- 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-grc2:12.340-12.405
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-30
Menestheus' tower is hard pressed by the Lycians, and upon the request of the herald Thootes, Great Ajax and Teucer come to help. Ajax and Teucer slay Epicles and wound Glaucus respectively, and resist the fierce assault of Sarpedon.
καὶ πυλέων·1 πᾶσαι γὰρ ἐπώχατο, τοὶ δὲ κατʼ αὐτὰς
And of the gates; for they were all closed, and they, standing before them, tried to break them by force and enter.
ἱστάμενοι πειρῶντο βίῃ ῥήξαντες ἐσελθεῖν.
Standing there, they tried to break through by force and enter.
αἶψα δʼ ἐπʼ Αἴαντα προΐει κήρυκα Θοώτην·
Immediately Menestheus sent the herald Thootes to Ajax:
ἔρχεο δῖε Θοῶτα, θέων Αἴαντα κάλεσσον,
”Go, noble Thootes, run and call Ajax,
ἀμφοτέρω μὲν μᾶλλον·2 ὃ γάρ κʼ ὄχʼ ἄριστον ἁπάντων
both of them preferably; for that would be far the best of all,
εἴη, ἐπεὶ τάχα τῇδε τετεύξεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
since soon here a sheer destruction will be wrought.
ὧδε γὰρ ἔβρισαν Λυκίων ἀγοί, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ
For here the leaders of the Lycians press hard, who even before
ζαχρηεῖς τελέθουσι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.
are ever fierce in grim battles.
εἰ δέ σφιν καὶ κεῖθι πόνος καὶ νεῖκος ὄρωρεν,
But if for them also there trouble and conflict have arisen,
ἀλλά περ οἶος ἴτω Τελαμώνιος ἄλκιμος Αἴας,
let at least the brave Telamonian Ajax come alone,
καί οἱ Τεῦκρος ἅμα σπέσθω τόξων ἐῢ εἰδώς.
and let Teucer follow with him, well skilled in archery.”
ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα οἱ κῆρυξ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας,
So he spoke, and the herald did not disobey when he heard,
βῆ δὲ θέειν παρὰ τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,
but went running along the wall of the bronze-clad Achaeans,
στῆ δὲ παρʼ Αἰάντεσσι κιών, εἶθαρ δὲ προσηύδα·
and came and stood by the two Ajaxes, and straightway spoke to them:
Αἴαντʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε χαλκοχιτώνων
”Ajaxes, leaders of the bronze-clad Argives,
ἠνώγει Πετεῶο διοτρεφέος φίλος υἱὸς
the beloved son of Peteos, nurtured by Zeus, bids you
κεῖσʼ ἴμεν, ὄφρα πόνοιο μίνυνθά περ ἀντιάσητον
go thither, so that you may face the trouble for even a little while,
ἀμφοτέρω μὲν μᾶλλον· ὃ γάρ κʼ ὄχʼ ἄριστον ἁπάντων
both of them preferably; for that would be far the best of all,
εἴη, ἐπεὶ τάχα κεῖθι τετεύξεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος·
since soon there a sheer destruction will be wrought.
ὧδε γὰρ ἔβρισαν Λυκίων ἀγοί, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ
For there the leaders of the Lycians press hard, who even before
ζαχρηεῖς τελέθουσι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.
are ever fierce in grim battles.
εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐνθάδε περ πόλεμος καὶ νεῖκος ὄρωρεν,
But if here also indeed war and conflict have arisen,
ἀλλά περ οἶος ἴτω Τελαμώνιος ἄλκιμος Αἴας,
let at least the brave Telamonian Ajax come alone,
καί οἱ Τεῦκρος ἅμα σπέσθω τόξων ἐῢ εἰδώς.
and let Teucer follow with him, well skilled in archery.”
ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας.
So he spoke, and great Telamonian Ajax did not disobey.
αὐτίκʼ Ὀϊλιάδην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
Straightway he spoke winged words to the son of Oileus:
Αἶαν σφῶϊ μὲν αὖθι, σὺ καὶ κρατερὸς Λυκομήδης,
”Ajax, do you two remain here, you and strong Lycomedes,
ἑσταότες Δαναοὺς ὀτρύνετον ἶφι μάχεσθαι·
and standing here, urge the Danaans to fight with might;
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κεῖσʼ εἶμι καὶ ἀντιόω πολέμοιο·
but I will go thither and face the battle,
αἶψα δʼ ἐλεύσομαι αὖτις, ἐπὴν εὖ τοῖς ἐπαμύνω.
and I will come back quickly, when I have fully aided them.”
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
So saying, Telamonian Ajax departed,
καί οἱ Τεῦκρος ἅμʼ ᾖε κασίγνητος καὶ ὄπατρος·
and with him went Teucer, his brother by the same father;
τοῖς δʼ ἅμα Πανδίων Τεύκρου φέρε καμπύλα τόξα.
and with them Pandion carried the curved bow of Teucer.
εὖτε Μενεσθῆος μεγαθύμου πύργον ἵκοντο
When they came to the tower of great-hearted Menestheus,
τείχεος ἐντὸς ἰόντες, ἐπειγομένοισι3 δʼ ἵκοντο,
going within the wall, and they arrived to those who were hard pressed,
οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ἐπάλξεις βαῖνον ἐρεμνῇ λαίλαπι ἶσοι
the strong leaders and rulers of the Lycians were mounting onto the breastworks,
ἴφθιμοι Λυκίων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες·
like a dark whirlwind.
σὺν δʼ ἐβάλοντο μάχεσθαι ἐναντίον, ὦρτο δʼ ἀϋτή.
And they clashed together to fight face to face, and the battle cry arose.
Αἴας δὲ πρῶτος Τελαμώνιος ἄνδρα κατέκτα
And Telamonian Ajax was first to slay a man,
Σαρπήδοντος ἑταῖρον Ἐπικλῆα μεγάθυμον
the great-hearted Epicles, companion of Sarpedon,
μαρμάρῳ ὀκριόεντι βαλών, ὅ ῥα τείχεος ἐντὸς
striking him with a jagged marble stone, which within the wall
κεῖτο μέγας παρʼ ἔπαλξιν ὑπέρτατος· οὐδέ κέ μιν ῥέα
lay, huge, right by the breastwork at the top; not easily could a man
χείρεσσʼ ἀμφοτέρῃς ἔχοι ἀνὴρ4 οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἡβῶν,
hold it with both hands, not even one in the prime of youth,
οἷοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑψόθεν ἔμβαλʼ ἀείρας,
such as mortals are now; but he lifted it high and threw it,
θλάσσε δὲ τετράφαλον κυνέην, σὺν δʼ ὀστέʼ ἄραξε
and shattered his four-crested helmet, and crushed together the bones
πάντʼ ἄμυδις κεφαλῆς· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀρνευτῆρι ἐοικὼς
of his head all at once; and he, like a diver,
κάππεσʼ ἀφʼ ὑψηλοῦ πύργου, λίπε δʼ ὀστέα θυμός.
fell from the high tower, and his spirit left his bones.
Τεῦκρος δὲ Γλαῦκον κρατερὸν παῖδʼ Ἱππολόχοιο
And Teucer struck Glaucus, the brave son of Hippolochus,
ἰῷ ἐπεσσύμενον βάλε τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο,
with an arrow as he rushed upon the high wall,
ᾗ ῥʼ ἴδε γυμνωθέντα βραχίονα, παῦσε δὲ χάρμης.
where he saw his arm laid bare, and stayed him from fighting.
ἂψ δʼ ἀπὸ τείχεος ἆλτο λαθών, ἵνα μή τις Ἀχαιῶν
Back from the wall he leaped secretly, lest any of the Achaeans
βλήμενον ἀθρήσειε καὶ εὐχετόῳτʼ ἐπέεσσι.
should see him wounded and boast over him with words.
Σαρπήδοντι δʼ ἄχος γένετο Γλαύκου ἀπιόντος
And grief came upon Sarpedon when Glaucus departed,
αὐτίκʼ ἐπεί τʼ ἐνόησεν· ὅμως δʼ οὐ λήθετο χάρμης,
as soon as he perceived it; yet he did not forget the fight,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γε Θεστορίδην Ἀλκμάονα δουρὶ τυχήσας
but aiming at Alcmaon, son of Thestor, with his spear,
νύξʼ, ἐκ δʼ ἔσπασεν ἔγχος· ὃ δʼ ἑσπόμενος πέσε δουρὶ
he stabbed him, and drew out the spear; and he, following the spear, fell
πρηνής,5 ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ βράχε τεύχεα ποικίλα χαλκῷ,
headlong, and around him clanged his armour, ornate with bronze.
Σαρπηδὼν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπαλξιν ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν
And Sarpedon, grasping the breastwork with his strong hands,
ἕλχʼ, ἣ δʼ ἕσπετο πᾶσα διαμπερές, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε
pulled, and it followed all together completely, and from above
τεῖχος ἐγυμνώθη, πολέεσσι δὲ θῆκε κέλευθον.
the wall was laid bare, and he made a path for many.
τὸν δʼ Αἴας καὶ Τεῦκρος ὁμαρτήσανθʼ ὃ μὲν ἰῷ
And Ajax and Teucer together attacked him; the one with an arrow
βεβλήκει τελαμῶνα περὶ στήθεσσι φαεινὸν
struck the gleaming strap around his chest
ἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης· ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς κῆρας ἄμυνε
of his shield that covered the whole body; but Zeus warded off death
παιδὸς ἑοῦ, μὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι πρύμνῃσι δαμείη·
from his own son, lest he should be overcome at the sterns of the ships.
Αἴας δʼ ἀσπίδα νύξεν ἐπάλμενος, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ
And Ajax leaped and stabbed at his shield, but the spear did not go clean
ἤλυθεν ἐγχείη, στυφέλιξε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα.
through, but it jarred him back in his onset.
- 12.340καὶ πυλέων
The genitive καὶ πυλέων depends on κτύπος (din, noise) in §12.339, meaning "the noise of the gates being beaten."
- 12.344ἀμφοτέρω μὲν μᾶλλον
ἀμφοτέρω is the accusative dual, acting as the object of the imperative κάλεσσον (call). μᾶλλον carries the comparative nuance of "rather (both than just one)," meaning "preferably both."
- 12.374ἐπειγομένοισι
The dative present participle ἐπειγομένοισι could refer to the hurrying rescuers, but in context it is more naturally understood as referring to those who are hard-pressed or in distress (Menestheus and his men) whom the rescuers reached.
- 12.381–382οὐδέ κέ μιν ῥέα / χείρεσσʼ ἀμφοτέρῃς ἔχοι ἀνὴρ
The combination of the particle κέ with the optative ἔχοι expresses potential possibility ("not easily could a man hold it"). This is a characteristic epic formula contrasting the strength of past heroes with that of contemporary mortals.
- 12.395ὃ δʼ ἑσπόμενος πέσε δουρὶ / πρηνής
The participle ἑσπόμενος (from ἕπομαι, "to follow") vividly describes the victim falling forward, as if dragged along by the motion of the spear being pulled out.