- Source
- Homer. Homeri Opera, Volumes 1-2. Monro, D. B. (David Binning), editor; Allen, Thomas W. (Thomas William), editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908-1920.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:10.219-10.290
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-30
Diomedes volunteers to spy on the Trojan camp and chooses Odysseus as his companion. After receiving armor from their fellow chieftains, they set out under a favorable omen from Athena, offering prayers to the goddess.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
And to them also spoke Diomedes, good at the war-cry:
Νέστορ ἔμʼ ὀτρύνει κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
”Nestor, my heart and proud spirit urge me
ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων δῦναι στρατὸν ἐγγὺς ἐόντων
to enter the camp of the enemy men who are near,
Τρώων· ἀλλʼ εἴ τίς μοι ἀνὴρ ἅμʼ ἕποιτο καὶ ἄλλος
even of the Trojans; but if some other man would follow with me,
μᾶλλον θαλπωρὴ καὶ θαρσαλεώτερον ἔσται.
there will be more comfort and it will be more encouraging.
σύν τε δύʼ ἐρχομένω1 καί τε πρὸ ὃ τοῦ ἐνόησεν
When two go together, one perceives before the other
ὅππως κέρδος ἔῃ· μοῦνος δʼ εἴ πέρ τε νοήσῃ
how there may be advantage; but if a man be alone when he perceives,
ἀλλά τέ οἱ βράσσων τε νόος, λεπτὴ δέ τε μῆτις.
yet his mind is slower, and his counsel is thin.”
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἔθελον Διομήδεϊ πολλοὶ ἕπεσθαι.
So he spoke, and many were willing to follow Diomedes.
ἠθελέτην Αἴαντε δύω θεράποντες Ἄρηος,
The two Ajaxes, squires of Ares, were willing;
ἤθελε Μηριόνης, μάλα δʼ ἤθελε Νέστορος υἱός,
Meriones was willing, and very willing was the son of Nestor;
ἤθελε δʼ Ἀτρεΐδης δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος,
and the son of Atreus, Menelaus famed for the spear, was willing;
ἤθελε δʼ ὁ τλήμων Ὀδυσεὺς καταδῦναι ὅμιλον
and the enduring Odysseus was willing to enter the throng
Τρώων· αἰεὶ γάρ οἱ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἐτόλμα.
of the Trojans; for always the spirit in his breast was daring.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
And to them also spoke Agamemnon, king of men:
Τυδεΐδη Διόμηδες ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ
”Diomedes, son of Tydeus, dear to my heart,
τὸν μὲν δὴ ἕταρόν γʼ αἱρήσεαι ὅν κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,
you shall choose for yourself as companion whomsoever you wish,
φαινομένων τὸν ἄριστον, ἐπεὶ μεμάασί γε πολλοί.
the best of those who show themselves, since many indeed are eager.
μηδὲ σύ γʼ αἰδόμενος σῇσι φρεσὶ τὸν μὲν ἀρείω
And do not you, out of respect in your heart, leave behind
καλλείπειν,2 σὺ δὲ χείρονʼ ὀπάσσεαι αἰδοῖ εἴκων
the better man, and take the worse as companion, yielding to respect,
ἐς γενεὴν ὁρόων, μηδʼ εἰ βασιλεύτερός ἐστιν.
looking to birth, not even if he be more kingly.”
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δὲ περὶ ξανθῷ Μενελάῳ.
So he spoke, and he feared for fair-haired Menelaus.
τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
To them again spoke Diomedes, good at the war-cry:
εἰ μὲν δὴ ἕταρόν γε κελεύετέ μʼ αὐτὸν ἑλέσθαι,
”If indeed you command me to choose a companion myself,
πῶς ἂν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ θείοιο λαθοίμην,
how then could I forget divine Odysseus,
οὗ πέρι μὲν πρόφρων κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
whose willing heart and proud spirit are outstanding
ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι, φιλεῖ δέ ἑ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
in all manner of toils, and Pallas Athena loves him.
τούτου γʼ ἑσπομένοιο3 καὶ ἐκ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο
If he but follow, even from blazing fire
ἄμφω νοστήσαιμεν, ἐπεὶ περίοιδε νοῆσαι.
we might both return, since he is outstanding in understanding.”
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
To him in turn spoke much-enduring noble Odysseus:
Τυδεΐδη μήτʼ ἄρ με μάλʼ αἴνεε μήτέ τι νείκει·
”Son of Tydeus, praise me not overmuch, nor chide me;
εἰδόσι γάρ τοι ταῦτα μετʼ Ἀργείοις ἀγορεύεις.
for you speak these things among Argives who know them.
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν· μάλα γὰρ νὺξ ἄνεται, ἐγγύθι δʼ ἠώς,
But let us go; for indeed the night is passing, and dawn is near,
ἄστρα δὲ δὴ προβέβηκε, παροίχωκεν δὲ πλέων νὺξ
and the stars have moved forward, and more than two shares
τῶν δύο μοιράων,4 τριτάτη δʼ ἔτι μοῖρα λέλειπται.
of the night are gone, and a third share still is left.”
ὣς εἰπόνθʼ ὅπλοισιν ἔνι δεινοῖσιν ἐδύτην.
So saying, they both put on their terrible armor.
Τυδεΐδῃ μὲν δῶκε μενεπτόλεμος Θρασυμήδης
To the son of Tydeus, war-resolute Thrasymedes gave
φάσγανον ἄμφηκες· τὸ δʼ ἑὸν παρὰ νηῒ λέλειπτο·
a double-edged sword—for his own had been left by the ship—
καὶ σάκος· ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κυνέην κεφαλῆφιν ἔθηκε
and a shield; and on his head he placed a helmet
ταυρείην, ἄφαλόν τε καὶ ἄλλοφον, ἥ τε καταῖτυξ
of bull’s hide, without horn and without crest, which is called
κέκληται, ῥύεται δὲ κάρη θαλερῶν αἰζηῶν.
”kataityx”, and protects the head of lusty youths.
Μηριόνης δʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ δίδου βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην
And Meriones gave Odysseus a bow and a quiver
καὶ ξίφος, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κυνέην κεφαλῆφιν ἔθηκε
and a sword, and on his head he placed a helmet
ῥινοῦ ποιητήν· πολέσιν δʼ ἔντοσθεν ἱμᾶσιν
made of hide; and within it was tightly stretched
ἐντέτατο στερεῶς· ἔκτοσθε δὲ λευκοὶ ὀδόντες
firmly; and on the outside the white teeth
ἀργιόδοντος ὑὸς θαμέες ἔχον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
of a white-tusked boar ran thick on this side and on that,
εὖ καὶ ἐπισταμένως· μέσσῃ δʼ ἐνὶ πῖλος ἀρήρει.
well and skillfully arranged; and in the midst felt was fitted.
τήν ῥά ποτʼ ἐξ Ἐλεῶνος Ἀμύντορος Ὀρμενίδαο
This helmet once Autolycus took from Eleon,
ἐξέλετʼ Αὐτόλυκος πυκινὸν δόμον ἀντιτορήσας,
having broken into the strong house of Amyntor, son of Ormenus;
Σκάνδειαν δʼ ἄρα δῶκε Κυθηρίῳ Ἀμφιδάμαντι·
and he gave it in Scandia to Amphidamas of Cythera;
Ἀμφιδάμας δὲ Μόλῳ δῶκε ξεινήϊον εἶναι,
and Amphidamas gave it to Molus as a guest-gift,
αὐτὰρ ὃ Μηριόνῃ δῶκεν ᾧ παιδὶ φορῆναι·
and he in turn gave it to his son Meriones to wear;
δὴ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος πύκασεν κάρη ἀμφιτεθεῖσα.
and then indeed, being placed around, it covered the head of Odysseus.
τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ὅπλοισιν ἔνι δεινοῖσιν ἐδύτην,
And when the two had put on their terrible armor,
βάν ῥʼ ἰέναι, λιπέτην δὲ κατʼ αὐτόθι πάντας ἀρίστους.
they went on their way, and left all the chieftains there.
τοῖσι δὲ δεξιὸν ἧκεν ἐρῳδιὸν ἐγγὺς ὁδοῖο
And for them Pallas Athena sent a heron on the right,
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη· τοὶ δʼ οὐκ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι
near their path; and they did not see it with their eyes
νύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην, ἀλλὰ κλάγξαντος ἄκουσαν.
through the dark night, but they heard its cry.
χαῖρε δὲ τῷ ὄρνιθʼ Ὀδυσεύς, ἠρᾶτο δʼ Ἀθήνῃ·
And Odysseus rejoiced in the bird, and prayed to Athena:
κλῦθί μευ αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, ἥ τέ μοι αἰεὶ
”Hear me, child of Zeus who holds the aegis, you who always
ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι παρίστασαι, οὐδέ σε λήθω
stand by me in all my toils, nor am I hidden from you
κινύμενος· νῦν αὖτε μάλιστά με φῖλαι Ἀθήνη,
as I move; now again, Athena, love me most of all,
δὸς δὲ πάλιν ἐπὶ νῆας ἐϋκλεῖας ἀφικέσθαι
and grant that we come back with good glory to the ships,
ῥέξαντας μέγα ἔργον, ὅ κε Τρώεσσι μελήσῃ.
having done a great deed, such as will be a care to the Trojans.”
δεύτερος αὖτʼ ἠρᾶτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
Next in turn prayed Diomedes, good at the war-cry:
κέκλυθι νῦν καὶ ἐμεῖο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη·
”Hear now me too, child of Zeus, unwearied one!
σπεῖό μοι ὡς ὅτε πατρὶ ἅμʼ ἕσπεο Τυδέϊ δίῳ
Follow with me, even as you followed with my father, noble Tydeus,
ἐς Θήβας, ὅτε τε πρὸ Ἀχαιῶν ἄγγελος ᾔει.
to Thebes, when he went as a messenger before the Achaeans.
τοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀσωπῷ λίπε χαλκοχίτωνας Ἀχαιούς,
He left the bronze-clad Achaeans by the Asopus,
αὐτὰρ ὃ μειλίχιον μῦθον φέρε Καδμείοισι
and carried a gentle message to the Cadmeans
κεῖσʼ· ἀτὰρ ἂψ ἀπιὼν μάλα μέρμερα μήσατο ἔργα
there; but on his way back he devised very terrible deeds
σὺν σοὶ δῖα θεά, ὅτε οἱ πρόφρασσα παρέστης.
with you, noble goddess, when you stood by him with a willing mind.”
- 10.224σύν τε δύʼ ἐρχομένω
The participle ἐρχομένω is in the nominative dual, expressing a general condition or situation: "when two go together." σύν is used adverbially to mean "together."
- 10.238καλλείπειν
The infinitive καλλείπειν is used with an imperative force (infinitive for imperative) in Agamemnon's warning to Diomedes. Together with the preceding μηδὲ, it expresses a prohibition: "you must not leave behind."
- 10.246τούτου γʼ ἑσπομένοιο
This is a genitive absolute construction expressing a condition: "if this man follows." It corresponds with the optative νοστήσαιμεν ("we might return") in the main clause to express potentiality.
- 10.252πλέων νὺξ τῶν δύο μοιράων
The comparative adjective πλέων (more) is followed by the genitive of comparison τῶν δύο μοιράων (two shares), meaning "more than two-thirds of the night has passed." This is based on the ancient division of the night into three parts.