- 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-grc2:24.135-24.200
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-03
Prompted by Thetis, Achilles agrees to release Hector's body for ransom. Zeus sends Iris to command Priam to go to Achilles' camp with ransom, and Priam shares this divine instructions with Hecuba.
ἀθανάτων κεχολῶσθαι,1 ὅτι φρεσὶ μαινομένῃσιν
”immortals is enraged, because with mad mind
Ἕκτορʼ ἔχεις παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν οὐδʼ ἀπέλυσας.
you keep Hector beside the curved ships and have not released him.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ λῦσον, νεκροῖο δὲ δέξαι ἄποινα.
But come now, release him, and accept ransom for the dead.”
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
Then swift-footed Achilles answered her and said:
τῇδʼ εἴη·2 ὃς ἄποινα φέροι καὶ νεκρὸν ἄγοιτο,
”So let it be; let him who brings ransom carry away the dead,
εἰ δὴ πρόφρονι θυμῷ Ὀλύμπιος αὐτὸς ἀνώγει.
if indeed with willing mind the Olympian himself commands it.”
ὣς οἵ γʼ ἐν νηῶν ἀγύρει μήτηρ τε καὶ υἱὸς
Thus they in the gathering of the ships, mother and son,
πολλὰ πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευον.
spoke many winged words to one another.
Ἶριν δʼ ὄτρυνε Κρονίδης εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν·
But the son of Cronos urged Iris to sacred Ilion:
βάσκʼ ἴθι Ἶρι ταχεῖα λιποῦσʼ ἕδος Οὐλύμποιο
”Go, swift Iris, leaving the seat of Olympus,
ἄγγειλον Πριάμῳ μεγαλήτορι Ἴλιον εἴσω
announce to great-hearted Priam within Ilion,
λύσασθαι φίλον υἱὸν ἰόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,
to ransom his beloved son, going to the ships of the Achaeans,
δῶρα δʼ Ἀχιλλῆϊ φερέμεν τά κε θυμὸν ἰήνῃ
and to bring gifts to Achilles, such as may soften his heart.
οἶον, μὴ δέ τις ἄλλος ἅμα Τρώων ἴτω ἀνήρ.3
Let him go alone, nor let any other man of the Trojans go with him.
κῆρύξ τίς οἱ ἕποιτο γεραίτερος, ὅς κʼ ἰθύνοι
Let some older herald follow him, who may guide
ἡμιόνους καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐΰτροχον, ἠδὲ καὶ αὖτις
the mules and the well-wheeled wagon, and again
νεκρὸν ἄγοι προτὶ ἄστυ, τὸν ἔκτανε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
bring back to the city the dead man whom noble Achilles slew.
μὴ δέ τί οἱ θάνατος μελέτω φρεσὶ μὴ δέ τι τάρβος·
Let not death be in his mind, nor any fear;
τοῖον γάρ οἱ πομπὸν ὀπάσσομεν ἀργεϊφόντην,
for such a guide we will grant him, Argeiphontes,
ὃς ἄξει εἷός κεν ἄγων Ἀχιλῆϊ πελάσσῃ.
who will lead him until he brings him near to Achilles.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἀγάγῃσιν ἔσω κλισίην Ἀχιλῆος,
And when he has led him inside the hut of Achilles,
οὔτʼ αὐτὸς κτενέει ἀπό τʼ ἄλλους πάντας ἐρύξει·
Achilles himself will not kill him, and will keep all others away;
οὔτε γάρ ἐστʼ ἄφρων οὔτʼ ἄσκοπος οὔτʼ ἀλιτήμων,
for he is neither foolish, nor unseeing, nor sinful,
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐνδυκέως ἱκέτεω πεφιδήσεται ἀνδρός.
but very kindly will spare a suppliant man.”
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δὲ Ἶρις ἀελλόπος ἀγγελέουσα.
So he spoke, and storm-footed Iris arose to bear the message.
ἷξεν δʼ ἐς Πριάμοιο, κίχεν δʼ ἐνοπήν τε γόον τε.
She came to Priam’s, and found wailing and lamentation.
παῖδες μὲν πατέρʼ ἀμφὶ καθήμενοι ἔνδοθεν αὐλῆς
His sons sat around their father inside the courtyard,
δάκρυσιν εἵματʼ ἔφυρον, ὃ δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι γεραιὸς
wetting their garments with tears; and in their midst the old man
ἐντυπὰς4 ἐν χλαίνῃ κεκαλυμμένος· ἀμφὶ δὲ πολλὴ
sat closely wrapped in his cloak; and much
κόπρος ἔην κεφαλῇ τε καὶ αὐχένι τοῖο γέροντος
dirt was on the head and neck of the old man,
τήν ῥα κυλινδόμενος καταμήσατο χερσὶν ἑῇσι.
which he had gathered with his own hands as he rolled on the ground.
θυγατέρες δʼ ἀνὰ δώματʼ ἰδὲ νυοὶ ὠδύροντο
And his daughters and daughters-in-law wailed throughout the house,
τῶν μιμνησκόμεναι οἳ δὴ πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοὶ
remembering those who, many and noble,
χερσὶν ὑπʼ Ἀργείων κέατο ψυχὰς ὀλέσαντες.
lay having lost their lives at the hands of the Argives.
στῆ δὲ παρὰ Πρίαμον Διὸς ἄγγελος, ἠδὲ προσηύδα
And the messenger of Zeus stood beside Priam, and spoke to him,
τυτθὸν φθεγξαμένη· τὸν δὲ τρόμος ἔλλαβε γυῖα·
whispering softly; and trembling seized his limbs.
θάρσει Δαρδανίδη Πρίαμε φρεσί, μὴ δέ τι τάρβει·
”Take courage, Priam, son of Dardanus, in your heart, nor fear at all;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τοι ἐγὼ κακὸν ὀσσομένη τόδʼ ἱκάνω
for indeed I do not come to you foreboding evil,
ἀλλʼ ἀγαθὰ φρονέουσα· Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,
but with good intent; and I am a messenger to you from Zeus,
ὅς σευ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδʼ ἐλεαίρει.
who, though far away, cares greatly for you and pities you.
λύσασθαί σʼ ἐκέλευσεν Ὀλύμπιος Ἕκτορα δῖον,
The Olympian commands you to ransom noble Hector,
δῶρα δʼ Ἀχιλλῆϊ φερέμεν τά κε θυμὸν ἰήνῃ
and to bring gifts to Achilles, such as may soften his heart.
οἶον, μὴ δέ τις ἄλλος ἅμα Τρώων ἴτω ἀνήρ.
Go alone, nor let any other man of the Trojans go with you.
κῆρύξ τίς τοι ἕποιτο γεραίτερος, ὅς κʼ ἰθύνοι
Let some older herald follow you, who may guide
ἡμιόνους καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐΰτροχον, ἠδὲ καὶ αὖτις
the mules and the well-wheeled wagon, and again
νεκρὸν ἄγοι προτὶ ἄστυ, τὸν ἔκτανε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
bring back to the city the dead man whom noble Achilles slew.
μὴ δέ τί τοι θάνατος μελέτω φρεσὶ μηδέ τι τάρβος·
Let not death be in your mind, nor any fear;
τοῖος γάρ τοι πομπὸς ἅμʼ ἕψεται ἀργεϊφόντης,
for such a guide will follow you, Argeiphontes,
ὅς σʼ ἄξει εἷός κεν ἄγων Ἀχιλῆϊ πελάσσῃ.
who will lead you until he brings you near to Achilles.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἀγάγῃσιν ἔσω κλισίην Ἀχιλῆος,
And when he has led you inside the hut of Achilles,
οὔτʼ αὐτὸς κτενέει ἀπό τʼ ἄλλους πάντας ἐρύξει·
Achilles himself will not kill you, and will keep all others away;
οὔτε γάρ ἔστʼ ἄφρων οὔτʼ ἄσκοπος οὔτʼ ἀλιτήμων,
for he is neither foolish, nor unseeing, nor sinful,
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐνδυκέως ἱκέτεω πεφιδήσεται ἀνδρός.
but very kindly will spare a suppliant man.”
ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις,
So speaking, swift-footed Iris went away.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ υἷας ἄμαξαν ἐΰτροχον ἡμιονείην
But he bade his sons make ready the well-wheeled mule-wagon,
ὁπλίσαι ἠνώγει, πείρινθα δὲ δῆσαι ἐπʼ αὐτῆς.
and bind a wicker basket upon it.
αὐτὸς δʼ ἐς θάλαμον κατεβήσετο κηώεντα
And he himself went down into the fragrant chamber,
κέδρινον ὑψόροφον, ὃς γλήνεα πολλὰ κεχάνδει·
high-roofed of cedar, which held many treasures;
ἐς δʼ ἄλοχον Ἑκάβην ἐκαλέσσατο φώνησέν τε·
and he called his wife Hecuba and spoke to her:
δαιμονίη5 Διόθεν μοι Ὀλύμπιος ἄγγελος ἦλθε
”Dear wife, an Olympian messenger has come to me from Zeus,
λύσασθαι φίλον υἱὸν ἰόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,
to ransom my beloved son, going to the ships of the Achaeans,
δῶρα δʼ Ἀχιλλῆϊ φερέμεν τά κε θυμὸν ἰήνῃ.
and to bring gifts to Achilles, such as may soften his heart.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ τί τοι φρεσὶν εἴδεται εἶναι;
But come, tell me this: what does it seem to you in your mind?
αἰνῶς γάρ μʼ αὐτόν γε μένος καὶ θυμὸς ἄνωγε
For terribly my own strength and heart urge me
κεῖσʼ ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆας ἔσω στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν.
to go thither, to the ships, into the broad camp of the Achaeans.”
ὣς φάτο, κώκυσεν δὲ γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·
So he spoke, and his wife wailed and answered him with words:
- 24.135ἀθανάτων κεχολῶσθαι
The infinitive κεχολῶσθαι continues the indirect speech introduced by φησι ('he says') in §24.134, with Zeus himself (ἑὲ) as the subject. ἀθανάτων is a genitive of comparison, meaning 'more than the other immortals'.
- 24.139τῇδʼ εἴη
An independent optative of wish, meaning 'so let it be'. It is a formulaic expression indicating Achilles' assent to Zeus's decree.
- 24.148οἶον, μὴ δέ τις ἄλλος ἅμα Τρώων ἴτω ἀνήρ
The adjective οἶον ('alone') is in the accusative used adverbially, modifying Priam. ἴτω is a third-person singular imperative, which with the negative μὴ expresses a strong prohibition: 'let no other man go with him'.
- 24.163ἐντυπάς
An adverb meaning 'closely wrapped' or 'revealing the outline'. It describes how Priam had wrapped himself so tightly in his cloak (χλαίνῃ) that his figure or body's outline was clearly visible through the garment.
- 24.194δαιμονίη
A vocative form of address used to someone close (here, to Hecuba), which can convey various emotions depending on context, such as 'strange woman' or 'wondrous one'. Here it reflects Priam's agitation and awe after receiving a divine message.