- 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-grc2:16.223-16.295
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-31
Achilles prays to Zeus for Patroclus's glory and safe return, but Zeus grants only the former. The Myrmidons, led by Patroclus, pour onto the battlefield like wasps, driving back the Trojans.
θῆκʼ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἄγεσθαι ἐῢ πλήσασα χιτώνων
which she had placed on his ship to be carried, having well filled it with tunics,
χλαινάων τʼ ἀνεμοσκεπέων οὔλων τε ταπήτων.
cloaks to keep off the wind, and thick rugs.
ἔνθα δέ οἱ δέπας ἔσκε τετυγμένον, οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
And inside it he had a well-wrought cup, from which no other
οὔτʼ ἀνδρῶν πίνεσκεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ αἴθοπα οἶνον,
of men was wont to drink the gleaming wine,
οὔτέ τεῳ σπένδεσκε θεῶν, ὅτε μὴ1 Διὶ πατρί.
nor did he pour libations from it to any of the gods, except to father Zeus.
τό ῥα τότʼ ἐκ χηλοῖο λαβὼν ἐκάθηρε θεείῳ
This he then took from the chest and cleansed first with sulfur,
πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δʼ ἔνιψʼ ὕδατος καλῇσι ῥοῇσι,
and next washed it in beautiful streams of water,
νίψατο δʼ αὐτὸς χεῖρας, ἀφύσσατο δʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον.
and he washed his own hands, and drew the gleaming wine.
εὔχετʼ ἔπειτα στὰς μέσῳ ἕρκεϊ, λεῖβε δὲ οἶνον
Then standing in the midst of the courtyard he prayed, and poured the wine,
οὐρανὸν εἰσανιδών· Δία δʼ οὐ λάθε τερπικέραυνον·
looking up to heaven; and he did not escape the notice of Zeus who hurls the thunderbolt:
Ζεῦ ἄνα Δωδωναῖε Πελασγικὲ τηλόθι ναίων
”Lord Zeus of Dodona, Pelasgian, dwelling afar,
Δωδώνης μεδέων δυσχειμέρου, ἀμφὶ δὲ Σελλοὶ
ruling over harsh-wintered Dodona, and around you the Selli
σοὶ ναίουσʼ ὑποφῆται ἀνιπτόποδες χαμαιεῦναι,
dwell, your interpreters, with unwashed feet, sleeping on the ground,
ἠμὲν δή ποτʼ ἐμὸν ἔπος ἔκλυες εὐξαμένοιο,
surely once before you heard my word when I prayed,
τίμησας μὲν ἐμέ, μέγα δʼ ἴψαο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν,
and you honored me, but greatly afflicted the host of the Achaeans,
ἠδʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦν μοι τόδʼ ἐπικρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·
so now also fulfill for me this wish:
αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ ἐγὼ μενέω νηῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι,
for I myself will remain in the gathering of the ships,
ἀλλʼ ἕταρον πέμπω πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι
but my companion I am sending with many Myrmidons
μάρνασθαι· τῷ κῦδος ἅμα πρόες εὐρύοπα Ζεῦ,
to fight; send glory with him, far-sounding Zeus,
θάρσυνον δέ οἱ ἦτορ ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ὄφρα καὶ Ἕκτωρ
and make bold the heart within his breast, so that even Hector
εἴσεται ἤ ῥα καὶ οἶος ἐπίστηται πολεμίζειν
may know whether our squire knows how to fight even alone,
ἡμέτερος θεράπων, ἦ οἱ τότε2 χεῖρες ἄαπτοι
or whether his hands, unconquerable till now, rage only then,
μαίνονθʼ, ὁππότʼ ἐγώ περ ἴω μετὰ μῶλον Ἄρηος.
whenever I go into the turmoil of Ares.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ ἀπὸ ναῦφι μάχην ἐνοπήν τε δίηται,
But when he has driven the battle and the clamor from the ships,
ἀσκηθής μοι ἔπειτα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἵκοιτο
unharmed then let him come to the swift ships,
τεύχεσί τε ξὺν πᾶσι καὶ ἀγχεμάχοις ἑτάροισιν.
with all his armor and his close-fighting companions.”
ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε μητίετα Ζεύς.
So he spoke praying, and wise Zeus heard him.
τῷ δʼ ἕτερον μὲν ἔδωκε πατήρ, ἕτερον δʼ ἀνένευσε·3
One thing the father granted him, but the other he denied:
νηῶν μέν οἱ ἀπώσασθαι πόλεμόν τε μάχην τε
to drive the war and the battle from the ships
δῶκε, σόον δʼ ἀνένευσε μάχης ἐξαπονέεσθαι.
he granted, but to return safe from the battle he denied.
ἤτοι ὃ μὲν σπείσας τε καὶ εὐξάμενος Διὶ πατρὶ
Now when he had poured libations and prayed to father Zeus,
ἂψ κλισίην εἰσῆλθε, δέπας δʼ ἀπέθηκʼ ἐνὶ χηλῷ,
he went back into his hut, and put the cup away in the chest,
στῆ δὲ πάροιθʼ ἐλθὼν κλισίης, ἔτι δʼ ἤθελε θυμῷ
and came and stood in front of the hut, and still desired in his heart
εἰσιδέειν Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν φύλοπιν αἰνήν.
to behold the terrible battle of Trojans and Achaeans.
οἳ δʼ ἅμα Πατρόκλῳ μεγαλήτορι θωρηχθέντες
And they, armed together with great-hearted Patroclus,
ἔστιχον, ὄφρʼ ἐν Τρωσὶ μέγα φρονέοντες ὄρουσαν.
marched, until they rushed with high spirits among the Trojans.
αὐτίκα δὲ σφήκεσσιν ἐοικότες ἐξεχέοντο
And straightway they poured forth like wasps
εἰνοδίοις, οὓς παῖδες ἐριδμαίνωσιν ἔθοντες
by the wayside, which boys are wont to vex,
αἰεὶ κερτομέοντες ὁδῷ ἔπι οἰκίʼ ἔχοντας
always teasing them as they have their nests by the road,
νηπίαχοι· ξυνὸν δὲ κακὸν πολέεσσι τιθεῖσι.
foolish children; and they make a common evil for many.
τοὺς δʼ εἴ περ παρά τίς τε κιὼν ἄνθρωπος ὁδίτης
And if some passing traveler
κινήσῃ ἀέκων, οἳ δʼ ἄλκιμον ἦτορ ἔχοντες
stirs them unwillingly, they, having a brave heart,
πρόσσω πᾶς πέτεται καὶ ἀμύνει οἷσι τέκεσσι.
all fly forward and defend their young.
τῶν τότε Μυρμιδόνες κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἔχοντες
With their heart and spirit then the Myrmidons
ἐκ νηῶν ἐχέοντο· βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.
poured out from the ships; and an unquenchable cry arose.
Πάτροκλος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·
And Patroclus called to his companions, shouting far:
Μυρμιδόνες ἕταροι Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
”Myrmidons, companions of Achilles, son of Peleus,
ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς,
be men, my friends, and remember furious courage,
ὡς ἂν Πηλεΐδην τιμήσομεν,4 ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστος
so that we may win honor for the son of Peleus, who is by far the best
Ἀργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ καὶ ἀγχέμαχοι θεράποντες,
of the Argives by the ships, and his close-fighting squires,
γνῷ δὲ καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
and that the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, may know
ἣν ἄτην,5 ὅ τʼ ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισεν.
his madness, in that he honored not at all the best of the Achaeans.”
ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου,
So saying, he aroused the strength and spirit of each man,
ἐν δʼ ἔπεσον Τρώεσσιν ἀολλέες· ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆες
and they fell upon the Trojans in a body; and around them the ships
σμερδαλέον κονάβησαν ἀϋσάντων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν.
echoed terribly under the shouting Achaeans.
Τρῶες δʼ ὡς εἴδοντο Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱὸν
And the Trojans, when they saw the brave son of Menoetius,
αὐτὸν καὶ θεράποντα σὺν ἔντεσι μαρμαίροντας,
himself and his squire gleaming in their armor,
πᾶσιν ὀρίνθη θυμός, ἐκίνηθεν δὲ φάλαγγες
the heart of all was dismayed, and their phalanxes were shaken,
ἐλπόμενοι παρὰ ναῦφι ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα
thinking that by the ships the swift-footed son of Peleus
μηνιθμὸν μὲν ἀπορρῖψαι, φιλότητα δʼ ἑλέσθαι·
had cast away his wrath and chosen friendship;
πάπτηνεν δὲ ἕκαστος ὅπῃ φύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
each man looked about to see where he might escape sheer destruction.
Πάτροκλος δὲ πρῶτος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ
And Patroclus first cast his gleaming spear
ἀντικρὺ κατὰ μέσσον, ὅθι πλεῖστοι κλονέοντο,
straight into the midst, where the most were in confusion,
νηῒ πάρα πρυμνῇ μεγαθύμου Πρωτεσιλάου,
beside the stern of the ship of great-hearted Protesilaus,
καὶ βάλε Πυραίχμην, ὃς Παίονας ἱπποκορυστὰς
and struck Pyraechmes, who led the Paeonian horsemen
ἤγαγεν ἐξ Ἀμυδῶνος ἀπʼ Ἀξιοῦ εὐρὺ ῥέοντος·
from Amydon, from the wide-flowing Axius;
τὸν βάλε δεξιὸν ὦμον· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι
him he struck on the right shoulder; and he back into the dust
κάππεσεν οἰμώξας, ἕταροι δέ μιν ἀμφεφόβηθεν
fell groaning, and his companions were thrown into panic around him,
Παίονες· ἐν γὰρ Πάτροκλος φόβον ἧκεν ἅπασιν
the Paeonians; for Patroclus sent panic among them all
ἡγεμόνα κτείνας, ὃς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι.
by killing their leader, who was the best at fighting.
ἐκ νηῶν δʼ ἔλασεν, κατὰ δʼ ἔσβεσεν αἰθόμενον πῦρ.
And he drove them from the ships, and quenched the blazing fire.
ἡμιδαὴς δʼ ἄρα νηῦς λίπετʼ αὐτόθι· τοὶ δὲ φόβηθεν
And the half-burnt ship was left there; and they fled,
Τρῶες θεσπεσίῳ ὁμάδῳ· Δαναοὶ δʼ ἐπέχυντο
the Trojans, with a wondrous din; and the Danaans poured in.
- 16.227ὅτε μὴ
The idiom ὅτε μὴ (literally 'when not') functions as a conditional particle meaning 'except' or 'save only'. Here it specifies 'except to father Zeus'.
- 16.243ἤ ῥα καὶ οἶος ἐπίστηται... ἦ οἱ τότε...
The correlative particles ἤ... ἦ... introduce an indirect double question depending on the main verb εἴσεται ('will know'), meaning 'whether... or whether...'.
- 16.250ἕτερον μὲν ἔδωκε πατήρ, ἕτερον δʼ ἀνένευσε
The pronoun ἕτερον ('the one... the other') is contrasted by μὲν... δέ..., and the subsequent infinitives in lines 251–252 (ἀπώσασθαι and ἐξαπονέεσθαι) stand in apposition to explain what was granted and what was denied.
- 16.271ὡς ἂν Πηλεΐδην τιμήσομεν
The conjunction ὡς ἂν followed by the future indicative (or aorist subjunctive in some manuscript traditions) forms a purpose clause meaning 'so that we may honor the son of Peleus'.
- 16.273γνῷ δὲ καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης... ἣν ἄτην
The clause introduced by the possessive relative pronoun ἣν ('his own [madness]') functions as the direct object of the verb γνῷ ('may know'), completing the second goal of Patroclus's exhortation.