- 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
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- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:11.357-11.423
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-30
After Diomedes is forced to withdraw from the battlefield due to a foot wound from Paris's arrow, Odysseus is left entirely isolated but resolutely stands his ground to fight the swarming Trojan forces alone.
ὄφρα δὲ Τυδεΐδης μετὰ δούρατος ᾤχετʼ ἐρωὴν1
While the son of Tydeus went after the flight of his spear
τῆλε διὰ προμάχων, ὅθι οἱ καταείσατο γαίης
far through the foremost fighters, where it had plunged into the earth for him,
τόφρʼ Ἕκτωρ ἔμπνυτο, καὶ ἂψ ἐς δίφρον ὀρούσας
meanwhile Hector revived, and springing back into his chariot
ἐξέλασʼ ἐς πληθύν, καὶ ἀλεύατο κῆρα μέλαιναν.
drove out into the multitude, and escaped black death.
δουρὶ δʼ ἐπαΐσσων προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·
Charging with his spear, strong Diomedes spoke to him:
ἐξ αὖ νῦν ἔφυγες θάνατον κύον· ἦ τέ τοι ἄγχι
”Once again now you have escaped death, you dog; surely destruction came
ἦλθε κακόν· νῦν αὖτέ σʼ ἐρύσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
close to you. But this time too Phoebus Apollo saved you,
ᾧ μέλλεις εὔχεσθαι ἰὼν ἐς δοῦπον ἀκόντων.
to whom you must surely pray when you go into the clash of spears.
ἦ θήν σʼ ἐξανύω γε καὶ ὕστερον ἀντιβολήσας,
Verily I will make an end of you when I meet you hereafter,
εἴ πού τις καὶ ἔμοιγε θεῶν ἐπιτάρροθός ἐστι.
if any of the gods is a helper to me also.
νῦν αὖ τοὺς ἄλλους ἐπιείσομαι, ὅν κε κιχείω.
Now I will go after the others, whomever I may catch.”
ἦ, καὶ Παιονίδην δουρὶ κλυτὸν ἐξενάριζεν.
He spoke, and despoiled the son of Paeon, famous with the spear.
αὐτὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο
But Alexander, husband of fair-haired Helen,
Τυδεΐδῃ ἔπι τόξα τιταίνετο ποιμένι λαῶν,
stretched his bow against the son of Tydeus, shepherd of the host,
στήλῃ κεκλιμένος ἀνδροκμήτῳ ἐπὶ τύμβῳ
leaning against a pillar on the man-made tomb
Ἴλου Δαρδανίδαο, παλαιοῦ δημογέροντος.
of Ilus, son of Dardanus, an elder of the people in days of old.
ἤτοι ὃ μὲν θώρηκα Ἀγαστρόφου ἰφθίμοιο
Now Diomedes was stripping the shiny corselet of strong Agastrophus
αἴνυτʼ ἀπὸ στήθεσφι παναίολον ἀσπίδα τʼ ὤμων
from his breast, and the gleaming shield from his shoulders,
καὶ κόρυθα βριαρήν· ὃ δὲ τόξου πῆχυν ἄνελκε
and his heavy helmet; but Paris drew back the horn of his bow
καὶ βάλεν, οὐδʼ ἄρα μιν ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγε χειρός,
and shot, nor did the shaft fly in vain from his hand,
ταρσὸν δεξιτεροῖο ποδός· διὰ δʼ ἀμπερὲς ἰὸς
striking the flat of his right foot; and the arrow went clean through
ἐν γαίῃ κατέπηκτο· ὃ δὲ μάλα ἡδὺ γελάσσας
and fixed itself in the earth. And Paris, laughing right merrily,
ἐκ λόχου ἀμπήδησε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·
sprang up from his ambush and spoke boasting words:
βέβληαι οὐδʼ ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγεν· ὡς ὄφελόν2 τοι
”You are hit, nor did the shaft fly in vain! Would that
νείατον ἐς κενεῶνα βαλὼν ἐκ θυμὸν ἑλέσθαι.
I had struck you in the nethermost belly and taken away your life.
οὕτω κεν καὶ Τρῶες ἀνέπνευσαν κακότητος,
So would the Trojans too have taken breath from their misery,
οἵ τέ σε πεφρίκασι λέονθʼ ὡς μηκάδες αἶγες.
who now shudder at you as bleating goats do at a lion.”
τὸν δʼ οὐ ταρβήσας προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·
And with no fear strong Diomedes spoke to him:
τοξότα λωβητὴρ κέρᾳ ἀγλαὲ παρθενοπῖπα
”Bowman, reviler, proud of your horn, ogler of girls!
εἰ μὲν δὴ ἀντίβιον σὺν τεύχεσι πειρηθείης,
If you were to make trial of me face to face in arms,
οὐκ ἄν τοι χραίσμῃσι βιὸς καὶ ταρφέες ἰοί·
your bow and thick-falling arrows would not avail you.
νῦν δέ μʼ ἐπιγράψας ταρσὸν ποδὸς εὔχεαι αὔτως.
But now, having merely grazed the sole of my foot, you boast in vain.
οὐκ ἀλέγω, ὡς εἴ με γυνὴ βάλοι ἢ πάϊς ἄφρων·
I care no more than if a woman had struck me, or a witless child;
κωφὸν γὰρ βέλος ἀνδρὸς ἀνάλκιδος οὐτιδανοῖο.
for blunt is the shaft of a strengthless, worthless man.
ἦ τʼ ἄλλως ὑπʼ ἐμεῖο, καὶ εἴ κʼ ὀλίγον περ ἐπαύρῃ,3
Truly, far otherwise is it with my weapon; even if it touches but slightly,
ὀξὺ βέλος πέλεται, καὶ ἀκήριον αἶψα τίθησι.
it is sharp, and straightway makes a man lifeless.
τοῦ δὲ γυναικὸς μέν τʼ ἀμφίδρυφοί εἰσι παρειαί,
His wife’s cheeks are torn in grief,
παῖδες δʼ ὀρφανικοί· ὃ δέ θʼ αἵματι γαῖαν ἐρεύθων
and his children are fatherless; while he, reddening the earth with his blood,
πύθεται, οἰωνοὶ δὲ περὶ πλέες ἠὲ γυναῖκες.
rots away, and there are more birds than women about him.”
ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν
So he spoke, and Odysseus, famous with the spear, came near
ἔστη πρόσθʼ· ὃ δʼ ὄπισθε καθεζόμενος βέλος ὠκὺ
and stood before him; and Diomedes, sitting down behind him,
ἐκ ποδὸς ἕλκʼ, ὀδύνη δὲ διὰ χροὸς ἦλθʼ ἀλεγεινή.
drew the swift shaft from his foot, and a sharp pain ran through his flesh.
ἐς δίφρον δʼ ἀνόρουσε, καὶ ἡνιόχῳ ἐπέτελλε
Then he leapt into his chariot, and bade his charioteer
νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐλαυνέμεν· ἤχθετο γὰρ κῆρ.
drive to the hollow ships; for he was grieved at heart.
οἰώθη δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δουρὶ κλυτός, οὐδέ τις αὐτῷ
And Odysseus, famous with the spear, was left alone, nor did any
Ἀργείων παρέμεινεν, ἐπεὶ φόβος ἔλλαβε πάντας·
of the Argives remain by him, since fear had seized them all.
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
Troubled, he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit:
ὤ μοι ἐγὼ τί πάθω; μέγα μὲν κακὸν αἴ κε φέβωμαι
”Ah me, what will become of me? It will be a great evil if I flee,
πληθὺν ταρβήσας· τὸ δὲ ῥίγιον αἴ κεν ἁλώω
fearing the multitude; yet it will be more horrible if I am taken
μοῦνος· τοὺς δʼ ἄλλους Δαναοὺς ἐφόβησε Κρονίων.
alone; and the other Danaans the son of Cronos has put to flight.
ἀλλὰ τί ἤ μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός;
But why does my heart debate these things?
οἶδα γὰρ ὅττι κακοὶ μὲν ἀποίχονται πολέμοιο,
For I know that cowards shrink from battle,
ὃς δέ κʼ ἀριστεύῃσι μάχῃ ἔνι τὸν δὲ μάλα χρεὼ
but whoever is preeminent in battle, he must by all means
ἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς, ἤ τʼ ἔβλητʼ ἤ τʼ ἔβαλʼ ἄλλον.
stand his ground stoutly, whether he be hit or hit another.”
εἷος ὃ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
While he was pondering these things in mind and heart,
τόφρα δʼ ἐπὶ Τρώων στίχες ἤλυθον ἀσπιστάων,
meanwhile the ranks of the shield-bearing Trojans came upon him,
ἔλσαν δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι, μετὰ σφίσι πῆμα τιθέντες.4
and penned him in their midst, bringing destruction among themselves.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε κάπριον ἀμφὶ κύνες θαλεροί τʼ αἰζηοὶ
And as when dogs and lusty youths press
σεύωνται, ὃ δέ τʼ εἶσι βαθείης ἐκ ξυλόχοιο
about a wild boar, and he comes out from a deep thicket
θήγων λευκὸν ὀδόντα μετὰ γναμπτῇσι γένυσσιν,
whetting his white tusk within his curving jaws,
ἀμφὶ δέ τʼ ἀΐσσονται, ὑπαὶ δέ τε κόμπος ὀδόντων
and they rush about him, and beneath them comes the clatter of his tusks,
γίγνεται, οἳ δὲ μένουσιν ἄφαρ δεινόν περ ἐόντα,
yet they await him, terrible though he is;
ὥς ῥα τότʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διῒ φίλον ἐσσεύοντο
even so did the Trojans then press about Odysseus, dear to Zeus.
Τρῶες· ὃ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν ἀμύμονα Δηϊοπίτην
But he first wounded blameless Deiopites
οὔτασεν ὦμον ὕπερθεν ἐπάλμενος ὀξέϊ δουρί,
from above on the shoulder, springing upon him with his sharp spear,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα Θόωνα καὶ Ἔννομον ἐξενάριξε.
and thereafter he slew Toon and Ennomus.
Χερσιδάμαντα δʼ ἔπειτα καθʼ ἵππων ἀΐξαντα
And Chersidamas next, as he sprang down from his chariot,
- 11.357ᾤχετʼ ἐρωὴν
ᾤχετο is the imperfect of ᾤχομαι (to go, proceed), and ἐρωήν ('force, rush, flight of a weapon') is an accusative of direction or cognate accusative, meaning 'went after the flight of his spear' (to retrieve it). καταείσατο is the aorist middle of καταεἴδομαι (to appear, seem, or here 'plunged down'), and γαίης is a partitive genitive meaning 'into the earth.'
- 11.380ὡς ὄφελόν
ὄφελον (derived from the aorist of ὀφείλω, 'to owe') introduced by ὡς (or αἴθε) expresses an unattainable wish in the past ('would that...'). Here it takes the infinitive ἑλέσθαι (line 381) to mean 'would that I had taken away your life.'
- 11.391εἴ κʼ ὀλίγον περ ἐπαύρῃ
The combination of εἴ κε (εἴ κʼ) with the subjunctive ἐπαύρῃ (3rd person singular aorist middle of ἐπαυρίσκω, 'to touch, partake of') expresses a general condition ('if it should but touch even a little'). The main clause ὀξὺ βέλος πέλεται (line 392) uses the indicative present to state a general truth.
- 11.413μετὰ σφίσι πῆμα τιθέντες
πῆμα ('bane, ruin') refers to Odysseus himself. The Trojans hemmed him in, but in doing so, they enclosed a 'bane' within their own ranks. Thus, the participle phrase μετὰ σφίσι πῆμα τιθέντες ('bringing a bane among themselves') carries a strong sense of irony.