- 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
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- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:9.216-9.286
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-29
After the feast hosted by Achilles, Odysseus begins his speech at a sign from Ajax, imploring Achilles to save the hard-pressed Achaeans, reminding him of his father Peleus' counsel, and listing the immense gifts offered by Agamemnon.
Πάτροκλος μὲν σῖτον ἑλὼν ἐπένειμε τραπέζῃ
Patroclus took bread and distributed it on the table in beautiful baskets, but Achilles distributed the meat.
καλοῖς ἐν κανέοισιν, ἀτὰρ κρέα νεῖμεν Ἀχιλλεύς.
He himself sat opposite noble Odysseus by the other wall,
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
and bade his companion Patroclus to sacrifice to the gods;
τοίχου τοῦ ἑτέροιο, θεοῖσι δὲ θῦσαι ἀνώγει
and he cast the burnt offering into the fire.
Πάτροκλον ὃν ἑταῖρον· ὃ δʼ ἐν πυρὶ βάλλε θυηλάς.
And they put forth their hands to the good things that lay ready before them.
οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
But when they had put away the desire of drink and food,
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
Ajax nodded to Phoenix; and noble Odysseus noticed it,
νεῦσʼ Αἴας Φοίνικι· νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
and filling a cup with wine, he pledged Achilles:
πλησάμενος δʼ οἴνοιο δέπας δείδεκτʼ1 Ἀχιλῆα·
”Hail, Achilles! We lack not our share of a fair feast,
χαῖρʼ Ἀχιλεῦ· δαιτὸς μὲν ἐΐσης οὐκ ἐπιδευεῖς
either in the hut of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
ἠμὲν ἐνὶ κλισίῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
or even here now, for there are many heart-pleasing things before us
ἠδὲ καὶ ἐνθάδε νῦν, πάρα γὰρ μενοεικέα πολλὰ
to feast upon. But the matters of a delightful feast are not our concern;
δαίνυσθʼ· ἀλλʼ οὐ δαιτὸς ἐπηράτου ἔργα μέμηλεν,
rather, beholding a very great disaster, O nurtured of Zeus,
ἀλλὰ λίην μέγα πῆμα διοτρεφὲς εἰσορόωντες
we are afraid. It is in doubt whether we shall save or lose
δείδιμεν· ἐν δοιῇ δὲ σαωσέμεν ἢ ἀπολέσθαι
the well-benched ships, unless you clothe yourself in valor.
νῆας2 ἐϋσσέλμους, εἰ μὴ σύ γε δύσεαι ἀλκήν.
For near the ships and the wall have pitched their camp
ἐγγὺς γὰρ νηῶν καὶ τείχεος αὖλιν ἔθεντο
the high-spirited Trojans and their far-famed allies,
Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι τηλεκλειτοί τʼ ἐπίκουροι
kindling many fires throughout the host; and they say they will no longer
κηάμενοι πυρὰ πολλὰ κατὰ στρατόν, οὐδʼ ἔτι φασὶ
be held back, but will fall upon our black ships.
σχήσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι.
And Zeus, son of Cronos, showing them signs on the right,
Ζεὺς δέ σφι Κρονίδης ἐνδέξια σήματα φαίνων
flashes his lightning; and Hector, exulting greatly in his strength,
ἀστράπτει· Ἕκτωρ δὲ μέγα σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνων
rages terribly, trusting in Zeus, and cares nothing for
μαίνεται ἐκπάγλως πίσυνος Διί, οὐδέ τι τίει
men or gods, for a strong madness has come upon him.
ἀνέρας οὐδὲ θεούς· κρατερὴ δέ ἑ λύσσα δέδυκεν.
He prays that earliest divine Dawn may appear,
ἀρᾶται δὲ τάχιστα φανήμεναι Ἠῶ δῖαν·
for he vows that he will cut off the high stern-horns of the ships
στεῦται γὰρ νηῶν ἀποκόψειν ἄκρα κόρυμβα
and burn the ships themselves with consuming fire, and slaughter the Achaeans
αὐτάς τʼ ἐμπρήσειν μαλεροῦ πυρός, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς
beside them, confused as they are by the smoke.
δῃώσειν παρὰ τῇσιν ὀρινομένους ὑπὸ καπνοῦ.
These things do I terribly fear in my mind, lest his threats
ταῦτʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα, μή οἱ ἀπειλὰς
the gods fulfill, and it be our fated portion
ἐκτελέσωσι θεοί, ἡμῖν δὲ δὴ αἴσιμον εἴη
to perish in Troy, far from horse-nourishing Argos.
φθίσθαι ἐνὶ Τροίῃ ἑκὰς Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο.
But up, if you are minded, even though late, to rescue the sons of the Achaeans
ἀλλʼ ἄνα εἰ μέμονάς γε καὶ ὀψέ περ υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
who are hard-pressed by the din of the Trojans.
τειρομένους ἐρύεσθαι ὑπὸ Τρώων ὀρυμαγδοῦ.
To yourself hereafter there will be sorrow, nor is there any way
αὐτῷ τοι μετόπισθʼ ἄχος ἔσσεται, οὐδέ τι μῆχος
to find a cure for a harm once done; but long before this,
ῥεχθέντος κακοῦ ἔστʼ ἄκος εὑρεῖν· ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὶν
consider how you may ward off the evil day from the Danaans.
φράζευ ὅπως Δαναοῖσιν ἀλεξήσεις κακὸν ἦμαρ.
Ah, friend, surely your father Peleus charged you
ὦ πέπον ἦ μὲν σοί γε πατὴρ ἐπετέλλετο Πηλεὺς
on that day when he sent you from Phthia to Agamemnon:
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε σʼ ἐκ Φθίης Ἀγαμέμνονι πέμπε·
’My child, strength indeed Athena and Hera
τέκνον ἐμὸν κάρτος μὲν Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη
will give if they wish; but do you keep your proud spirit
δώσουσʼ αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωσι, σὺ δὲ μεγαλήτορα θυμὸν
within your breast, for friendliness is better;
ἴσχειν ἐν στήθεσσι· φιλοφροσύνη γὰρ ἀμείνων·
and cease from strife that deviseth evil, so that the Argives,
ληγέμεναι δʼ ἔριδος κακομηχάνου, ὄφρά σε μᾶλλον
both young and old, may honor you the more.’
τίωσʼ Ἀργείων ἠμὲν νέοι ἠδὲ γέροντες.
Thus did the old man charge you, but you forget. But even now
ὣς ἐπέτελλʼ ὃ γέρων, σὺ δὲ λήθεαι· ἀλλʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦν
cease, and put away your heart-wounding anger; to you Agamemnon
παύεʼ, ἔα δὲ χόλον θυμαλγέα· σοὶ δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων
offers worthy gifts if you cease from your anger.
ἄξια δῶρα δίδωσι μεταλήξαντι χόλοιο.
If you will, listen to me, and I will recount to you
εἰ δὲ σὺ μέν μευ ἄκουσον,3 ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι καταλέξω
all the gifts that Agamemnon in his huts promised you:
ὅσσά τοι ἐν κλισίῃσιν ὑπέσχετο δῶρʼ Ἀγαμέμνων·
seven tripods untouched by fire, and ten talents of gold,
ἕπτʼ ἀπύρους τρίποδας, δέκα δὲ χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,
and twenty gleaming cauldrons, and twelve horses,
αἴθωνας δὲ λέβητας ἐείκοσι, δώδεκα δʼ ἵππους
sturdy, winners in the race, which have won prizes by their speed.
πηγοὺς ἀθλοφόρους, οἳ ἀέθλια ποσσὶν ἄροντο.
Not without booty would a man be who possessed as much,
οὔ κεν ἀλήϊος εἴη ἀνὴρ ᾧ τόσσα γένοιτο
nor would he be lacking in highly prized gold,
οὐδέ κεν ἀκτήμων ἐριτίμοιο χρυσοῖο,
as many prizes as those horses of Agamemnon have won by their feet.
ὅσσʼ Ἀγαμέμνονος ἵπποι ἀέθλια ποσσὶν ἄροντο.
And he will give seven women skilled in faultless handiwork,
δώσει δʼ ἑπτὰ γυναῖκας ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίας
women of Lesbos, whom, when you yourself took well-built Lesbos,
Λεσβίδας, ἃς ὅτε Λέσβον ἐϋκτιμένην ἕλες αὐτὸς
he chose out, and who then in beauty surpassed the race of women.
ἐξέλεθʼ, αἳ τότε κάλλει ἐνίκων φῦλα γυναικῶν.
These will he give you, and among them shall be she whom he then took away,
τὰς μέν τοι δώσει, μετὰ δʼ ἔσσεται ἣν τότʼ ἀπηύρα
the daughter of Briseus; and he will swear a great oath
κούρη Βρισῆος· ἐπὶ δὲ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμεῖται
that he never went up into her bed or lay with her,
μή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι ἠδὲ μιγῆναι
as is the custom, O king, of men and women.
ἣ θέμις ἐστὶν ἄναξ ἤτʼ ἀνδρῶν ἤτε γυναικῶν.4
All these things shall be at hand immediately; and if hereafter
ταῦτα μὲν αὐτίκα πάντα παρέσσεται· εἰ δέ κεν αὖτε
the gods grant us to sack the great city of Priam,
ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο θεοὶ δώωσʼ ἀλαπάξαι,
do you go in, and heap up your ship with abundance of gold and bronze
νῆα ἅλις χρυσοῦ καὶ χαλκοῦ νηήσασθαι
when we Achaeans divide the spoil,
εἰσελθών, ὅτε κεν δατεώμεθα ληΐδʼ Ἀχαιοί,
and choose yourself twenty Trojan women,
Τρωϊάδας δὲ γυναῖκας ἐείκοσιν αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι,
who shall be fairest after Argive Helen.
αἵ κε μετʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην κάλλισται ἔωσιν.
And if we return to Achaean Argos, the richest land of the earth,
εἰ δέ κεν Ἄργος ἱκοίμεθʼ Ἀχαιϊκὸν οὖθαρ ἀρούρης
you shall be his son-in-law; and he will honor you even as Orestes,
γαμβρός κέν οἱ ἔοις·5 τίσει δέ σε ἶσον Ὀρέστῃ,
who is being reared for him in abundant luxury as his dearly loved son.
ὅς οἱ τηλύγετος τρέφεται θαλίῃ ἔνι πολλῇ.τρεῖς δέ οἵ εἰσι θύγατρες ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ εὐπήκτῳ
And in his well-built palace there are three daughters,
- 9.224δείδεκτʼ
The verb form δείδεκτʼ (for δείδεκτο) from δειδίσκομαι (to welcome, pledge) functions as an aorist/perfect active indicating Odysseus pledged or welcomed Achilles with his cup.
- 9.230ἐν δοιῇ δὲ σαωσέμεν ἢ ἀπολέσθαι νῆας
The phrase ἐν δοιῇ (there is doubt) functions impersonally with the copula omitted. The infinitives σαωσέμεν (active, "to save") and ἀπολέσθαι (middle-passive, "to perish") govern νῆας (ships) as their grammatical object or subject, indicating the uncertain fate of the fleet.
- 9.262εἰ δὲ σὺ μέν μευ ἄκουσον
An unusual construction where the conditional particle εἰ is followed directly by an imperative ἄκουσον ("listen!"). It functions semantically as a conditional clause ("But if you would listen to me"), paired with the apodosis with κέ and future indicative in the main clause.
- 9.276ἣ θέμις ἐστὶν ἄναξ ἤτʼ ἀνδρῶν ἤτε γυναικῶν
The noun ἄναξ ("king") is used here in the nominative acting as a vocative addressing Achilles. The relative pronoun ἣ refers back to the actions of sharing a bed and union mentioned in the previous line as a natural custom (θέμις).
- 9.283εἰ δέ κεν Ἄργος ἱκοίμεθʼ ... γαμβρός κέν οἱ ἔοις
A conditional sentence in epic dialect consisting of εἰ κεν with optative (ἱκοίμεθʼ) in the protasis, and κεν with optative (ἔοις) in the apodosis, expressing a future potential or expected possibility of returning home and becoming a son-in-law.