- 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-grc2:13.281-13.349
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-30
After discussing the contrast between the brave and the cowardly, Idomeneus and Meriones arm themselves and head to the left wing of the battle. Upon their arrival, a fierce clash erupts, driven by the conflicting wills of Zeus and Poseidon behind the scenes.
ἀλλὰ μετοκλάζει καὶ ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέρους πόδας ἵζει,
Rather he shifts his weight from leg to leg and crouches on both feet,
ἐν δέ τέ οἱ κραδίη μεγάλα στέρνοισι πατάσσει
and inside his breast his heart beats loudly and violently,
κῆρας ὀϊομένῳ, πάταγος δέ τε γίγνετʼ ὀδόντων·
as he forebodes the fates of death, and there is a chattering of his teeth;
τοῦ δʼ ἀγαθοῦ οὔτʼ ἂρ τρέπεται χρὼς οὔτέ τι λίην
but of the brave man, the color of his skin does not change, nor does he
ταρβεῖ, ἐπειδὰν πρῶτον ἐσίζηται λόχον ἀνδρῶν,
fear excessively, as soon as he first enters the ambush of men,
ἀρᾶται δὲ τάχιστα μιγήμεναι ἐν δαῒ λυγρῇ·
but he prays to mix as quickly as possible in the lamentable conflict;
οὐδέ κεν ἔνθα τεόν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρας ὄνοιτο.1
not even there would anyone disparage your courage and your hands.
εἴ περ γάρ κε βλεῖο πονεύμενος ἠὲ τυπείης
For even if you were hit or wounded while toiling in battle,
οὐκ ἂν ἐν αὐχένʼ ὄπισθε πέσοι βέλος οὐδʼ ἐνὶ νώτῳ,
the missile would not fall upon your neck from behind, nor on your back,
ἀλλά κεν ἢ στέρνων ἢ νηδύος ἀντιάσειε
but it would meet either your breast or your belly
πρόσσω ἱεμένοιο μετὰ προμάχων ὀαριστύν.
as you rush forward into the sweet converse of the foremost champions.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα νηπύτιοι ὣς
But come, let us no longer speak of these things like children,
ἑσταότες, μή πού τις ὑπερφιάλως νεμεσήσῃ·
lest perhaps someone should feel excessive indignation;
ἀλλὰ σύ γε κλισίην δὲ κιὼν ἕλευ ὄβριμον ἔγχος.
but go to the hut and take a mighty spear.
ὣς φάτο, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ
So he spoke, and Meriones, equal to swift Ares,
καρπαλίμως κλισίηθεν ἀνείλετο χάλκεον ἔγχος,
swiftly took a bronze spear from the hut,
βῆ δὲ μετʼ Ἰδομενῆα μέγα πτολέμοιο μεμηλώς.
and went after Idomeneus, greatly longing for battle.
οἷος δὲ βροτολοιγὸς Ἄρης πόλεμον δὲ μέτεισι,
And just as Ares, the destroyer of men, goes into battle,
τῷ δὲ Φόβος φίλος υἱὸς ἅμα κρατερὸς καὶ ἀταρβὴς
and with him Terror, his beloved son, both strong and fearless,
ἕσπετο, ὅς τʼ ἐφόβησε ταλάφρονά περ πολεμιστήν·
follows, who puts to flight even the steadfast warrior;
τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐκ Θρῄκης Ἐφύρους μέτα θωρήσσεσθον,
these two indeed arm themselves from Thrace to go against the Ephyri,
ἠὲ μετὰ Φλεγύας μεγαλήτορας· οὐδʼ ἄρα τώ γε
or against the great-hearted Phlegyans; nor indeed do they
ἔκλυον ἀμφοτέρων, ἑτέροισι δὲ κῦδος ἔδωκαν·
listen to both, but give glory to one of the two;
τοῖοι Μηριόνης τε καὶ Ἰδομενεὺς ἀγοὶ ἀνδρῶν
such were Meriones and Idomeneus, leaders of men,
ἤϊσαν ἐς πόλεμον κεκορυθμένοι αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.
who went into battle, armed with flashing bronze.
τὸν καὶ Μηριόνης πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
And Meriones first spoke to him:
Δευκαλίδη πῇ τὰρ μέμονας καταδῦναι ὅμιλον;
”Son of Deucalion, where indeed are you eager to enter the throng?
ἢ ἐπὶ δεξιόφιν παντὸς στρατοῦ, ἦ ἀνὰ μέσσους,
Is it on the right of the whole army, or in the center,
ἦ ἐπʼ ἀριστερόφιν; ἐπεὶ οὔ ποθι ἔλπομαι οὕτω
or on the left? Since I do not think that anywhere else
δεύεσθαι πολέμοιο κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς.
the long-haired Achaeans are so lacking in battle.”
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
And to him in turn Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, spoke in reply:
νηυσὶ μὲν ἐν μέσσῃσιν ἀμύνειν εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλοι
”For defending the middle of the ships there are indeed others,
Αἴαντές τε δύω Τεῦκρός θʼ, ὃς ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν
both the two Ajaxes and Teucer, who is the best of the Achaeans
τοξοσύνῃ, ἀγαθὸς δὲ καὶ ἐν σταδίῃ ὑσμίνῃ·
in archery, and is also good in standing combat;
οἵ μιν ἅδην ἐλόωσι2 καὶ ἐσσύμενον πολέμοιο
they will drive to satiety, even though he is very strong,
Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην, καὶ εἰ μάλα καρτερός ἐστιν.
Hector, son of Priam, eager though he is for battle.
αἰπύ οἱ ἐσσεῖται μάλα περ μεμαῶτι μάχεσθαι
It will be a steep task for him, though very eager to fight,
κείνων νικήσαντι μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους
to overcome their strength and invincible hands,
νῆας ἐνιπρῆσαι, ὅτε μὴ αὐτός γε Κρονίων
and to set fire to the ships, unless the son of Cronos himself
ἐμβάλοι αἰθόμενον δαλὸν νήεσσι θοῇσιν.
should cast a burning brand upon the swift ships.
ἀνδρὶ δέ κʼ οὐκ εἴξειε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
And great Ajax, son of Telamon, would yield to no man
ὃς θνητός τʼ εἴη καὶ ἔδοι3 Δημήτερος ἀκτὴν
who is mortal and eats the grain of Demeter,
χαλκῷ τε ῥηκτὸς μεγάλοισί τε χερμαδίοισιν.
and is vulnerable to bronze and great stones.
οὐδʼ ἂν Ἀχιλλῆϊ ῥηξήνορι χωρήσειεν
Nor would he give way even to Achilles, breaker of ranks,
ἔν γʼ αὐτοσταδίῃ· ποσὶ δʼ οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐρίζειν.
at least in standing combat; but in swiftness of foot there is no competing with him.
νῶϊν δʼ ὧδʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστέρʼ ἔχε στρατοῦ, ὄφρα τάχιστα
But for us, keep to the left of the army in this way, so that very quickly
εἴδομεν ἠέ τῳ εὖχος ὀρέξομεν, ἦέ τις ἡμῖν.
we may see whether we shall extend glory to someone, or someone to us.”
ὣς φάτο, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ
So he spoke, and Meriones, equal to swift Ares,
ἦρχʼ ἴμεν, ὄφρʼ ἀφίκοντο κατὰ στρατὸν ᾗ μιν ἀνώγει,
led the way, until they arrived at the army where Idomeneus commanded him.
οἳ δʼ ὡς Ἰδομενῆα ἴδον φλογὶ εἴκελον ἀλκὴν
And when they saw Idomeneus, like a flame in his valour,
αὐτὸν καὶ θεράποντα σὺν ἔντεσι δαιδαλέοισι,
himself and his squire in their cunningly wrought armor,
κεκλόμενοι καθʼ ὅμιλον ἐπʼ αὐτῷ πάντες ἔβησαν·
calling out to one another through the crowd, they all went against him;
τῶν δʼ ὁμὸν ἵστατο νεῖκος ἐπὶ πρυμνῇσι νέεσσιν.
and a joint conflict arose for them at the sterns of the ships.
ὡς δʼ ὅθʼ ὑπὸ λιγέων ἀνέμων σπέρχωσιν ἄελλαι
And as when tempests rush under the shrill winds
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε τε πλείστη κόνις ἀμφὶ κελεύθους,
on a day when the dust is most thick about the roads,
οἵ τʼ ἄμυδις κονίης μεγάλην ἱστᾶσιν ὀμίχλην,
and they raise up together a great cloud of dust,
ὣς ἄρα τῶν ὁμόσʼ ἦλθε μάχη, μέμασαν δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
so then did their battle clash together, and they were eager in heart
ἀλλήλους καθʼ ὅμιλον ἐναιρέμεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ.
to slaughter one another through the throng with the sharp bronze.
ἔφριξεν δὲ μάχη φθισίμβροτος ἐγχείῃσι
And the battle, mortal to men, shuddered with the long spears
μακρῇς, ἃς εἶχον ταμεσίχροας· ὄσσε δʼ ἄμερδεν
which they held, flesh-cutting; and the bronze light from the shining helmets
αὐγὴ χαλκείη κορύθων ἄπο λαμπομενάων
dazzled their eyes,
θωρήκων τε νεοσμήκτων σακέων τε φαεινῶν
and of the newly polished breastplates and bright shields as they came together;
ἐρχομένων ἄμυδις· μάλα κεν θρασυκάρδιος εἴη
very bold of heart indeed would he be
ὃς τότε γηθήσειεν4 ἰδὼν πόνον οὐδʼ ἀκάχοιτο.
who should then rejoice looking on that toil and not be grieved.
τὼ δʼ ἀμφὶς φρονέοντε δύω Κρόνου υἷε κραταιὼ
Thus the two mighty sons of Cronos, with divided minds,
ἀνδράσιν ἡρώεσσιν ἐτεύχετον ἄλγεα λυγρά.
were fashioning grievous sorrows for heroic men.
Ζεὺς μέν ῥα Τρώεσσι καὶ Ἕκτορι βούλετο νίκην
Zeus indeed wished victory for the Trojans and Hector,
κυδαίνων Ἀχιλῆα πόδας ταχύν· οὐδέ τι πάμπαν
glorifying swift-footed Achilles; yet he did not at all
ἤθελε λαὸν ὀλέσθαι Ἀχαιϊκὸν Ἰλιόθι πρό,
wish the Achaean people to perish utterly before Ilium,
- 13.287ὄνοιτο
The optative verb with κεν expresses potentiality ("no one would disparage..."). The subject is indefinite, implied as "anyone" under the negation οὐδέ.
- 13.315ἅδην ἐλόωσι
The verb ἐλόωσι (from ἐλάω, "to drive, push back") is used here with the adverb ἅδην ("to satiety, to one's fill") and the accusative pronoun μιν (referring to Hector), meaning "they will drive him to his fill" or "they will check him thoroughly," despite his eagerness for battle.
- 13.322εἴη καὶ ἔδοι
The optatives εἴη and ἔδοι in the relative clause (ὃς...) express a hypothetical or general condition ("whoever might be mortal and eat..."). This conditional nuance emphasizes that Ajax would not yield to any human being.
- 13.343εἴη... γηθήσειεν
The potential optative κεν εἴη in the main clause corresponds with the optatives in the relative clause (γηθήσειεν, ἀκάχοιτο), painting a hypothetical portrait: "very bold of heart would he be, who should then rejoice looking on that toil and not be grieved."