- 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-grc2:13.696-13.767
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-31
Polydamas warns Hector of the perilous battle situation and advises him to withdraw temporarily to consult with the chiefs. Hector accepts this sound counsel, goes to rally his scattered forces, and finds Paris encouraging his companions on the left flank.
ἐν Φυλάκῃ γαίης ἄπο πατρίδος ἄνδρα κατακτὰς1
He dwelt in Phylace away from his native land, having slain a man,
γνωτὸν μητρυιῆς Ἐριώπιδος, ἣν ἔχʼ Ὀϊλεύς·
the brother of his stepmother Eriopis, whom Oïleus had to wife;
αὐτὰρ ὃ Ἰφίκλοιο πάϊς τοῦ Φυλακίδαο.
but the other (Podarces) was the son of Iphiclus, son of Phylacus.
οἳ μὲν πρὸ Φθίων μεγαθύμων θωρηχθέντες
These, armored in front of the great-hearted Phthians,
ναῦφιν ἀμυνόμενοι μετὰ Βοιωτῶν ἐμάχοντο·
fought along with the Boeotians, defending the ships.
Αἴας δʼ οὐκέτι πάμπαν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς υἱὸς
And Aias, the swift son of Oïleus, would no longer
ἵστατʼ ἀπʼ Αἴαντος Τελαμωνίου οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν,
stand at all apart from Telamonian Aias, not even a little;
ἀλλʼ ὥς τʼ ἐν νειῷ βόε οἴνοπε πηκτὸν ἄροτρον
but as in a fallow field two wine-colored oxen with equal spirit
ἶσον θυμὸν ἔχοντε τιταίνετον· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρά σφι
strain at the jointed plough, and around their
πρυμνοῖσιν κεράεσσι πολὺς ἀνακηκίει ἱδρώς·
horns’ roots much sweat wells up;
τὼ μέν τε ζυγὸν οἶον ἐΰξοον ἀμφὶς ἐέργει
only the well-polished yoke keeps them apart
ἱεμένω2 κατὰ ὦλκα· τέμει δέ τε τέλσον ἀρούρης·
as they strain along the furrow, and the plough cuts to the end of the field;
ὣς τὼ παρβεβαῶτε μάλʼ ἕστασαν ἀλλήλοιιν.
so they stood very close to one another, side by side.
ἀλλʼ ἤτοι Τελαμωνιάδῃ πολλοί τε καὶ ἐσθλοὶ
But indeed with the son of Telamon followed many and noble
λαοὶ ἕπονθʼ ἕταροι, οἵ οἱ σάκος ἐξεδέχοντο
companions and troops, who would take his shield
ὁππότε μιν κάματός τε καὶ ἱδρὼς γούναθʼ ἵκοιτο.
whenever weariness and sweat should come upon his knees.
οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ὀϊλιάδῃ μεγαλήτορι Λοκροὶ ἕποντο·
But the Locrians followed not the great-hearted son of Oïleus;
οὐ γάρ σφι σταδίῃ ὑσμίνῃ μίμνε φίλον κῆρ·
for their heart remained not steadfast in close-quarters combat;
οὐ γὰρ ἔχον κόρυθας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας,
for they had no bronze-tipped helmets with thick horsehair crests,
οὐδʼ ἔχον ἀσπίδας εὐκύκλους καὶ μείλινα δοῦρα,
nor had they well-rounded shields and ashen spears,
ἀλλʼ ἄρα τόξοισιν καὶ ἐϋστρεφεῖ οἶος ἀώτῳ
but trusting only in bows and well-twisted sheep’s wool
Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕποντο πεποιθότες, οἷσιν ἔπειτα
they followed with him to Ilios, with which afterwards
ταρφέα βάλλοντες Τρώων ῥήγνυντο φάλαγγας·
they broke the ranks of the Trojans, shooting thick and fast.
δή ῥα τόθʼ οἳ μὲν πρόσθε σὺν ἔντεσι δαιδαλέοισι
So then those in front fought with the Trojans and brass-helmeted Hector
μάρναντο Τρωσίν τε καὶ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ,
in their finely-wrought armor,
οἳ δʼ ὄπιθεν βάλλοντες ἐλάνθανον· οὐδέ τι χάρμης
while those behind shot from their cover; nor did
Τρῶες μιμνήσκοντο· συνεκλόνεον γὰρ ὀϊστοί.
the Trojans think of battle, for the arrows threw them into confusion.
ἔνθά κε λευγαλέως νηῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων
Then indeed would the Trojans have retreated miserably from the ships and tents
Τρῶες ἐχώρησαν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν,
to windy Ilios,
εἰ μὴ Πουλυδάμας θρασὺν Ἕκτορα εἶπε3 παραστάς·
had not Polydamas stood by brave Hector and spoken to him:
Ἕκτορ ἀμήχανός ἐσσι παραρρητοῖσι πιθέσθαι.
”Hector, you are hard to be persuaded by words of counsel.
οὕνεκά τοι περὶ δῶκε θεὸς πολεμήϊα ἔργα
Because a god has given you beyond others the works of war,
τοὔνεκα καὶ βουλῇ ἐθέλεις περιίδμεναι ἄλλων·
therefore in counsel too you wish to excel others;
ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἅμα πάντα δυνήσεαι αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι.
but in no wise will you be able to choose all things at once for yourself.
ἄλλῳ μὲν γὰρ ἔδωκε θεὸς πολεμήϊα ἔργα,
For to one god has given the works of war,
ἄλλῳ δʼ ὀρχηστύν, ἑτέρῳ κίθαριν καὶ ἀοιδήν,
to another the dance, to another the lyre and song,
ἄλλῳ δʼ ἐν στήθεσσι τιθεῖ νόον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
and in the breast of another far-seeing Zeus puts an excellent
ἐσθλόν, τοῦ δέ τε πολλοὶ ἐπαυρίσκοντʼ ἄνθρωποι,
understanding, from which many men have benefit,
καί τε πολέας ἐσάωσε, μάλιστα δὲ καὐτὸς ἀνέγνω.
and he saves many, and he himself knows it best.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα·
But I will speak as seems to me to be best;
πάντῃ γάρ σε περὶ στέφανος πολέμοιο δέδηε·
for all around you the circle of war is burning;
Τρῶες δὲ μεγάθυμοι ἐπεὶ κατὰ τεῖχος ἔβησαν
and the great-hearted Trojans, since they crossed the wall,
οἳ μὲν ἀφεστᾶσιν σὺν τεύχεσιν, οἳ δὲ μάχονται
some stand aloof with their armor, while others fight,
παυρότεροι πλεόνεσσι κεδασθέντες κατὰ νῆας.
fewer against many, scattered among the ships.
ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος κάλει ἐνθάδε πάντας ἀρίστους·
But withdraw and call hither all the chiefs;
ἔνθεν δʼ ἂν μάλα πᾶσαν ἐπιφρασσαίμεθα βουλὴν
and then we might well consider every counsel,
ἤ κεν ἐνὶ νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι πέσωμεν
whether we shall fall upon the many-benched ships,
αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσι θεὸς δόμεναι κράτος, ἦ κεν ἔπειτα
if the god should wish to give us victory, or
πὰρ νηῶν ἔλθωμεν ἀπήμονες. ἦ γὰρ ἔγωγε
go back from the ships unharmed. For indeed
δείδω μὴ τὸ χθιζὸν ἀποστήσωνται4 Ἀχαιοὶ
I fear lest the Achaeans pay back the debt of yesterday,
χρεῖος, ἐπεὶ παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀνὴρ ἆτος πολέμοιο
since by the ships remains a man insatiable of war,
μίμνει, ὃν οὐκέτι πάγχυ μάχης σχήσεσθαι ὀΐω.
who I think will no longer hold back entirely from the fight.”
ὣς φάτο Πουλυδάμας, ἅδε δʼ Ἕκτορι μῦθος ἀπήμων,
So spoke Polydamas, and his safe counsel pleased Hector;
αὐτίκα δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε
and straightway he leapt with his armor from his chariot to the ground,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
and spoke to him winged words:
Πουλυδάμα σὺ μὲν αὐτοῦ ἐρύκακε πάντας ἀρίστους,
”Polydamas, do you hold back here all the chiefs,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κεῖσʼ εἶμι καὶ ἀντιόω πολέμοιο·
while I go thither and face the battle;
αἶψα δʼ ἐλεύσομαι αὖτις ἐπὴν εὖ τοῖς ἐπιτείλω.
and I will come back quickly when I have given them clear orders.”
ἦ ῥα, καὶ ὁρμήθη ὄρεϊ νιφόεντι ἐοικὼς
He spoke, and rushed on like a snow-clad mountain,
κεκλήγων, διὰ δὲ Τρώων πέτετʼ ἠδʼ ἐπικούρων.
shouting aloud, and flew through the Trojans and their allies.
οἳ δʼ ἐς Πανθοΐδην ἀγαπήνορα Πουλυδάμαντα
And they all rushed toward kindly Polydamas, son of Panthous,
πάντες ἐπεσσεύοντʼ, ἐπεὶ Ἕκτορος ἔκλυον αὐδήν.
when they heard the voice of Hector.
αὐτὰρ ὃ Δηΐφοβόν τε βίην θʼ Ἑλένοιο ἄνακτος
But he went through the foremost fighters, seeking Deiphobus, and the might of king Helenus,
Ἀσιάδην τʼ Ἀδάμαντα καὶ Ἄσιον Ὑρτάκου υἱὸν
and Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus,
φοίτα ἀνὰ προμάχους διζήμενος, εἴ που ἐφεύροι.
if somewhere he might find them.
τοὺς δʼ εὗρʼ οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἀπήμονας οὐδʼ ἀνολέθρους·
These he found no longer at all unharmed or free from destruction;
ἀλλʼ οἳ μὲν δὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι πρυμνῇσιν Ἀχαιῶν
but some lay by the sterns of the ships of the Achaeans,
χερσὶν ὑπʼ Ἀργείων κέατο ψυχὰς ὀλέσαντες,
having lost their lives at the hands of the Argives,
οἳ δʼ ἐν τείχει ἔσαν βεβλημένοι οὐτάμενοί τε.
while others were within the wall, smitten and wounded.
τὸν δὲ τάχʼ εὗρε μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ δακρυοέσσης
But he quickly found on the left of the tearful battle
δῖον Ἀλέξανδρον Ἑλένης πόσιν ἠϋκόμοιο
noble Alexandrus, husband of fair-haired Helen,
θαρσύνονθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι,
encouraging his companions and urging them to fight.
- 13.696κατακτὰς
The aorist active participle κατακτὰς (from κτείνω) is used adverbially to express the cause or reason why Medon had to dwell in Phylace, away from his fatherland.
- 13.707ἱεμένω
The present middle/passive dual participle ἱεμένω (from ἵεμαι, to strive/rush) agrees with the dual noun βόε (two oxen), describing their enthusiastic forward movement along the furrow.
- 13.723ἔνθά κε... ἐχώρησαν... εἰ μὴ ... εἶπε
A past contrary-to-fact conditional construction, consisting of the protasis with εἰ μὴ and the past indicative (εἶπε), and the apodosis with the particle κε and the past indicative (ἐχώρησαν), meaning 'then they would have retreated... had not Polydamas spoken.'
- 13.745δείδω μὴ... ἀποστήσωνται
The verb of fearing δείδω ('I fear') introduces a clause of fearing with μὴ and the subjunctive verb ἀποστήσωνται, expressing apprehension about a future possibility ('I fear lest they pay back...').