- 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-grc2:23.347-23.415
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-02
Nestor finishes his advice, and the chariot race begins. Achilles shakes the lots to determine the starting order. Due to Apollo's hindrance of Diomedes and Athena's intervention, Eumelus crashes, and Diomedes takes the lead.
Ἀδρήστου ταχὺν ἵππον, ὃς ἐκ θεόφιν γένος ἦεν,
the swift horse of Adrastus, which was of divine descent,
ἢ τοὺς Λαομέδοντος,1 οἳ ἐνθάδε γʼ ἔτραφεν ἐσθλοί.
or those of Laomedon, which were noble horses bred here.
ὣς εἰπὼν Νέστωρ Νηλήϊος ἂψ ἐνὶ χώρῃ
So saying, Neleian Nestor sat down again in his place,
ἕζετʼ, ἐπεὶ ᾧ παιδὶ ἑκάστου πείρατʼ ἔειπε.
when he had told his son the sum of every matter.
Μηριόνης δʼ ἄρα πέμπτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθʼ ἵππους.
And Meriones was the fifth to harness his fair-maned horses.
ἂν δʼ ἔβαν ἐς δίφρους, ἐν δὲ κλήρους ἐβάλοντο·
Then they climbed into their chariot-seats and cast in their lots;
πάλλʼ Ἀχιλεύς, ἐκ δὲ κλῆρος θόρε Νεστορίδαο
Achilles shook them, and out leapt the lot of Antilochus,
Ἀντιλόχου· μετὰ τὸν δʼ ἔλαχε κρείων Εὔμηλος·
son of Nestor; and after him the lord Eumelus drew his place;
τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης δουρὶ κλειτὸς Μενέλαος,
and after him Atreus’ son, Menelaus, famous with the spear,
τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Μηριόνης λάχʼ ἐλαυνέμεν· ὕστατος αὖτε
and after him Meriones drew his place to drive; and last of all
Τυδεΐδης ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἐὼν2 λάχʼ ἐλαυνέμεν ἵππους.
the son of Tydeus, though far the best, drew his place to drive his horses.
στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί, σήμηνε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
They stood in a row, and Achilles showed them the turning-post
τηλόθεν ἐν λείῳ πεδίῳ· παρὰ δὲ σκοπὸν εἷσεν
far off in the smooth plain; and beside it he seated as a watchman
ἀντίθεον Φοίνικα ὀπάονα πατρὸς ἑοῖο,
godlike Phoenix, the follower of his own father,
ὡς μεμνέῳτο δρόμους καὶ ἀληθείην ἀποείποι.
that he might keep the race in mind and report the truth.
οἳ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἐφʼ ἵπποιιν μάστιγας ἄειραν,
Then they all together lifted their whips over their horses,
πέπληγόν θʼ ἱμᾶσιν, ὁμόκλησάν τʼ ἐπέεσσιν
and struck them with the reins, and called to them with words
ἐσσυμένως· οἳ δʼ ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο
eagerly; and they swiftly covered the plain,
νόσφι νεῶν ταχέως· ὑπὸ δὲ στέρνοισι κονίη
speeding far from the ships; and beneath their chests the dust
ἵστατʼ ἀειρομένη ὥς τε νέφος ἠὲ θύελλα,
stood rising like a cloud or a whirlwind,
χαῖται δʼ ἐρρώοντο μετὰ πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.
and their manes flew streaming in the breath of the wind.
ἅρματα δʼ ἄλλοτε μὲν χθονὶ πίλνατο πουλυβοτείρῃ,
And the chariots at one time would graze the bountiful earth,
ἄλλοτε δʼ ἀΐξασκε μετήορα· τοὶ δʼ ἐλατῆρες
and at another would leap high into the air; and the drivers
ἕστασαν ἐν δίφροισι, πάτασσε δὲ θυμὸς ἑκάστου
stood in their chariot-seats, and the heart of each of them beat fast
νίκης ἱεμένων· κέκλοντο δὲ οἷσιν ἕκαστος
as they yearned for victory; and each called to his own
ἵπποις, οἳ δʼ ἐπέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.
horses, and they flew along, raising the dust of the plain.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον ὠκέες ἵπποι
But when the swift horses were finishing the last part of the course,
ἂψ ἐφʼ ἁλὸς πολιῆς, τότε δὴ ἀρετή γε ἑκάστου
back towards the grey sea, then indeed the prowess of each
φαίνετʼ, ἄφαρ δʼ ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος· ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτα
was shown, and at once the pace of the horses was strained to the utmost. And quickly then
αἳ Φηρητιάδαο ποδώκεες ἔκφερον ἵπποι.
the swift-footed mares of the grandson of Pheres began to pull ahead.
τὰς δὲ μετʼ ἐξέφερον Διομήδεος ἄρσενες ἵπποι
And after them the male Trojan horses of Diomedes
Τρώϊοι, οὐδέ τι πολλὸν ἄνευθʼ ἔσαν, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐγγύς·
pressed close, nor were they far off at all, but very near;
αἰεὶ γὰρ δίφρου ἐπιβησομένοισιν ἐΐκτην,3
for they seemed always about to step onto Eumelus’ chariot,
πνοιῇ δʼ Εὐμήλοιο μετάφρενον εὐρέε τʼ ὤμω
and with their breath the back and broad shoulders of Eumelus
θέρμετʼ· ἐπʼ αὐτῷ γὰρ κεφαλὰς καταθέντε πετέσθην.
grew warm; for they flew along with their heads leaning right over him.
καί νύ κεν ἢ παρέλασσʼ ἢ ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν,
And now he would have passed him or made the issue doubtful,
εἰ μὴ4 Τυδέος υἷϊ κοτέσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
had not Phoebus Apollo been angry with the son of Tydeus,
ὅς ῥά οἱ ἐκ χειρῶν ἔβαλεν μάστιγα φαεινήν.
and struck the shining whip from his hands.
τοῖο δʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν χύτο δάκρυα χωομένοιο,
From his eyes ran tears in his anger,
οὕνεκα τὰς μὲν ὅρα ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἰούσας,
because he saw the mares going even far faster,
οἳ δέ οἱ ἐβλάφθησαν ἄνευ κέντροιο θέοντες.
while his own horses were slowed, running without a goad.
οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθηναίην ἐλεφηράμενος λάθʼ Ἀπόλλων
But Apollo did not escape the notice of Athena as he harmed the son of Tydeus,
Τυδεΐδην, μάλα δʼ ὦκα μετέσσυτο ποιμένα λαῶν,
and very quickly she sped after the shepherd of the people,
δῶκε δέ οἱ μάστιγα, μένος δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐνῆκεν·
and gave him back his whip, and put strength into his horses.
ἣ δὲ μετʼ Ἀδμήτου υἱὸν κοτέουσʼ ἐβεβήκει,
Then she went in anger after the son of Admetus,
ἵππειον δέ οἱ ἦξε θεὰ ζυγόν· αἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι
and the goddess broke the yoke of his horses; and his mares
ἀμφὶς ὁδοῦ δραμέτην, ῥυμὸς δʼ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἐλύσθη.
ran to either side of the way, and the pole slipped to the ground.
αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο παρὰ τροχὸν ἐξεκυλίσθη,
And he himself was rolled from the chariot-seat beside the wheel,
ἀγκῶνάς τε περιδρύφθη στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε,
and his elbows were torn all around, and his mouth and nose,
θρυλίχθη δὲ μέτωπον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι· τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
and his forehead was bruised above his brows; and both his eyes
δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.
were filled with tears, and his strong voice was checked.
Τυδεΐδης δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους,
Then the son of Tydeus turned his single-hoofed horses aside and drove them on,
πολλὸν τῶν ἄλλων ἐξάλμενος· ἐν γὰρ Ἀθήνη
leaping far ahead of the others; for Athena
ἵπποις ἧκε μένος καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκε.
had put strength into his horses and given glory to him.
τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εἶχε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
And after him blond Menelaus, son of Atreus, held his course.
Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο πατρὸς ἑοῖο·
But Antilochus called to the horses of his father:
ἔμβητον καὶ σφῶϊ· τιταίνετον ὅττι τάχιστα.
”Go forward, you two as well! Stretch yourselves to the utmost speed.
ἤτοι μὲν κείνοισιν ἐριζέμεν οὔ τι κελεύω
Indeed, I do not bid you strive with those,
Τυδεΐδεω ἵπποισι δαΐφρονος, οἷσιν Ἀθήνη
the horses of wise Tydeus’ son, to which Athena
νῦν ὤρεξε τάχος καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκεν·
has now given speed and to him granted glory;
ἵππους δʼ Ἀτρεΐδαο κιχάνετε, μὴ δὲ λίπησθον,
but catch up with the horses of Atreus’ son, and do not be left behind,
καρπαλίμως, μὴ σφῶϊν ἐλεγχείην καταχεύῃ
quickly, lest Aethe pour shame upon you two,
Αἴθη θῆλυς ἐοῦσα· τί ἢ λείπεσθε φέριστοι;
though she is a female. Why are you left behind, brave ones?
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
For thus I will speak out, and surely it will be fulfilled:
οὐ σφῶϊν κομιδὴ παρὰ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶν
there will be no care for you two with Nestor, shepherd of the people,
ἔσσεται,5 αὐτίκα δʼ ὔμμε κατακτενεῖ ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
but he will straightway slay you with the sharp bronze,
αἴ κʼ ἀποκηδήσαντε φερώμεθα χεῖρον ἄεθλον.
if through your negligence we bring back the worse prize.
ἀλλʼ ἐφομαρτεῖτον καὶ σπεύδετον ὅττι τάχιστα·
But follow after and hasten as fast as you can;
ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς τεχνήσομαι ἠδὲ νοήσω
and these things I will myself devise and plan,”
- 23.347Ἀδρήστου ταχὺν ἵππον... ἢ τοὺς Λαομέδοντος
Appositive to the accusative Ἀρίονα (the divine horse Arion) in the preceding line (§23.346). The singular ἵππον refers directly to Arion, while the accusative plural article τοὺς in line 348 (with ἵππους omitted) refers to the horses of Laomedon, both added in connection with the object of ἐλαύνοι.
- 23.357ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἐὼν
The present participle ἐὼν expresses a concessive meaning ("although he was"). It conveys that although Diomedes was by far the best charioteer, he drew the last starting position in the lot.
- 23.379ἐπιβησομένοισιν ἐΐκτην
The future participle ἐπιβησομένοισιν (from ἐπιβαίνω, dative plural) combined with ἐΐκτην (third-person dual imperfect/pluperfect of ἔοικα, meaning "seemed") expresses a pressing intention or imminent action ("they seemed always about to step onto [the chariot]").
- 23.382καί νύ κεν ἢ παρέλασσʼ... εἰ μὴ...
A contrary-to-fact conditional sentence referring to the past. The apodosis uses the particle κεν with the past indicative (παρέλασσε, ἔθηκε), and the protasis uses εἰ μή with the past indicative (κοτέσσατο).
- 23.411οὐ σφῶϊν κομιδὴ... ἔσσεται
The second-person dual dative pronoun σφῶϊν functions as a dative of possession, meaning "there will be no care for you two," i.e., "you two will receive no care."