeus, they the gods of the heavens,
And among them Hēphaistos, famed for his skill, was first to speak,
And to his dear mother he bore service -- to her, white-armed Hērē:
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| Hēphaistos, Red figure Attic skyphos c. 5th century B.C. |
"Yea, full of sorrow shall be this work and no longer is it bearable,
If yea, the two of ye on account of mortals wrangle thusly,
And among the gods ye both set brawling in motion. Nor in this feast --
This excellent feast -- shall there be any joy, since the worse things win out.
And to my mother I advise -- though she be knowledgeable --
To my dear father to render service, yea to Zeus, lest again
Wrangle he, my father, and against us at our feast he stir up trouble.
For if wisheth the Olympian, the lord of lightning,
Then from our seats he might strike us! For he is by far the chiefest.
But thou him with soft words make appeal,
And forthwith then gracious be the Olympian with us."
Yea, thus he spoke, and after getting up, a double cup
In his dear mother's hand he placed and to her he spake:
"Endure, my mother, and hold up thyself in this distress,
Lest thee -- even though thou art dear -- in mine eyes I do see
Thee struck! And then in no way shall I be able to, though I do grieve,
To offer thee succor. For hard is the Olympian to speak against.
For yea, another time when to save thee I once strove,
Me he cast out after my foot he grabbed -- out I went from the heavenly threshold!
And for a whole day I was borne, and when the sun set down
I fell into Lemnos, and little spirit was left in me.
There me the Sintian people forthwith cared for after I had fallen."
And so he spoke, and smiled the goddess, she white-armed Hērē,
And after smiling, from her child she took in her hand the cup.
And he for the other gods from the left to the right, for all of them,
Poured he the sweet nectar which from the kratēr he drew forth.
And unquenchable laughter arose among the blessed gods
As they saw Hēphaistos about the home a-bustling as a servant.
And so then for the whole day unto the setting of the sun
They feast, and not did their spirits lack anything of the equal feast,
Nor of the beauteous phorminx which he had with him, he Apollōn,
Nor of the Mousai who sang, answering each other in beautiful voice.
And when fell the bright light of the sun,
They laid down after they went homeward, each one,
Where for each a home did the renowned crooked-footed
Hēphaistos make with his skillful heart.
And Zeus to his bed hied, the Olympian, lord of lightning,
Where aforetimes he hath slept, where to him sweet sleep hath come.
There he took rest after going up, and beside him was golden-throned Hērē.
ὉΜHΡΟΥ ἸΛIAΣ - ῬAΨΩΔIA B' - Homer's The Iliad - The Song of Ilion Book II
The Iliad of Homer - "The Song of Ilion"
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