- 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-grc2:24.602-24.670
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-03
Achilles encourages Priam to eat by citing the myth of Niobe, who remembered food despite losing all her children, and the two dine together. Afterward, Achilles arranges a bed outside for Priam's safety and promises an eleven-day truce for Hector's funeral.
καὶ γάρ τʼ ἠΰκομος Νιόβη ἐμνήσατο σίτου,
For even fair-haired Niobe bethought her of food,
τῇ περ δώδεκα παῖδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὄλοντο
she whose twelve children perished in her halls,
ἓξ μὲν θυγατέρες, ἓξ δʼ υἱέες ἡβώοντες.
six daughters and six lusty sons.
τοὺς μὲν Ἀπόλλων πέφνεν ἀπʼ ἀργυρέοιο βιοῖο
The sons Apollo slew with his silver bow,
χωόμενος Νιόβῃ, τὰς δʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,
wroth with Niobe, and the daughters Artemis, she who showers arrows;
οὕνεκʼ ἄρα Λητοῖ ἰσάσκετο καλλιπαρῄῳ·
because Niobe matched herself with fair-cheeked Leto,
φῆ δοιὼ τεκέειν, ἣ δʼ αὐτὴ γείνατο πολλούς·
saying that Leto bore but two, while she herself had borne many;
τὼ δʼ ἄρα καὶ δοιώ περ ἐόντʼ ἀπὸ πάντας ὄλεσσαν.
and so those two, though they were but two, destroyed them all.
οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐννῆμαρ κέατʼ ἐν φόνῳ, οὐδέ τις ἦεν
For nine days they lay in their blood, and there was none
κατθάψαι, λαοὺς δὲ λίθους ποίησε Κρονίων·
to bury them, for the son of Cronos turned the folk to stone;
τοὺς δʼ ἄρα τῇ δεκάτῃ θάψαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες.
but on the tenth day the heavenly gods buried them.
ἣ δʼ ἄρα σίτου μνήσατʼ, ἐπεὶ κάμε δάκρυ χέουσα.
And Niobe bethought her of food, when she was weary of shedding tears.
νῦν δέ που ἐν πέτρῃσιν ἐν οὔρεσιν οἰοπόλοισιν
And now somewhere among the rocks, in the lonely mountains
ἐν Σιπύλῳ, ὅθι φασὶ θεάων ἔμμεναι εὐνὰς
in Sipylus, where men say are the resting places of the goddesses,
νυμφάων, αἵ τʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀχελώϊον ἐρρώσαντο,
the nymphs who dance along the Achelous,
ἔνθα λίθος περ ἐοῦσα θεῶν ἐκ κήδεα πέσσει.1
there, though she is stone, she broods over her sorrows sent by the gods.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ καὶ νῶϊ μεδώμεθα δῖε γεραιὲ
But come, let us two also, noble old man,
σίτου· ἔπειτά κεν αὖτε φίλον παῖδα κλαίοισθα
think of food; and thereafter you may weep for your dear son
Ἴλιον εἰσαγαγών· πολυδάκρυτος δέ τοι ἔσται.
when you have brought him to Ilium; many tears shall he cost you.
ἦ καὶ ἀναΐξας ὄϊν ἄργυφον ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς
So spoke swift Achilles, and springing up he slew a white sheep;
σφάξʼ· ἕταροι δʼ ἔδερόν τε καὶ ἄμφεπον εὖ κατὰ κόσμον,
and his companions flayed it and made it ready in goodly order,
μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,
and sliced it cunningly and pierced it with spits,
ὄπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.
and roasted it carefully and drew all off.
Αὐτομέδων δʼ ἄρα σῖτον ἑλὼν ἐπένειμε τραπέζῃ
Then Automedon took bread and dealt it out on the table
καλοῖς ἐν κανέοισιν· ἀτὰρ κρέα νεῖμεν Ἀχιλλεύς.
in fair baskets, while Achilles dealt the meat.
οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
And they reached forth their hands to the good things set before them.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
But when they had put from them the desire for food and drink,
ἤτοι Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος θαύμαζʼ Ἀχιλῆα
then Dardanian Priam marvelled at Achilles,
ὅσσος ἔην οἷός τε·2 θεοῖσι γὰρ ἄντα ἐῴκει·
how great he was and of what manner; for he was like the gods to look upon.
αὐτὰρ ὃ Δαρδανίδην Πρίαμον θαύμαζεν Ἀχιλλεὺς
And Achilles marvelled at Dardanian Priam,
εἰσορόων ὄψίν τʼ ἀγαθὴν καὶ μῦθον ἀκούων.
beholding his noble aspect and listening to his words.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐς ἀλλήλους ὁρόωντες,
But when they had gazed their fill at one another,
τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·
godlike Priam the old man was the first to speak:
λέξον νῦν με τάχιστα διοτρεφές, ὄφρα καὶ ἤδη
”Lay me now to bed with all speed, O fostered of Zeus, that even now
ὕπνῳ ὕπο γλυκερῷ ταρπώμεθα κοιμηθέντες·
we may lull ourselves to sleep and have joy of sweet slumber;
οὐ γάρ πω μύσαν ὄσσε ὑπὸ βλεφάροισιν ἐμοῖσιν
for never yet have my eyes closed beneath my eyelids
ἐξ οὗ σῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἐμὸς πάϊς ὤλεσε θυμόν,
since my son lost his life beneath your hands,
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ στενάχω καὶ κήδεα μυρία πέσσω
but evermore I groan and brood over my myriad sorrows,
αὐλῆς ἐν χόρτοισι κυλινδόμενος κατὰ κόπρον.3
wallowing in the dirt in the closed places of my courtyard.
νῦν δὴ καὶ σίτου πασάμην καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνον
But now I have tasted food and have let the bright wine
λαυκανίης καθέηκα· πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι πεπάσμην.
pass down my throat; before this I had tasted nothing.”
ἦ ῥʼ, Ἀχιλεὺς δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἰδὲ δμῳῇσι κέλευσε
He spoke, and Achilles bade his companions and handmaids
δέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰ
to set beds beneath the portico and to cast on them fair
πορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν, στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας,
purple blankets, and to spread rugs above,
χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.
and to put on them thick cloaks for clothing.
αἳ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι,
And the maids went out of the hall with torches in their hands,
αἶψα δʼ ἄρα στόρεσαν δοιὼ λέχεʼ ἐγκονέουσαι.
and busily spread two beds with all speed.
τὸν δʼ ἐπικερτομέων4 προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
Then with mocking words swift-footed Achilles spoke to him:
ἐκτὸς μὲν δὴ λέξο γέρον φίλε, μή τις Ἀχαιῶν
”Lie outside, my dear old man, lest some counselor of the Achaeans
ἐνθάδʼ ἐπέλθῃσιν βουληφόρος, οἵ τέ μοι αἰεὶ
come hither, such as ever sit by me
βουλὰς βουλεύουσι παρήμενοι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί·
to take counsel, as is meet;
τῶν εἴ τίς σε ἴδοιτο θοὴν διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν,
if one of them should see you through the swift, dark night,
αὐτίκʼ ἂν ἐξείποι Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν,
he would straightway tell it to Agamemnon, shepherd of the host,
καί κεν ἀνάβλησις λύσιος νεκροῖο γένηται.
and so there should be delay in the giving up of the dead.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
But come, tell me this and declare it truly:
ποσσῆμαρ μέμονας κτερεϊζέμεν Ἕκτορα δῖον,
for how many days do you purpose to make funeral for noble Hector,
ὄφρα τέως αὐτός τε μένω καὶ λαὸν ἐρύκω.
so that for so long I may myself abide and hold back the host?”
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·
Then godlike Priam the old man answered him:
εἰ μὲν δή μʼ ἐθέλεις τελέσαι τάφον Ἕκτορι δίῳ,
”If you indeed wish me to accomplish the burial of noble Hector,
ὧδέ κέ μοι ῥέζων Ἀχιλεῦ κεχαρισμένα θείης.
by doing thus, Achilles, you would do me a welcome favor.
οἶσθα γὰρ ὡς κατὰ ἄστυ ἐέλμεθα, τηλόθι δʼ ὕλη
For you know how we are pent within the city, and far is the wood
ἀξέμεν ἐξ ὄρεος, μάλα δὲ Τρῶες δεδίασιν.
to fetch from the mountain, and the Trojans are sore afraid.
ἐννῆμαρ μέν κʼ αὐτὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροις γοάοιμεν,
For nine days we would wail for him in our halls,
τῇ δεκάτῃ δέ κε θάπτοιμεν δαινῦτό τε λαός,
and on the tenth day bury him and the folk should feast,
ἑνδεκάτῃ δέ κε τύμβον ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ποιήσαιμεν,
and on the eleventh day we would make a mound over him,
τῇ δὲ δυωδεκάτῃ πολεμίξομεν εἴ περ ἀνάγκη.
and on the twelfth day we will fight, if need be.”
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
Then swift-footed noble Achilles spoke to him again:
ἔσται τοι καὶ ταῦτα γέρον Πρίαμʼ ὡς σὺ κελεύεις·
”This too shall be as you bid, old Priam;
σχήσω γὰρ πόλεμον τόσσον χρόνον ὅσσον ἄνωγας.
for I will hold back the battle for such time as you command.”
- 24.617κήδεα πέσσει
A metaphorical use of the verb πέσσω ('to digest'), meaning 'to brood over' or 'to endure' (sorrows or anger). It describes Niobe, who, even though turned to stone, continues to nurse her grief.
- 24.630ὅσσος ἔην οἷός τε
An indirect exclamatory clause combining the relative adjectives ὅσσος ('how great/tall') and οἷος ('of what manner/splendid'). It expresses Priam's awe at both Achilles' massive physical stature and his godlike appearance.
- 24.640κυλινδόμενος κατὰ κόπρον
The participle κυλινδόμενος ('wallowing/rolling') combined with the prepositional phrase κατὰ κόπρον ('in the dirt/dung') describes Priam's extreme gesture of mourning. This is a traditional, highly physical expression of profound grief found in early Greek epic and tragedy.
- 24.649ἐπικερτομέων
A present participle meaning 'mocking' or 'teasing'. While seemingly harsh, it denotes Achilles' blunt and slightly aggressive (yet non-hostile) tone as he warns Priam of the very real danger should other Achaean leaders discover his presence.
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-23) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-22)
- 2026-09-22 AI review — translation 1