- 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-grc2:23.279-23.346
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-02
Achilles declares he will not compete due to the grief of his horses over Patroclus, and invites the other Achaeans to race. Nestor advises his son Antilochus, imparting detailed tactical wisdom and maneuvers at the turning-post to overcome the slowness of his horses.
ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ μενέω καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι·
But indeed I shall remain, and my single-hoofed horses;
τοίου γὰρ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσαν ἡνιόχοιο
for they have lost the noble glory of such a charioteer,
ἠπίου, ὅς σφωϊν μάλα πολλάκις ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον
gentle, who very often upon their manes wet olive oil
χαιτάων κατέχευε λοέσσας1 ὕδατι λευκῷ.
poured, after washing them with clear water.
τὸν τώ γʼ ἑσταότες πενθείετον, οὔδεϊ δέ σφι
Him those two stand and mourn, and on the ground for them
χαῖται ἐρηρέδαται,2 τὼ δʼ ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.
their manes are trailed, and they stand grieving in their heart.
ἄλλοι δὲ στέλλεσθε κατὰ στρατόν, ὅς τις Ἀχαιῶν
But do you others prepare throughout the army, whoever of the Achaeans
ἵπποισίν τε πέποιθε καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν.
trusts in his horses and well-jointed chariots.
ὣς φάτο Πηλεΐδης, ταχέες δʼ ἱππῆες ἄγερθεν.
So spoke the son of Peleus, and the swift horsemen assembled.
ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Εὔμηλος
First by far arose Eumelus, lord of men,
Ἀδμήτου φίλος υἱός, ὃς ἱπποσύνῃ ἐκέκαστο·
the dear son of Admetus, who excelled in horsemanship;
τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης,
and after him arose the strong Diomedes, son of Tydeus,
ἵππους δὲ Τρῳοὺς ὕπαγε ζυγόν, οὕς ποτʼ ἀπηύρα
and he led under the yoke the Trojan horses, which once he took from
Αἰνείαν, ἀτὰρ αὐτὸν ὑπεξεσάωσεν Ἀπόλλων.
Aeneas, though Apollo saved Aeneas himself.
τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ὦρτο ξανθὸς Μενέλαος
And after him arose blond Menelaus, son of Atreus,
διογενής, ὑπὸ δὲ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ὠκέας ἵππους
sprung from Zeus, and under the yoke he led swift horses,
Αἴθην τὴν Ἀγαμεμνονέην τὸν ἑόν τε Πόδαργον·
Aethe, Agamemnon’s mare, and his own horse Podargus;
τὴν Ἀγαμέμνονι δῶκʼ Ἀγχισιάδης Ἐχέπωλος
her did Echepolus, son of Anchises, give to Agamemnon
δῶρʼ, ἵνα μή οἱ ἕποιθʼ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν,
as a gift, so that he might not follow him to windy Ilios,
ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ τέρποιτο μένων· μέγα γάρ οἱ ἔδωκε
but might stay and enjoy himself at home; for great wealth had Zeus given
Ζεὺς ἄφενος, ναῖεν δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Σικυῶνι·
him, and he dwelt in Sicyon of the wide dancing floors;
τὴν ὅ γʼ ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἦγε μέγα δρόμου ἰσχανόωσαν.
her he led under the yoke, she being very eager for the race.
Ἀντίλοχος δὲ τέταρτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθʼ ἵππους,
And fourth Antilochus harnessed his fair-maned horses,
Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς ὑπερθύμοιο ἄνακτος
the glorious son of high-hearted king Nestor,
τοῦ Νηληϊάδαο· Πυλοιγενέες δέ οἱ ἵπποι
the son of Neleus; and his Pylian-born horses,
ὠκύποδες φέρον ἅρμα· πατὴρ δέ οἱ ἄγχι παραστὰς
swift of foot, bore his chariot; and his father, standing close beside him,
μυθεῖτʼ εἰς ἀγαθὰ φρονέων νοέοντι καὶ αὐτῷ·
spoke to him for his profit, though he was himself wise:
Ἀντίλοχʼ ἤτοι μέν σε νέον περ ἐόντʼ ἐφίλησαν
”Antilochus, though you are young, yet have loved you
Ζεύς τε Ποσειδάων τε, καὶ ἱπποσύνας ἐδίδαξαν
both Zeus and Poseidon, and have taught you horsemanship
παντοίας· τὼ καί σε διδασκέμεν οὔ τι μάλα χρεώ·
of every kind; therefore to teach you is not very necessary;
οἶσθα γὰρ εὖ περὶ τέρμαθʼ ἑλισσέμεν· ἀλλά τοι ἵπποι
for you know well how to wheel around the turning-post; but your horses
βάρδιστοι θείειν· τώ τʼ οἴω λοίγιʼ ἔσεσθαι.
are the slowest to run; and so I think there will be trouble.
τῶν δʼ ἵπποι μὲν ἔασιν ἀφάρτεροι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοὶ
The horses of the others are faster, but they themselves
πλείονα ἴσασιν σέθεν αὐτοῦ μητίσασθαι.
do not know how to plan better than you yourself.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ σὺ φίλος μῆτιν ἐμβάλλεο θυμῷ
But come, dear son, lay up in your mind device
παντοίην, ἵνα μή σε παρεκπροφύγῃσιν ἄεθλα.
of every kind, so that the prizes may not escape you.
μήτι3 τοι δρυτόμος μέγʼ ἀμείνων ἠὲ βίηφι·
By skill is a woodcutter far better than by force;
μήτι δʼ αὖτε κυβερνήτης ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ
and by skill again a helmsman on the wine-dark sea
νῆα θοὴν ἰθύνει ἐρεχθομένην ἀνέμοισι·
guides a swift ship when it is tossed by winds;
μήτι δʼ ἡνίοχος περιγίγνεται ἡνιόχοιο.
and by skill again a charioteer surpasses a charioteer.
ἀλλʼ ὃς μέν θʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν οἷσι πεποιθὼς
But he who, trusting only in his horses and chariot,
ἀφραδέως ἐπὶ πολλὸν ἑλίσσεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
mindlessly wheels wide this way and that,
ἵπποι δὲ πλανόωνται ἀνὰ δρόμον, οὐδὲ κατίσχει·
his horses wander over the course, and he does not hold them in;
ὃς δέ κε κέρδεα εἰδῇ ἐλαύνων ἥσσονας ἵππους,
but he who knows cunning tricks, though driving slower horses,
αἰεὶ τέρμʼ ὁρόων στρέφει ἐγγύθεν, οὐδέ ἑ λήθει
always keeping his eye on the turning-post, turns close to it, nor does it escape him
ὅππως τὸ πρῶτον τανύσῃ βοέοισιν ἱμᾶσιν,
how at the first he must stretch his horses with the leather reins,
ἀλλʼ ἔχει ἀσφαλέως καὶ τὸν προὔχοντα δοκεύει.
but he holds them steadily and watches the one in front.
σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλʼ ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει.
And a sign I will tell you, very clear, nor shall it escape you.
ἕστηκε ξύλον αὖον ὅσον τʼ ὄργυιʼ ὑπὲρ αἴης
There stands a dry stump, about a fathom above the ground,
ἢ δρυὸς ἢ πεύκης· τὸ μὲν οὐ καταπύθεται ὄμβρῳ,
either of oak or of pine; and it is not rotted by the rain,
λᾶε δὲ τοῦ ἑκάτερθεν ἐρηρέδαται δύο λευκὼ
and two white stones are propped on either side of it
ἐν ξυνοχῇσιν ὁδοῦ, λεῖος δʼ ἱππόδρομος ἀμφὶς
at the joining of the ways, and the smooth racecourse is around it;
ἤ τευ σῆμα βροτοῖο πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,
either it is the monument of some mortal dead long ago,
ἢ τό γε νύσσα τέτυκτο ἐπὶ προτέρων ἀνθρώπων,
or it was made a turning-post by men of former times,
καὶ νῦν τέρματʼ ἔθηκε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
and now swift-footed noble Achilles has made it the turning-post.
τῷ σὺ μάλʼ ἐγχρίμψας ἐλάαν σχεδὸν ἅρμα καὶ ἵππους,
Leaning close to this, drive your chariot and horses near,
αὐτὸς δὲ κλινθῆναι ἐϋπλέκτῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ
and yourself lean, in your well-woven chariot-seat,
ἦκʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ τοῖιν· ἀτὰρ τὸν δεξιὸν ἵππον
gently to the left of them; but the right-hand horse
κένσαι ὁμοκλήσας, εἶξαί τέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν.
goad, calling aloud to him, and give him rein with your hands.
ἐν νύσσῃ δέ τοι ἵππος ἀριστερὸς ἐγχριμφθήτω,
And at the turning-post let your left-hand horse lean close,
ὡς ἄν τοι πλήμνη γε δοάσσεται4 ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι
so that the hub of the well-made wheel may seem to touch the edge;
κύκλου ποιητοῖο· λίθου δʼ ἀλέασθαι ἐπαυρεῖν,
but avoid touching the stone,
μή πως ἵππους τε τρώσῃς κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξῃς·
lest you wound your horses and break your chariot;
χάρμα δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοισιν, ἐλεγχείη δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ
and there will be joy for the others, but shame for yourself;
ἔσσεται· ἀλλὰ φίλος φρονέων πεφυλαγμένος εἶναι.5
nay, dear son, be wise and be on your guard.
εἰ γάρ κʼ ἐν νύσσῃ γε παρεξελάσῃσθα διώκων,
For if at the turning-post you drive past in pursuit,
οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅς κέ σʼ ἕλῃσι μετάλμενος οὐδὲ παρέλθῃ,
there is no one who can catch you by leaping after you, nor pass you by,
οὐδʼ εἴ κεν μετόπισθεν Ἀρίονα δῖον ἐλαύνοι
not even if behind you he were driving noble Arion,”
- 23.282λοέσσας
Aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular, from λοέω (Homeric form of λούω). It agrees with the subject of the relative clause ὅς (Patroclus), meaning "after having washed them."
- 23.284ἐρηρέδαται
Third-person plural perfect middle/passive indicative of ἐρείδω, featuring the Epic Ionic ending -αται instead of -νται, with the feminine plural subject χαῖται.
- 23.315μήτι
Dative singular of μῆτις ("skill, wisdom"), functioning as a dative of means ("by skill"). It is placed at the beginning of successive lines for rhetorical emphasis. It should not be confused with the negative particle μή.
- 23.339ὡς ἄν τοι πλήμνη γε δοάσσεται
The construction ὡς ἄν with the subjunctive (or future indicative, here δοάσσεται, meaning "seems" or "appears") expresses purpose or expected result ("so that the hub may seem").
- 23.343πεφυλαγμένος εἶναι
The infinitive εἶναι (with the perfect passive participle πεφυλαγμένος) is used in an imperative sense (the infinitive of command).
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-23) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
- 2026-09-21 AI review — note 1