- 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-grc2:23.555-23.622
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-03
Achilles accepts Antilochus' defense and compensates Eumelus with a bronze breastplate, while Menelaus demands an oath from Antilochus but is appeased by his humble apology and relinquishment of the mare. After the chariot race prizes are settled, Achilles respectfully presents the remaining fifth prize to the elder Nestor.
ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
So he spoke, and swift-footed noble Achilles smiled,
χαίρων Ἀντιλόχῳ, ὅτι οἱ φίλος ἦεν ἑταῖρος·
rejoicing in Antilochus, because he was a dear companion to him;
καί μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
and answering him, he spoke winged words:
Ἀντίλοχʼ, εἰ μὲν δή με κελεύεις οἴκοθεν ἄλλο
”Antilochus, if indeed you bid me to give another prize from my house
Εὐμήλῳ ἐπιδοῦναι, ἐγὼ δέ κε καὶ τὸ τελέσσω.1
to Eumelus, I will perform even this for you.
δώσω οἱ θώρηκα, τὸν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων
I will give him the bronze breastplate that I took from Asteropaeus,
χάλκεον, ᾧ πέρι χεῦμα φαεινοῦ κασσιτέροιο
around which a casting of bright tin is
ἀμφιδεδίνηται· πολέος δέ οἱ ἄξιος ἔσται.
wound; and it will be of great value to him.”
ἦ ῥα, καὶ Αὐτομέδοντι φίλῳ ἐκέλευσεν ἑταίρῳ
He spoke, and ordered his dear companion Automedon
οἰσέμεναι κλισίηθεν· ὃ δʼ ᾤχετο καί οἱ ἔνεικεν,
to bring it from the tent; and he went and brought it to him,
Εὐμήλῳ δʼ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει· ὃ δὲ δέξατο χαίρων.
and Achilles placed it in Eumelus’ hands; and he received it rejoicing.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ Μενέλαος ἀνίστατο θυμὸν ἀχεύων
And among them Menelaus also arose, grieving in his heart,
Ἀντιλόχῳ ἄμοτον κεχολωμένος· ἐν δʼ ἄρα κῆρυξ
fiercely angry with Antilochus; and then a herald
χειρὶ σκῆπτρον ἔθηκε, σιωπῆσαί τε κέλευσεν
placed the sceptre in his hand, and ordered the Argives
Ἀργείους· ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα μετηύδα ἰσόθεος φώς·
to be silent; and then the godlike man spoke among them:
Ἀντίλοχε πρόσθεν πεπνυμένε ποῖον ἔρεξας.
”Antilochus, who before were wise, what a thing you have done!
ᾔσχυνας μὲν ἐμὴν ἀρετήν, βλάψας δέ μοι ἵππους
You have shamed my skill, and harmed my horses,
τοὺς σοὺς πρόσθε βαλών, οἵ τοι πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν.
casting your own in front, which were far worse.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
But come, leaders and rulers of the Argives,
ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέροισι δικάσσατε, μὴ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀρωγῇ,2
judge between us both in the midst, and do not show favor,
μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·
lest someone of the bronze-clad Achaeans should ever say:
Ἀντίλοχον ψεύδεσσι βιησάμενος Μενέλαος
’Menelaus, having overcome Antilochus by falsehoods,
οἴχεται ἵππον ἄγων, ὅτι οἱ πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν
is gone, leading away the mare, because his horses were far worse,
ἵπποι, αὐτὸς δὲ κρείσσων ἀρετῇ τε βίῃ τε.
but he himself was superior in skill and in power.’
εἰ δʼ ἄγʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς δικάσω, καί μʼ οὔ τινά φημι
But come, I myself will judge, and I think that no other
ἄλλον ἐπιπλήξειν Δαναῶν· ἰθεῖα γὰρ ἔσται.
of the Danaans will find fault with me; for the judgment will be straight.
Ἀντίλοχʼ εἰ δʼ ἄγε δεῦρο διοτρεφές, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,
Antilochus, come hither, nurtured of Zeus, as is the custom,
στὰς ἵππων προπάροιθε καὶ ἅρματος, αὐτὰρ ἱμάσθλην
stand before your horses and chariot, and hold the slender whip
χερσὶν ἔχε ῥαδινήν, ᾗ περ τὸ πρόσθεν ἔλαυνες,
in your hands, with which you drove before,
ἵππων ἁψάμενος γαιήοχον ἐννοσίγαιον
and touching the horses, swear by the earth-holder and earth-shaker
ὄμνυθι μὴ μὲν ἑκὼν τὸ ἐμὸν δόλῳ ἅρμα πεδῆσαι.
that you did not willingly block my chariot by guile.”
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίλοχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
And to him wise Antilochus answered in turn:
ἄνσχεο νῦν· πολλὸν γὰρ ἔγωγε νεώτερός εἰμι
”Bear with me now; for I am much younger
σεῖο ἄναξ Μενέλαε, σὺ δὲ πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων.
than you, lord Menelaus, and you are elder and better.
οἶσθʼ οἷαι νέου ἀνδρὸς ὑπερβασίαι τελέθουσι·
You know what kind of transgressions belong to a young man;
κραιπνότερος μὲν γάρ τε νόος, λεπτὴ δέ τε μῆτις.
for his mind is more hasty, and his counsel is thin.
τώ τοι ἐπιτλήτω κραδίη· ἵππον δέ τοι αὐτὸς
Therefore let your heart bear with me; and I myself
δώσω, τὴν ἀρόμην. εἰ καί νύ κεν οἴκοθεν ἄλλο
will give you the mare which I won. And if indeed you should ask
μεῖζον ἐπαιτήσειας, ἄφαρ κέ τοι αὐτίκα δοῦναι
for something else greater from my house, I would wish to give it to you at once
βουλοίμην ἢ σοί γε διοτρεφὲς ἤματα πάντα
right now, rather than to fall from your heart, nurtured of Zeus, for all days,
ἐκ θυμοῦ πεσέειν καὶ δαίμοσιν εἶναι ἀλιτρός.
and to be a sinner against the gods.”
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἵππον ἄγων μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς
So spoke the son of great-hearted Nestor, and leading the mare
ἐν χείρεσσι τίθει Μενελάου· τοῖο δὲ θυμὸς
placed her in the hands of Menelaus; and his heart
ἰάνθη ὡς εἴ τε περὶ σταχύεσσιν ἐέρση
was softened, as when the dew falls upon the ears of corn
ληΐου ἀλδήσκοντος,3 ὅτε φρίσσουσιν ἄρουραι·
of a growing crop, when the fields are bristling;
ὣς ἄρα σοὶ Μενέλαε μετὰ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.
so indeed, Menelaus, was the heart in your breast softened.
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
And speaking, he addressed him with winged words:
Ἀντίλοχε νῦν μέν τοι ἐγὼν ὑποείξομαι αὐτὸς
”Antilochus, now indeed I myself will yield to you,
χωόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι παρήορος οὐδʼ ἀεσίφρων
though I was angry, since you were never flighty or foolish
ἦσθα πάρος· νῦν αὖτε νόον νίκησε νεοίη.
before; but now indeed youth has overcome your mind.
δεύτερον αὖτʼ ἀλέασθαι ἀμείνονας ἠπεροπεύειν.4
In the future avoid tricking your betters.
οὐ γάρ κέν με τάχʼ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ παρέπεισεν Ἀχαιῶν.
For no other man of the Achaeans would have easily persuaded me.
ἀλλὰ σὺ γὰρ δὴ πολλὰ πάθες καὶ πολλὰ μόγησας
But since you have indeed suffered much and laboured much,
σός τε πατὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ ἀδελφεὸς εἵνεκʼ ἐμεῖο·
and your noble father and brother too, for my sake;
τώ τοι λισσομένῳ ἐπιπείσομαι, ἠδὲ καὶ ἵππον
therefore I will yield to your prayer, and I will also give you
δώσω ἐμήν περ ἐοῦσαν, ἵνα γνώωσι καὶ οἵδε
the mare, though she is mine, so that these men also may know
ὡς ἐμὸς οὔ ποτε θυμὸς ὑπερφίαλος καὶ ἀπηνής.
that my heart is never arrogant or unyielding.”
ἦ ῥα, καὶ Ἀντιλόχοιο Νοήμονι δῶκεν ἑταίρῳ
He spoke, and gave the mare to Noemon, the companion of Antilochus,
ἵππον ἄγειν· ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα λέβηθʼ ἕλε παμφανόωντα.
to lead away; and then he himself took the shining cauldron.
Μηριόνης δʼ ἀνάειρε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα
And Meriones took up the two talents of gold,
τέτρατος, ὡς ἔλασεν. πέμπτον δʼ ὑπελείπετʼ ἄεθλον,
fourth, as he had driven. And the fifth prize was left,
ἀμφίθετος φιάλη· τὴν Νέστορι δῶκεν Ἀχιλλεὺς
a double-handled bowl; this Achilles gave to Nestor,
Ἀργείων ἀνʼ ἀγῶνα φέρων, καὶ ἔειπε παραστάς·
carrying it through the assembly of the Argives, and standing by him said:
τῆ νῦν, καὶ σοὶ τοῦτο γέρον κειμήλιον ἔστω
”Take this now, elder, and let this be a treasure for you,
Πατρόκλοιο τάφου μνῆμʼ ἔμμεναι· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ αὐτὸν
to be a memorial of Patroclus’ burial; for you will no longer
ὄψῃ ἐν Ἀργείοισι· δίδωμι δέ τοι τόδʼ ἄεθλον
see him among the Argives; and I give you this prize
αὔτως· οὐ γὰρ πύξ γε μαχήσεαι, οὐδὲ παλαίσεις,
as a gift; for you will not fight with fists, nor wrestle,
οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀκοντιστὺν ἐσδύσεαι, οὐδὲ πόδεσσι
nor enter the javelin throw, nor run with your feet.”
- 23.558–559εἰ μὲν δή με κελεύεις ... ἐγὼ δέ κε καὶ τὸ τελέσσω
The protasis with the present indicative (κελεύεις) is paired with an apodosis containing the particle κε and the future indicative (or aorist subjunctive) verb (τελέσσω). Unlike standard Attic conditional rules, this Homeric construction vividly expresses the speaker's immediate and certain willingness to comply with the request.
- 23.574μὴ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀρωγῇ
An adverbial phrase meaning 'not for the purpose of aiding [either side]'. The preposition ἐπί with the dative noun ἀρωγῇ expresses purpose or intent, underscoring Menelaus' demand for strict impartiality and neutrality from the judging chieftains.
- 23.598–599ὡς εἴ τε περὶ σταχύεσσιν ἐέρση / ληΐου ἀλδήσκοντος
A prominent Homeric simile comparing Menelaus' softening heart to dew falling upon the ears of a growing crop. The genitive absolute construction (ληΐου ἀλδήσκοντος, 'while the crop is growing') is embedded within the clause, vividly reflecting his internal transformation from dry anger to refreshing relief.
- 23.605δεύτερον αὖτʼ ἀλέασθαι ἀμείνονας ἠπεροπεύειν
The infinitive verb ἀλέασθαι ('to avoid', here carrying an imperatival force) governs another infinitive ἠπεροπεύειν ('to deceive') as its direct object, forming a strong moral warning: 'in the future, avoid deceiving your betters'.