- 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-grc2:3.198-3.263
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-28
Helen identifies Odysseus, Ajax, and Idomeneus for Priam, and laments the absence of her brothers Castor and Polydeuces. Meanwhile, the heralds prepare the ritual of oaths between the two armies, and Priam drives his chariot down to the plain with Antenor.
ὅς τʼ οἰῶν μέγα πῶϋ διέρχεται ἀργεννάων.
”who passes through a great flock of white sheep.”
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειθʼ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα·
Then Helen, born of Zeus, answered him:
οὗτος δʼ αὖ Λαερτιάδης πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,
”This one furthermore is the son of Laertes, very wise Odysseus,
ὃς τράφη ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης κραναῆς περ ἐούσης
who was reared in the land of Ithaca, though it is rugged,
εἰδὼς παντοίους τε δόλους καὶ μήδεα πυκνά.
knowing all kinds of wiles and close counsels.”
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
To her in turn the wise Antenor spoke in reply:
ὦ γύναι ἦ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος νημερτὲς ἔειπες·
”O lady, truly indeed you have spoken this word unerringly;
ἤδη γὰρ καὶ δεῦρό ποτʼ ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
for already also hither once came noble Odysseus
σεῦ ἕνεκʼ ἀγγελίης σὺν ἀρηϊφίλῳ Μενελάῳ·
on an embassy concerning you, with Menelaus, dear to Ares;
τοὺς δʼ ἐγὼ ἐξείνισσα καὶ ἐν μεγάροισι φίλησα,
and I entertained them and welcomed them in my halls,
ἀμφοτέρων δὲ φυὴν ἐδάην καὶ μήδεα πυκνά.
and of both I learned the stature and close counsels.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Τρώεσσιν ἐν ἀγρομένοισιν ἔμιχθεν
But when indeed they mingled among the assembled Trojans,
στάντων1 μὲν Μενέλαος ὑπείρεχεν εὐρέας ὤμους,
when they stood, Menelaus surpassed him with his broad shoulders,
ἄμφω δʼ ἑζομένω γεραρώτερος ἦεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
but when both sat, Odysseus was more majestic;
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μύθους καὶ μήδεα πᾶσιν ὕφαινον
but when indeed they wove words and counsels for all,
ἤτοι μὲν Μενέλαος ἐπιτροχάδην ἀγόρευε,
Menelaus indeed spoke fluently,
παῦρα μὲν ἀλλὰ μάλα λιγέως, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολύμυθος
few words indeed, but very clearly, since he was not of many words
οὐδʼ ἀφαμαρτοεπής· ἦ καὶ γένει ὕστερος ἦεν.
nor missed his words, even though he was younger in birth.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πολύμητις ἀναΐξειεν Ὀδυσσεὺς
But when indeed very wise Odysseus would rise,
στάσκεν, ὑπαὶ δὲ ἴδεσκε κατὰ χθονὸς ὄμματα πήξας,
he would stand, and look down, casting his eyes upon the ground,
σκῆπτρον δʼ οὔτʼ ὀπίσω οὔτε προπρηνὲς ἐνώμα,
and his staff he would move neither backward nor forward,
ἀλλʼ ἀστεμφὲς ἔχεσκεν ἀΐδρεϊ φωτὶ ἐοικώς·
but would hold it unmoved, like a man without knowledge;
φαίης κε2 ζάκοτόν τέ τινʼ ἔμμεναι ἄφρονά τʼ αὔτως.
you would say he was both somewhat angry and foolish just the same.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὄπα τε μεγάλην ἐκ στήθεος εἵη
But when indeed he sent forth his great voice from his chest,
καὶ ἔπεα νιφάδεσσιν ἐοικότα χειμερίῃσιν,
and words like winter snowflakes,
οὐκ ἂν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆΐ γʼ ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος·
not then could any other mortal contend with Odysseus;
οὐ τότε γʼ ὧδʼ3 Ὀδυσῆος ἀγασσάμεθʼ εἶδος ἰδόντες.
not then did we so much marvel at the appearance of Odysseus, seeing him.”
τὸ τρίτον αὖτʼ Αἴαντα ἰδὼν ἐρέεινʼ ὃ γεραιός·
Thirdly furthermore, seeing Ajax, the old man asked:
τίς τὰρ ὅδʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιὸς ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε
”Who then is this other Achaean man, noble and great,
ἔξοχος Ἀργείων κεφαλήν τε καὶ εὐρέας ὤμους;
outstanding among the Argives in head and broad shoulders?”
τὸν δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ἀμείβετο δῖα γυναικῶν·
And Helen of the long robe, noble among women, answered him:
οὗτος δʼ Αἴας ἐστὶ πελώριος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν·
”This is mighty Ajax, the bulwark of the Achaeans;
Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐνὶ Κρήτεσσι θεὸς ὣς
and Idomeneus on the other side among the Cretans like a god
ἕστηκʼ, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν Κρητῶν ἀγοὶ ἠγερέθονται.
stands, and around him the leaders of the Cretans are gathered.
πολλάκι μιν ξείνισσεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος
Often Menelaus, dear to Ares, entertained him
οἴκῳ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ ὁπότε Κρήτηθεν ἵκοιτο.
in our house, whenever he came from Crete.
νῦν δʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ὁρῶ ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς,
But now I see all the other quick-glancing Achaeans,
οὕς κεν ἐῢ γνοίην καί τʼ οὔνομα μυθησαίμην·
whom I could well recognize and tell their names;
δοιὼ δʼ οὐ δύναμαι ἰδέειν κοσμήτορε λαῶν
but two leaders of the people I cannot see,
Κάστορά θʼ ἱππόδαμον καὶ πὺξ ἀγαθὸν Πολυδεύκεα
Castor, tamer of horses, and Polydeuces, good in boxing,
αὐτοκασιγνήτω, τώ μοι μία γείνατο μήτηρ.
my own brothers, whom one mother bore with me.
ἢ οὐχ ἑσπέσθην Λακεδαίμονος ἐξ ἐρατεινῆς,
Either they did not follow from lovely Lacedaemon,
ἢ δεύρω μὲν ἕποντο νέεσσʼ ἔνι ποντοπόροισι,
or they followed hither in the seafaring ships,
νῦν αὖτʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσι μάχην καταδύμεναι ἀνδρῶν
but now they do not wish to enter the battle of men,
αἴσχεα δειδιότες καὶ ὀνείδεα πόλλʼ ἅ μοί ἐστιν.
fearing the shame and many reproaches which are mine.”
ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δʼ ἤδη κάτεχεν φυσίζοος αἶα
So she spoke, but them already the life-giving earth held fast
ἐν Λακεδαίμονι αὖθι φίλῃ ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ.
there in Lacedaemon, in their dear fatherland.
κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεῶν φέρον ὅρκια πιστὰ
And heralds through the city were carrying the trustworthy oaths of the gods,
ἄρνε δύω καὶ οἶνον ἐΰφρονα καρπὸν ἀρούρης
two lambs and cheering wine, the fruit of the earth,
ἀσκῷ ἐν αἰγείῳ· φέρε δὲ κρητῆρα φαεινὸν
in a goat-skin bottle; and a shining mixing-bowl carried
κῆρυξ Ἰδαῖος ἠδὲ χρύσεια κύπελλα·
the herald Idaeus, and golden cups;
ὄτρυνεν δὲ γέροντα παριστάμενος ἐπέεσσιν·
and he urged the old man, standing beside him with words:
ὄρσεο Λαομεδοντιάδη, καλέουσιν ἄριστοι
”Rise, son of Laomedon, the chiefs call you,
Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
both of the horse-taming Trojans and of the bronze-clad Achaeans,
ἐς πεδίον καταβῆναι ἵνʼ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμητε·
to go down into the plain, so that you may strike a trustworthy oath;
αὐτὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος
but Alexander and Menelaus, dear to Ares,
μακρῇς ἐγχείῃσι μαχήσοντʼ ἀμφὶ γυναικί·
will fight with long spears for the woman;
τῷ δέ κε νικήσαντι γυνὴ καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἕποιτο·
and to the winner the woman and the possessions will follow;
οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες
and the others, having struck friendship and trustworthy oaths,
ναίοιμεν Τροίην ἐριβώλακα, τοὶ δὲ νέονται
may we dwell in fertile Troy, and they return
Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον καὶ Ἀχαιΐδα καλλιγύναικα.
to horse-pasturing Argos and Achaea of fair women.”
ὣς φάτο ῥίγησεν δʼ ὃ γέρων, ἐκέλευσε δʼ ἑταίρους
So he spoke, and the old man shuddered, and ordered his companions
ἵππους ζευγνύμεναι· τοὶ δʼ ὀτραλέως ἐπίθοντο.
to yoke the horses; and they quickly obeyed.
ἂν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔβη Πρίαμος, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία τεῖνεν ὀπίσσω·
Priam then mounted and drew back the reins;
πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀντήνωρ περικαλλέα βήσετο δίφρον·
and beside him Antenor mounted the very beautiful chariot;
τὼ δὲ διὰ Σκαιῶν πεδίον δʼ ἔχον ὠκέας ἵππους.
and the two through the Scaean gates held their swift horses toward the plain.
- 3.210στάντων
Genitive absolute with the subject pronoun (such as αὐτῶν) omitted. It means "when they stood," continuing from the preceding temporal clause "when they mingled (ἔμιχθεν)."
- 3.220φαίης κε
Potential optative in the second person singular with the particle κε (= ἄν). It functions as a potential statement addressing an imaginary observer ("you would have said / thought").
- 3.224ὧδʼ
An adverb meaning "to such an extent" or "so much." It contrasts the degree of admiration (ἀγασσάμεθʼ) for his appearance (εἶδος) with the overwhelming impact of his eloquence just described.