- 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-grc2:21.338-21.403
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-02
Ordered by Hera, Hephaestus unleashes a devastating fire that dries up the plain and boils the river, forcing Xanthus to surrender and promise not to help the Trojans. Subsequently, a direct battle among the Olympian gods erupts, with Ares attacking Athena.
δένδρεα καῖʼ, ἐν δʼ αὐτὸν ἵει πυρί· μὴ δέ σε πάμπαν
burn the trees, and cast fire upon the River himself; let him by no means
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρεπέτω1 καὶ ἀρειῇ·
turn you back by soothing words and threats;
μὴ δὲ πρὶν ἀπόπαυε τεὸν μένος, ἀλλʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν δὴ
nor stay your fury before, but when at length
φθέγξομʼ ἐγὼν ἰάχουσα, τότε σχεῖν ἀκάματον πῦρ.
I shout and give the sign, then stay your unwearied fire.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἥφαιστος δὲ τιτύσκετο θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ.
So she spoke, and Hephaestus prepared his wondrous-blazing fire.
πρῶτα μὲν ἐν πεδίῳ πῦρ δαίετο, καῖε δὲ νεκροὺς
First on the plain the fire was kindled, and it burned the dead
πολλούς, οἵ ῥα κατʼ αὐτὸν ἅλις ἔσαν, οὓς κτάνʼ Ἀχιλλεύς·
who lay there in abundance, whom Achilles had slain;
πᾶν δʼ ἐξηράνθη πεδίον, σχέτο δʼ ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ.
and all the plain was dried, and the bright water was stayed.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ὀπωρινὸς Βορέης νεοαρδέʼ ἀλωὴν
And as when the north wind of autumn quickly dries a newly watered orchard,
αἶψʼ ἀγξηράνῃ· χαίρει δέ μιν ὅς τις ἐθείρῃ·
and he who tills it is glad;
ὣς ἐξηράνθη πεδίον πᾶν, κὰδ δʼ ἄρα νεκροὺς
so was the whole plain dried, and he burned the dead;
κῆεν· ὃ δʼ ἐς ποταμὸν τρέψε φλόγα παμφανόωσαν.
and then he turned his gleaming flame against the River.
καίοντο πτελέαι τε καὶ ἰτέαι ἠδὲ μυρῖκαι,
Burned were the elms and the willows and the tamarisks,
καίετο δὲ λωτός τε ἰδὲ θρύον ἠδὲ κύπειρον,
and burned was the lotus and the reed and the galingale,
τὰ περὶ καλὰ ῥέεθρα ἅλις ποταμοῖο πεφύκει·
which grew in abundance about the beautiful streams of the river.
τείροντʼ ἐγχέλυές τε καὶ ἰχθύες οἳ κατὰ δίνας,
Harassed were the eels and the fish that down the eddies,
οἳ κατὰ καλὰ ῥέεθρα κυβίστων ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
and down the beautiful streams were tumbling this way and that,
πνοιῇ τειρόμενοι πολυμήτιος Ἡφαίστοιο.
harassed by the blast of wise Hephaestus.
καίετο δʼ ἲς ποταμοῖο2 ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
Burned too was the strength of the River, and he spoke and addressed him:
Ἥφαιστʼ, οὔ τις σοί γε θεῶν δύνατʼ ἀντιφερίζειν,
”Hephaestus, no one of the gods can contend against you,
οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼ σοί γʼ ὧδε πυρὶ φλεγέθοντι μαχοίμην.
nor would I fight with you thus, when you blaze with fire.
λῆγʼ ἔριδος, Τρῶας δὲ καὶ αὐτίκα δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
Cease from strife, and let noble Achilles drive the Trojans straightway from their city;
ἄστεος ἐξελάσειε· τί μοι ἔριδος καὶ ἀρωγῆς;3
what have I to do with strife and helping?”
φῆ πυρὶ καιόμενος, ἀνὰ δʼ ἔφλυε καλὰ ῥέεθρα.
So he spoke, parched with fire, and his beautiful streams bubbled up.
ὡς δὲ λέβης ζεῖ ἔνδον ἐπειγόμενος πυρὶ πολλῷ
And as a cauldron boils within, urged by a great fire,
κνίσην μελδόμενος ἁπαλοτρεφέος σιάλοιο
melting the lard of a tender-fed swine
πάντοθεν ἀμβολάδην, ὑπὸ δὲ ξύλα κάγκανα κεῖται,
on every side, bubbling up, and dry wood lies beneath;
ὣς τοῦ καλὰ ῥέεθρα πυρὶ φλέγετο, ζέε δʼ ὕδωρ·
so were his beautiful streams burned with fire, and the water boiled;
οὐδʼ ἔθελε προρέειν, ἀλλʼ ἴσχετο· τεῖρε δʼ ἀϋτμὴ
nor would it flow forward, but was stayed; for the blast
Ἡφαίστοιο βίηφι πολύφρονος. αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ Ἥρην
of wise Hephaestus’ might harassed him. Then he made
πολλὰ λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
long entreaty to Hera, and spoke to her winged words:
Ἥρη τίπτε σὸς υἱὸς ἐμὸν ῥόον ἔχραε κήδειν
”Hera, why does your son set upon my stream to vex it
ἐξ ἄλλων;4 οὐ μέν τοι ἐγὼ τόσον αἴτιός εἰμι
above others? I am not so much to blame in your eyes
ὅσσον οἱ ἄλλοι πάντες, ὅσοι Τρώεσσιν ἀρωγοί.
as all the others who are helpers to the Trojans.
ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼν ἀποπαύσομαι εἰ σὺ κελεύεις,
But I will indeed cease, if you so bid,
παυέσθω δὲ καὶ οὗτος· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπὶ καὶ τόδʼ ὀμοῦμαι,
and let him also cease; and I will moreover swear this:
μή ποτʼ ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀλεξήσειν κακὸν ἦμαρ,
never to ward off the evil day from the Trojans,
μὴ δʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν Τροίη μαλερῷ πυρὶ πᾶσα δάηται
not even when all Troy shall burn with consuming fire,
καιομένη, καίωσι δʼ ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
and the warlike sons of the Achaeans shall burn it.”
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,
But when the goddess, white-armed Hera, heard this,
αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ Ἥφαιστον προσεφώνεεν ὃν φίλον υἱόν·
straightway she spoke to Hephaestus, her own dear son:
Ἥφαιστε σχέο τέκνον ἀγακλεές· οὐ γὰρ ἔοικεν
”Hephaestus, hold, my glorious child! For it is not seemly
ἀθάνατον θεὸν ὧδε βροτῶν ἕνεκα στυφελίζειν.
to harass an immortal god thus for the sake of mortals.”
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἥφαιστος δὲ κατέσβεσε θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ,
So she spoke, and Hephaestus quenched his wondrous-blazing fire,
ἄψορρον δʼ ἄρα κῦμα κατέσσυτο καλὰ ῥέεθρα.
and back again the wave rushed into the beautiful streams.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Ξάνθοιο δάμη μένος, οἳ μὲν ἔπειτα
But when the strength of Xanthus was vanquished, the two then
παυσάσθην, Ἥρη γὰρ ἐρύκακε χωομένη περ·
ceased, for Hera held them back, though she was wroth;
ἐν δʼ ἄλλοισι θεοῖσιν ἔρις πέσε βεβριθυῖα
but among the other gods fell strife heavy
ἀργαλέη, δίχα δέ σφιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἄητο·
and grievous, and the spirit in their hearts was blown in diverse directions;
σὺν δʼ ἔπεσον μεγάλῳ πατάγῳ, βράχε δʼ εὐρεῖα χθών,
and they clashed with a great din, and the wide earth rang,
ἀμφὶ δὲ σάλπιγξεν μέγας οὐρανός. ἄϊε δὲ Ζεὺς
and the great heaven trumpeted around. And Zeus heard it
ἥμενος Οὐλύμπῳ· ἐγέλασσε δέ οἱ φίλον ἦτορ
as he sat on Olympus, and his heart laughed
γηθοσύνῃ, ὅθʼ ὁρᾶτο θεοὺς ἔριδι ξυνιόντας.
for joy when he saw the gods coming together in strife.
ἔνθʼ οἵ γʼ οὐκέτι δηρὸν ἀφέστασαν· ἦρχε γὰρ Ἄρης
Then they stood not long apart, for Ares, piercer of shields, led the way,
ῥινοτόρος, καὶ πρῶτος Ἀθηναίῃ ἐπόρουσε
and first rushed upon Athena
χάλκεον ἔγχος ἔχων, καὶ ὀνείδειον φάτο μῦθον·
holding his bronze spear, and spoke words of reviling:
τίπτʼ αὖτʼ ὦ κυνάμυια θεοὺς ἔριδι ξυνελαύνεις
”Why now again, you dog-fly, do you clash the gods together in strife
θάρσος ἄητον ἔχουσα, μέγας δέ σε θυμὸς ἀνῆκεν;
with your restless daring, and as your great heart incites you?
ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε Τυδεΐδην Διομήδεʼ ἀνῆκας
Remember you not when you egged on Diomedes, son of Tydeus,
οὐτάμεναι, αὐτὴ δὲ πανόψιον ἔγχος ἑλοῦσα
to wound me, and yourself taking the spear in all men’s sight
ἰθὺς ἐμεῦ ὦσας, διὰ δὲ χρόα καλὸν ἔδαψας;
did drive it straight against me and tear my fair flesh?
τώ σʼ αὖ νῦν ὀΐω ἀποτισέμεν ὅσσα ἔοργας.
Therefore now I deem you shall pay for all that you have wrought.”
ὣς εἰπὼν οὔτησε κατʼ αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν
So saying, he smote upon her tasselled aegis,
σμερδαλέην, ἣν οὐδὲ Διὸς δάμνησι κεραυνός·
terrible, which not even the lightning of Zeus can subdue;
τῇ μιν Ἄρης οὔτησε μιαιφόνος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ.
thereon blood-stained Ares smote with his long spear.
ἣ δʼ ἀναχασσαμένη λίθον εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ
But she, drawing back, seized with her stout hand a stone
- 21.339ἀποτρεπέτω
Third-person singular present imperative. The subject is the preceding "αὐτόν" (the River Xanthus), and the object is the accusative "σε" (Hephaestus). The context means "do not let him (the River) turn you back with gentle words or threats."
- 21.356ἲς ποταμοῖο
The subject. Literally "the strength of the River," which is a metonymic expression referring to the River god Xanthus himself.
- 21.360τί μοι ἔριδος καὶ ἀρωγῆς;
Using the dative of interest "μοι" and the genitives of relation "ἔριδος καὶ ἀρωγῆς," this forms a rhetorical question: "What have I to do with strife and helping?" (meaning "they are of no concern to me").
- 21.370ἐξ ἄλλων
Prepositional phrase. Meaning "differently from others" or "distinctly from all others," expressing Xanthus's complaint about why he is being singled out by Hephaestus's attack.