- 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-grc2:21.544-21.611
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-02
Stirred by Apollo, Agenor decides to face Achilles despite his inner doubts, and strikes Achilles with his spear. Apollo then rescues Agenor in a mist and, disguising himself as Agenor, lures Achilles away, allowing the panicked Trojans to safely retreat into the city.
ἔνθά κεν ὑψίπυλον Τροίην ἕλον1 υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
Then indeed would the sons of the Achaeans have taken high-gated Troy,
εἰ μὴ Ἀπόλλων Φοῖβος Ἀγήνορα δῖον ἀνῆκε
had not Phoebus Apollo roused noble Agenor,
φῶτʼ Ἀντήνορος υἱὸν ἀμύμονά τε κρατερόν τε.
a man, Antenor’s son, both blameless and strong.
ἐν μέν οἱ κραδίῃ θάρσος βάλε, πὰρ δέ οἱ αὐτὸς
Into his heart he cast courage, and he himself by his side
ἔστη, ὅπως θανάτοιο βαρείας χεῖρας ἀλάλκοι
stood, that he might ward off the heavy hands of death,
φηγῷ κεκλιμένος·2 κεκάλυπτο δʼ ἄρʼ ἠέρι πολλῇ.
leaning against the oak; and he was wrapped in thick mist.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ὡς ἐνόησεν Ἀχιλλῆα πτολίπορθον
But when he perceived Achilles, sacker of cities,
ἔστη, πολλὰ δέ οἱ κραδίη πόρφυρε μένοντι·
he stood, and many things did his heart ponder as he waited;
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
and deeply moved he spoke to his own great-hearted soul:
ὤ μοι ἐγών· εἰ μέν κεν ὑπὸ κρατεροῦ Ἀχιλῆος
”Ah me, if on the one hand I flee before mighty Achilles,
φεύγω,3 τῇ περ οἱ ἄλλοι ἀτυζόμενοι κλονέονται,
where the others are being routed in panic,
αἱρήσει με καὶ ὧς, καὶ ἀνάλκιδα δειροτομήσει.
he will catch me even so, and will cut my throat like a coward.
εἰ δʼ ἂν ἐγὼ τούτους μὲν ὑποκλονέεσθαι ἐάσω
But if on the other hand I leave these to be routed
Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ, ποσὶν δʼ ἀπὸ τείχεος ἄλλῃ
by Achilles, son of Peleus, and flee on my feet elsewhere away from the wall
φεύγω πρὸς πεδίον Ἰλήϊον, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκωμαι
toward the Ileian plain, until I reach
Ἴδης τε κνημοὺς κατά τε ῥωπήϊα δύω·
the spurs of Ida and enter the thickets;
ἑσπέριος δʼ ἂν ἔπειτα λοεσσάμενος ποταμοῖο
then in the evening, having bathed in the river
ἱδρῶ ἀποψυχθεὶς προτὶ Ἴλιον ἀπονεοίμην·4
and cooled myself of sweat, I might return to Ilios—
ἀλλὰ τί ἤ μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός;
yet why does my heart debate these things?
μή μʼ ἀπαειρόμενον πόλιος πεδίον δὲ νοήσῃ5
Let him not perceive me as I depart from the city toward the plain,
καί με μεταΐξας μάρψῃ ταχέεσσι πόδεσσιν.
and darting after me, overtake me with his swift feet.
οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ ἔσται θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξαι·
Then indeed it will no longer be possible to escape death and the fates;
λίην γὰρ κρατερὸς περὶ πάντων ἔστʼ ἀνθρώπων.
for he is exceedingly strong beyond all men.
εἰ δέ κέ οἱ προπάροιθε πόλεος κατεναντίον ἔλθω·
But what if I go to meet him face to face in front of the city?
καὶ γάρ θην τούτῳ τρωτὸς χρὼς ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
For surely his flesh too may be wounded by sharp bronze,
ἐν δὲ ἴα ψυχή, θνητὸν δέ ἕ φασʼ ἄνθρωποι
and there is but one life within, and mortal do men say
ἔμμεναι· αὐτάρ οἱ Κρονίδης Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει.
he is; yet Zeus, son of Kronos, grants him glory.”
ὣς εἰπὼν Ἀχιλῆα ἀλεὶς μένεν, ἐν δέ οἱ ἦτορ
So saying, he gathered himself and waited for Achilles, and within him his brave heart
ἄλκιμον ὁρμᾶτο πτολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.
was eager to fight and do battle.
ἠΰτε πάρδαλις εἶσι βαθείης ἐκ ξυλόχοιο
Even as a leopard goes forth from a deep thicket
ἀνδρὸς θηρητῆρος ἐναντίον, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ
to meet a huntsman, nor in her heart is she
ταρβεῖ οὐδὲ φοβεῖται, ἐπεί κεν ὑλαγμὸν ἀκούσῃ·
afraid or frightened when she hears the baying;
εἴ περ γὰρ φθάμενός μιν ἢ οὐτάσῃ ἠὲ βάλῃσιν,
for even if he prevent her and wound or strike her,
ἀλλά τε καὶ περὶ δουρὶ πεπαρμένη οὐκ ἀπολήγει
yet even though pierced with the spear she does not cease
ἀλκῆς, πρίν γʼ ἠὲ ξυμβλήμεναι ἠὲ δαμῆναι·
from her courage, until she either close with him or be subdued;
ὣς Ἀντήνορος υἱὸς ἀγαυοῦ δῖος Ἀγήνωρ
so the son of noble Antenor, illustrious Agenor,
οὐκ ἔθελεν φεύγειν, πρὶν πειρήσαιτʼ Ἀχιλῆος.
would not flee until he should make trial of Achilles.
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἀσπίδα μὲν πρόσθʼ ἔσχετο πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην,
But he held before him his shield, equal on every side,
ἐγχείῃ δʼ αὐτοῖο τιτύσκετο, καὶ μέγʼ ἀΰτει·
and aimed at him with his spear, and shouted aloud:
ἦ δή που μάλʼ ἔολπας ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φαίδιμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ
”Surely, I suppose, you hoped in your heart, glorious Achilles,
ἤματι τῷδε πόλιν πέρσειν Τρώων ἀγερώχων
on this day to sack the city of the lordly Trojans,
νηπύτιʼ· ἦ τʼ ἔτι πολλὰ τετεύξεται ἄλγεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῇ.
fool! Truly many griefs shall yet be wrought over it.
ἐν γάρ οἱ πολέες τε καὶ ἄλκιμοι ἀνέρες εἰμέν,
For within it we are many and valiant men,
οἳ καὶ πρόσθε φίλων τοκέων ἀλόχων τε καὶ υἱῶν
who in front of our dear parents and wives and sons
Ἴλιον εἰρυόμεσθα· σὺ δʼ ἐνθάδε πότμον ἐφέψεις
guard Ilios; but you shall here meet your doom,
ὧδʼ ἔκπαγλος ἐὼν καὶ θαρσαλέος πολεμιστής.
terrible and bold warrior though you are.”
ἦ ῥα, καὶ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα βαρείης χειρὸς ἀφῆκε,
He spoke, and let fly the sharp spear from his heavy hand,
καί ῥʼ ἔβαλε κνήμην ὑπὸ γούνατος οὐδʼ ἀφάμαρτεν.
and struck his shin below the knee, nor did he miss.
ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κνημὶς νεοτεύκτου κασσιτέροιο
And around him the greave of newly wrought tin
σμερδαλέον κονάβησε· πάλιν δʼ ἀπὸ χαλκὸς ὄρουσε
rang terribly; and back from him leapt the bronze
βλημένου, οὐδʼ ἐπέρησε, θεοῦ δʼ ἠρύκακε δῶρα.
of the one struck, nor did it pierce, for the gifts of the god warded it off.
Πηλεΐδης δʼ ὁρμήσατʼ Ἀγήνορος ἀντιθέοιο
Then the son of Peleus rushed next upon godlike Agenor;
δεύτερος· οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔασεν Ἀπόλλων κῦδος ἀρέσθαι,
but Apollo did not suffer him to win glory,
ἀλλά μιν ἐξήρπαξε, κάλυψε δʼ ἄρʼ ἠέρι πολλῇ,
snatched him away, and wrapped him in thick mist,
ἡσύχιον δʼ ἄρα μιν πολέμου ἔκπεμπε νέεσθαι.
and sent him to go peacefully out of the war.
αὐτὰρ ὃ Πηλεΐωνα δόλῳ ἀποέργαθε λαοῦ·
But he kept the son of Peleus away from the people by guile;
αὐτῷ γὰρ ἑκάεργος Ἀγήνορι πάντα ἐοικὼς
for making himself in all things like Agenor, the worker from afar
ἔστη πρόσθε ποδῶν, ὃ δʼ ἐπέσσυτο ποσσὶ διώκειν·
stood before his feet, and Achilles rushed to pursue him with his feet.
εἷος ὃ τὸν πεδίοιο διώκετο πυροφόροιο
While he pursued him over the wheat-bearing plain,
τρέψας πὰρ ποταμὸν βαθυδινήεντα Σκάμανδρον
turning him along the deep-eddying river Scamander
τυτθὸν ὑπεκπροθέοντα· δόλῳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔθελγεν Ἀπόλλων
as he ran but a little way before; and by guile Apollo beguiled him,
ὡς αἰεὶ ἔλποιτο κιχήσεσθαι ποσὶν οἷσι·
so that he always hoped to overtake him with his feet;
τόφρʼ ἄλλοι Τρῶες πεφοβημένοι ἦλθον ὁμίλῳ
meanwhile the other Trojans in panic came in a crowd
ἀσπάσιοι προτὶ ἄστυ, πόλις δʼ ἔμπλητο ἀλέντων.
gladly to the city, and the city was filled with those gathered together.
οὐδʼ ἄρα τοί γʼ ἔτλαν πόλιος καὶ τείχεος ἐκτὸς
Nor did they dare to remain outside the city and the wall
μεῖναι ἔτʼ ἀλλήλους, καὶ γνώμεναι ὅς τε πεφεύγοι
to wait for one another, and to know who had escaped
ὅς τʼ ἔθανʼ ἐν πολέμῳ· ἀλλʼ ἐσσυμένως ἐσέχυντο
and who had died in the battle; but eagerly they poured
ἐς πόλιν, ὅν τινα τῶν γε πόδες καὶ γοῦνα σαώσαι.6
into the city, whosoever of them his feet and knees saved.
- 21.544ἔνθά κεν ... ἕλον
This acts as the apodosis of a past contrary-to-fact condition. Combined with the particle κεν and the aorist indicative ἕλον, it expresses what would have happened ("the Achaeans would have taken Troy") but did not, because of the intervention described in the following condition (εἰ μὴ...).
- 21.549φηγῷ κεκλιμένος
A nominative singular perfect mediopassive participle agreeing with αὐτός (Apollo himself, line 547), the subject of the main clause. It indicates that Apollo was leaning against the oak tree as he stood by to protect Agenor. While some construe it with Agenor (dative οἱ), grammatical agreement makes it more natural to apply it to the god.
- 21.553εἰ μέν κεν ... φεύγω
A conditional protasis using εἰ + κεν + subjunctive (φεύγω), a Homeric construction used to vividly represent a future possibility ("if I should flee"). This leads to the future indicative (αἱρήσει) in the apodosis.
- 21.560ἑσπέριος δʼ ἂν ... ἀπονεοίμην
Optative (ἀπονεοίμην) with ἄν (continued from ἄν in line 558), expressing potentiality or a hypothetical future scenario ("I might return in the evening"). It frames Agenor's imagined, but highly risky, escape plan in his internal monologue.
- 21.563μή μʼ ... νοήσῃ
An independent clause expressing apprehension, featuring μή + subjunctive (νοήσῃ). It functions as a self-warning or expression of fear: "lest he should notice me" or "I fear that he will spot me."
- 21.611ὅν τινα ... σαώσαι
An optative (σαώσαι) in a relative clause, used here to define a general or hypothetical class ("whosoever his feet and knees might save"). It underscores the uncertainty of survival and the frantic, headlong nature of the retreat.
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-23) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
- 2026-09-21 AI review — note 1