- 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-grc2:23.623-23.691
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-03
Nestor thanks Achilles for the gift and reminisces about his own past athletic triumphs. Next, Achilles sets up the boxing match, in which the mighty Epeius and Euryalus rise to compete against each other.
θεύσεαι· ἤδη γὰρ χαλεπὸν κατὰ γῆρας ἐπείγει.
nor run; for now bitter old age presses hard upon you.”
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει· ὃ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων,
So he spoke and placed it in his hands; and Nestor received it rejoicing,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
and addressing him, spoke winged words:
ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα τέκος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·
”Yes indeed, all these things, my child, you have spoken rightly.
οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμπεδα γυῖα φίλος πόδες, οὐδέ τι χεῖρες
For my limbs are no longer firm, my friend, nor do my feet, nor my hands
ὤμων ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐπαΐσσονται ἐλαφραί.
shoot out lightly from my shoulders on either side.
εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι1 βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη
Would that I were as young and my strength were as firm
ὡς ὁπότε κρείοντʼ Ἀμαρυγκέα θάπτον Ἐπειοὶ
as when the Epeians buried lord Amarynceus
Βουπρασίῳ, παῖδες δʼ ἔθεσαν βασιλῆος ἄεθλα·
at Buprasium, and the sons of the king set up prizes;
ἔνθʼ οὔ τίς μοι ὁμοῖος ἀνὴρ γένετʼ, οὔτʼ ἄρʼ Ἐπειῶν
there no man was my equal, neither of the Epeians
οὔτʼ αὐτῶν Πυλίων οὔτʼ Αἰτωλῶν μεγαθύμων.
nor of the Pylians themselves, nor of the great-hearted Aetolians.
πὺξ μὲν ἐνίκησα Κλυτομήδεα Ἤνοπος υἱόν,
In boxing I defeated Clytomedes, son of Enops,
Ἀγκαῖον δὲ πάλῃ Πλευρώνιον, ὅς μοι ἀνέστη·
and in wrestling Ancaeus of Pleuron, who stood up against me;
Ἴφικλον δὲ πόδεσσι παρέδραμον ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα,
and in the footrace I outran Iphiclus, fleet though he was,
δουρὶ δʼ ὑπειρέβαλον Φυλῆά τε καὶ Πολύδωρον.
and with the spear I outthrew Phyleus and Polydorus.
οἴοισίν μʼ ἵπποισι2 παρήλασαν Ἀκτορίωνε
Only in the chariot race did the sons of Actor pass me,
πλήθει πρόσθε βαλόντες ἀγασσάμενοι περὶ νίκης,
outstripping me by their number, grudging me the victory,
οὕνεκα δὴ τὰ μέγιστα παρʼ αὐτόθι λείπετʼ ἄεθλα.
because the greatest prizes were left there.
οἳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔσαν δίδυμοι· ὃ μὲν ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευεν,
For they were twins: one guided the reins firmly,
ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευʼ, ὃ δʼ ἄρα μάστιγι κέλευεν.
guided them firmly, while the other urged the horses with the whip.
ὥς ποτʼ ἔον· νῦν αὖτε νεώτεροι ἀντιοώντων3
Such was I once; but now let younger men meet
ἔργων τοιούτων· ἐμὲ δὲ χρὴ γήραϊ λυγρῷ
such deeds; and I must yield to grievous old age,
πείθεσθαι, τότε δʼ αὖτε μετέπρεπον ἡρώεσσιν.
though then I was pre-eminent among heroes.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι καὶ σὸν ἑταῖρον ἀέθλοισι κτερέϊζε.
But go, and honor your companion with games.
τοῦτο δʼ ἐγὼ πρόφρων δέχομαι, χαίρει δέ μοι ἦτορ,
This gift I accept gladly, and my heart rejoices
ὥς μευ ἀεὶ μέμνησαι ἐνηέος, οὐδέ σε λήθω,
that you always remember my kindness, nor does it escape you
τιμῆς ἧς τέ μʼ ἔοικε τετιμῆσθαι μετʼ Ἀχαιοῖς.
what honor it is fitting for me to receive among the Achaeans.
σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τῶνδʼ ἀντὶ χάριν μενοεικέα δοῖεν.
And may the gods give you in return a fitting grace for these things.”
ὣς φάτο, Πηλεΐδης δὲ πολὺν καθʼ ὅμιλον Ἀχαιῶν
So he spoke, and the son of Peleus went through the great crowd of Achaeans,
ᾤχετʼ, ἐπεὶ πάντʼ αἶνον ἐπέκλυε Νηλεΐδαο.
when he had heard all the praise of the son of Neleus.
αὐτὰρ ὃ πυγμαχίης ἀλεγεινῆς θῆκεν ἄεθλα·
Then he set up prizes for the painful boxing match:
ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κατέδησʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι
leading a sturdy mule, he tied her in the ring,
ἑξέτεʼ ἀδμήτην, ἥ τʼ ἀλγίστη δαμάσασθαι·
six years old, unbroken, which is the hardest to tame;
τῷ δʼ ἄρα νικηθέντι τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον.
and for the loser he set a double-handled cup.
στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
He stood upright and spoke a word among the Argives:
Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
”Son of Atreus, and you other well-greaved Achaeans,
ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,
we bid two men, whoever are the best, to stand up
πὺξ μάλʼ ἀνασχομένω πεπληγέμεν· ᾧ δέ κʼ Ἀπόλλων
and box, raising their hands on high. And he to whom Apollo
δώῃ καμμονίην, γνώωσι δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,
gives endurance, and all the Achaeans acknowledge it,
ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κλισίην δὲ νεέσθω·
let him lead the sturdy mule and go to his tent;
αὐτὰρ ὃ νικηθεὶς δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον.
but the loser shall bear away the double-handled cup.”
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε
So he spoke, and straightway arose a man brave and tall,
εἰδὼς πυγμαχίης υἱὸς Πανοπῆος Ἐπειός,
skilled in boxing, Epeius, son of Panopeus,
ἅψατο δʼ ἡμιόνου ταλαεργοῦ φώνησέν τε·
and he laid hold of the sturdy mule and spoke:
ἆσσον ἴτω ὅς τις δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον·
”Let him come near, whoever is to bear away the double-handled cup;
ἡμίονον δʼ οὔ φημί τινʼ ἀξέμεν ἄλλον Ἀχαιῶν
but the mule I say no other of the Achaeans shall lead away,
πυγμῇ νικήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ εὔχομαι εἶναι ἄριστος.
by defeating me in boxing, since I claim to be the best.
ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὅττι μάχης ἐπιδεύομαι; οὐδʼ ἄρα πως ἦν
Is it not enough that I fall short in battle? Truly it was never possible
ἐν πάντεσσʼ ἔργοισι δαήμονα φῶτα γενέσθαι.
for a man to be skilled in every kind of work.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
For thus I declare, and it shall indeed be accomplished:
ἀντικρὺ χρόα τε ῥήξω σύν τʼ ὀστέʼ ἀράξω.
I will tear his flesh utterly and crush his bones.
κηδεμόνες δέ οἱ ἐνθάδʼ ἀολλέες αὖθι μενόντων,
And let his kinsmen remain here assembled together,
οἵ κέ μιν ἐξοίσουσιν ἐμῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶ δαμέντα.
that they may carry him out when vanquished under my hands.”
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.
So he spoke, and they all became hushed in silence.
Εὐρύαλος δέ οἱ οἶος ἀνίστατο ἰσόθεος φὼς
And Euryalus alone stood up against him, a godlike man,
Μηκιστῆος υἱὸς Ταλαϊονίδαο ἄνακτος,
the son of King Mecisteus, son of Talaus,
ὅς ποτε Θήβας δʼ ἦλθε δεδουπότος Οἰδιπόδαο4
who once came to Thebes for the funeral of Oedipus
ἐς τάφον· ἔνθα δὲ πάντας ἐνίκα Καδμείωνας.
when he had fallen; and there he defeated all the Cadmeians.
τὸν μὲν Τυδεΐδης δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἀμφεπονεῖτο
Him the son of Tydeus, famous with the spear, attended,
θαρσύνων ἔπεσιν, μέγα δʼ αὐτῷ βούλετο νίκην.
encouraging him with words, and he wished him victory greatly.
ζῶμα δέ οἱ πρῶτον παρακάββαλεν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
First he cast a girdle about him, and then
δῶκεν ἱμάντας ἐϋτμήτους βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο.
gave him well-cut thongs of a wild bull’s hide.
τὼ δὲ ζωσαμένω βήτην ἐς μέσσον ἀγῶνα,
So the two, having girded themselves, went into the midst of the ring,
ἄντα δʼ ἀνασχομένω χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν ἅμʼ ἄμφω
and raising their strong hands against each other, both together
σύν ῥʼ ἔπεσον, σὺν δέ σφι βαρεῖαι χεῖρες ἔμιχθεν.
fell to, and their heavy hands clashed.
δεινὸς δὲ χρόμαδος γενύων γένετʼ, ἔρρεε δʼ ἱδρὼς
And a terrible grinding of jaws arose, and sweat flowed
πάντοθεν ἐκ μελέων· ἐπὶ δʼ ὄρνυτο δῖος Ἐπειός,
everywhere from their limbs; and noble Epeius rushed on,
κόψε δὲ παπτήναντα παρήϊον· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν
and struck Euryalus on the cheek as he peered for an opening; and no longer
ἑστήκειν· αὐτοῦ γὰρ ὑπήριπε φαίδιμα γυῖα.
could he stand, for his glorious limbs sank beneath him.
- 23.629εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι
The particle εἴθε combined with the present optative ἡβώοιμι expresses an unattainable wish in the present ("would that I were as young").
- 23.638οἴοισίν μʼ ἵπποισι
The dative ἵπποισι serves as a dative of respect or limitation, indicating that it was "only in the chariot race" (literally, "with horses") that Nestor was surpassed.
- 23.643ἀντιοώντων
This is the third-person plural present imperative of ἀντιάω (with Homeric vowel-distension), expressing an exhortation: "let younger men engage in such tasks."
- 23.679δεδουπότος Οἰδιπόδαο
A genitive absolute construction consisting of the perfect participle δεδουπότος and the genitive noun Οἰδιπόδαο, meaning "when Oedipus had fallen (in death)."