- 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-grc2:18.206-18.275
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-01
Achilles stands by the ditch and shouts, throwing the Trojan army into a panic and allowing the Achaeans to rescue Patroclus' body. In the Trojan assembly, Polydamas advises retreating to the city out of fear of Achilles' return to battle.
χρύσεον, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ δαῖε φλόγα παμφανόωσαν.
It was golden, and from it she kindled a dazzling flame.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε1 καπνὸς ἰὼν ἐξ ἄστεος αἰθέρʼ ἵκηται
And as when smoke rising from a city reaches the upper air,
τηλόθεν ἐκ νήσου, τὴν δήϊοι ἀμφιμάχωνται,
from an island far away, which enemies are fighting around,
οἵ τε πανημέριοι στυγερῷ κρίνονται Ἄρηϊ
who all day long contend in hateful war, issuing from their city;
ἄστεος ἐκ σφετέρου· ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι
and together with the setting sun
πυρσοί τε φλεγέθουσιν ἐπήτριμοι, ὑψόσε δʼ αὐγὴ
beacons blaze in thick succession, and the glare
γίγνεται ἀΐσσουσα περικτιόνεσσιν ἰδέσθαι,
goes rushing aloft for those who dwell around to see,
αἴ κέν πως σὺν νηυσὶν ἄρεω ἀλκτῆρες ἵκωνται·2
in hope that they may come in their ships to be warders off of ruin;
ὣς ἀπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος κεφαλῆς σέλας αἰθέρʼ ἵκανε·
so from the head of Achilles the gleam reached the upper air.
στῆ δʼ ἐπὶ τάφρον ἰὼν ἀπὸ τείχεος, οὐδʼ ἐς Ἀχαιοὺς
He went and stood at the trench, away from the wall, nor with the Achaeans
μίσγετο· μητρὸς γὰρ πυκινὴν ὠπίζετʼ ἐφετμήν.
did he mingle; for he minded the wise command of his mother.
ἔνθα στὰς ἤϋσʼ, ἀπάτερθε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
Standing there he shouted, and from afar Pallas Athena
φθέγξατʼ· ἀτὰρ Τρώεσσιν ἐν ἄσπετον ὦρσε κυδοιμόν.
uttered her voice; and among the Trojans she aroused unspeakable confusion.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀριζήλη φωνή,3 ὅτε τʼ ἴαχε σάλπιγξ
And as when a voice is heard clear, when a trumpet sounds
ἄστυ περιπλομένων δηΐων ὕπο θυμοραϊστέων,
because of murderous enemies surrounding a city,
ὣς τότʼ ἀριζήλη φωνὴ γένετʼ Αἰακίδαο.
so clear then was the voice of the grandson of Aeacus.
οἳ δʼ ὡς οὖν ἄϊον ὄπα χάλκεον Αἰακίδαο,
And when they heard the bronze voice of the grandson of Aeacus,
πᾶσιν ὀρίνθη θυμός· ἀτὰρ καλλίτριχες ἵπποι
the hearts of all were dismayed; and the fair-maned horses
ἂψ ὄχεα τρόπεον· ὄσσοντο γὰρ ἄλγεα θυμῷ.
turned the chariots backward, for they foreboded woes in their minds.
ἡνίοχοι δʼ ἔκπληγεν, ἐπεὶ ἴδον ἀκάματον πῦρ
And the charioteers were struck with panic when they saw the tireless fire
δεινὸν ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς μεγαθύμου Πηλεΐωνος
burning terribly over the head of the great-hearted son of Peleus;
δαιόμενον· τὸ δὲ δαῖε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
and the flashing-eyed goddess Athena kindled it.
τρὶς μὲν ὑπὲρ τάφρου μεγάλʼ ἴαχε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
Thrice over the trench shouted noble Achilles,
τρὶς δὲ κυκήθησαν Τρῶες κλειτοί τʼ ἐπίκουροι.
and thrice were the Trojans and their famous allies thrown into confusion.
ἔνθα δὲ καὶ τότʼ ὄλοντο δυώδεκα φῶτες ἄριστοι
And there and then twelve of their best men perished
ἀμφὶ σφοῖς ὀχέεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσιν.4 αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
around their own chariots and spears. But the Achaeans
ἀσπασίως Πάτροκλον ὑπʼ ἐκ βελέων ἐρύσαντες
gladly dragged Patroclus out from among the missiles
κάτθεσαν ἐν λεχέεσσι· φίλοι δʼ ἀμφέσταν ἑταῖροι
and laid him on a litter; and his dear companions stood around him
μυρόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφι ποδώκης εἵπετʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
weeping; and among them followed swift-footed Achilles,
δάκρυα θερμὰ χέων, ἐπεὶ εἴσιδε πιστὸν ἑταῖρον
shedding hot tears, when he beheld his faithful companion
κείμενον ἐν φέρτρῳ δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
lying on a bier, mangled by the sharp bronze,
τόν ῥʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἔπεμπε σὺν ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν
whom he had indeed sent forth with horses and chariots
ἐς πόλεμον, οὐδʼ αὖτις ἐδέξατο νοστήσαντα.
into war, but never again welcomed him returning.
Ἠέλιον δʼ ἀκάμαντα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη
And the tireless Sun, the ox-eyed queenly Hera
πέμψεν ἐπʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥοὰς ἀέκοντα νέεσθαι·
sent to go, unwilling, to the streams of Oceanus;
ἠέλιος μὲν ἔδυ, παύσαντο δὲ δῖοι Ἀχαιοὶ
so the sun set, and the noble Achaeans ceased from
φυλόπιδος κρατερῆς καὶ ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο.
the mighty conflict and the equally shared war.
Τρῶες δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀπὸ κρατερῆς ὑσμίνης
And the Trojans on their part, withdrawing from the fierce combat,
χωρήσαντες ἔλυσαν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους,
loosed their swift horses from beneath their chariots,
ἐς δʼ ἀγορὴν ἀγέροντο πάρος δόρποιο μέδεσθαι.
and gathered in assembly before minding their supper.
ὀρθῶν δʼ ἑσταότων ἀγορὴ γένετʼ, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
And the assembly was held standing, nor did anyone dare
ἕζεσθαι· πάντας γὰρ ἔχε τρόμος, οὕνεκʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
to sit; for trembling held them all, because Achilles
ἐξεφάνη, δηρὸν δὲ μάχης ἐπέπαυτʼ ἀλεγεινῆς.
had appeared, who had long ceased from grievous war.
τοῖσι δὲ Πουλυδάμας πεπνυμένος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν
And among them the wise Polydamas began to speak,
Πανθοΐδης· ὃ γὰρ οἶος ὅρα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω·5
the son of Panthous, who alone looked before and after.
Ἕκτορι δʼ ἦεν ἑταῖρος, ἰῇ δʼ ἐν νυκτὶ γένοντο,
He was a companion to Hector, and in one night they were born;
ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἂρ μύθοισιν, ὃ δʼ ἔγχεϊ πολλὸν ἐνίκα·
but the one excelled in words, the other far in the spear.
ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
He with wise intent spoke and addressed them:
ἀμφὶ μάλα φράζεσθε φίλοι· κέλομαι γὰρ ἔγωγε
”Consider well, my friends; for I bid
ἄστυδε νῦν ἰέναι, μὴ μίμνειν ἠῶ δῖαν
you go now to the city, and not wait for the bright dawn
ἐν πεδίῳ παρὰ νηυσίν· ἑκὰς δʼ ἀπὸ τείχεός εἰμεν.
in the plain by the ships; for we are far from the wall.
ὄφρα μὲν οὗτος ἀνὴρ Ἀγαμέμνονι μήνιε δίῳ
As long as this man was angry with noble Agamemnon,
τόφρα δὲ ῥηΐτεροι πολεμίζειν ἦσαν Ἀχαιοί·
so long were the Achaeans easier to fight;
χαίρεσκον γὰρ ἔγωγε θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἰαύων
for I too was glad as I slept by the swift ships,
ἐλπόμενος νῆας αἱρησέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.
hoping that we would take the curved ships.
νῦν δʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα·
But now I terribly fear the swift-footed son of Peleus;
οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπέρβιος, οὐκ ἐθελήσει
such is his violent spirit, he will not be willing
μίμνειν ἐν πεδίῳ, ὅθι περ Τρῶες καὶ Ἀχαιοὶ
to remain in the plain, where both Trojans and Achaeans
ἐν μέσῳ ἀμφότεροι μένος Ἄρηος δατέονται,
in the midst share the force of Ares,
ἀλλὰ περὶ πτόλιός τε μαχήσεται ἠδὲ γυναικῶν.
but he will fight for our city and our women.
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν προτὶ ἄστυ, πίθεσθέ μοι· ὧδε γὰρ ἔσται·
But let us go to the city; yield to me, for so it shall be.
νῦν μὲν νὺξ ἀπέπαυσε ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα
Now indeed immortal night has stayed the swift-footed son of Peleus;
ἀμβροσίη· εἰ δʼ ἄμμε κιχήσεται ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντας
but if he shall find us remaining here
αὔριον ὁρμηθεὶς σὺν τεύχεσιν, εὖ νύ τις αὐτὸν
tomorrow, rushing forth with his armor, well will many a man know him;
γνώσεται· ἀσπασίως γὰρ ἀφίξεται Ἴλιον ἱρὴν
for gladly will he reach sacred Ilios
ὅς κε φύγῃ, πολλοὺς δὲ κύνες καὶ γῦπες ἔδονται
whosoever escapes, and many of the Trojans will dogs and vultures devour;
Τρώων· αἲ γὰρ δή μοι ἀπʼ οὔατος6 ὧδε γένοιτο.
may such news be far from my ear.
εἰ δʼ ἂν ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πιθώμεθα κηδόμενοί περ,
But if we yield to my words, though we are anxious,
νύκτα μὲν εἰν ἀγορῇ σθένος ἕξομεν, ἄστυ δὲ πύργοι
during the night we shall keep our strength in the assembly, and the city will be guarded by towers
ὑψηλαί τε πύλαι σανίδες τʼ ἐπὶ τῇς ἀραρυῖαι
and high gates, and fitted doors upon them.
- 18.207ὡς δʼ ὅτε
An introductory formula for a simile. It uses the image of smoke and battle on a distant island to describe the brilliance of the fire rising from Achilles' head.
- 18.213αἴ κέν πως ... ἵκωνται
The conjunction αἴ κέ (εἴ κε) followed by the subjunctive mood, forming an adverbial clause that expresses hope or purpose ('in the hope that...').
- 18.219ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀριζήλη φωνή
A verb is omitted immediately after the conjunction ὡς δʼ ὅτε; it should be understood as 'as when a clear voice [is heard].' This is further explained by the following clause ὅτε τʼ ἴαχε σάλπιγξ.
- 18.231ἀμφὶ σφοῖς ὀχέεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσιν
The preposition ἀμφί with the dative case literally means 'around,' but here it indicates the tragic circumstance where they perished by being entangled in or crushed by their own chariots and spears in the panic.
- 18.250πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω
Literally 'forward and backward,' this is an idiomatic expression denoting the wisdom to look 'before and after,' meaning both the past and the future, or the causes and consequences of events.
- 18.272ἀπʼ οὔατος
Meaning 'far from my ear.' This is an expression of prayer by Polydamas that such ominous news of Trojan defeat and casualties might never reach his ears (i.e., that such a tragedy would not happen).
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-23) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
- 2026-09-21 AI review — note 1