- 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-grc2:9.73-9.142
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-29
Nestor urges Agamemnon to appease Achilles' anger by sending gifts and persuasive words. Accepting the advice, Agamemnon admits his error and promises an immense list of gifts as compensation.
πᾶσά τοί ἐσθʼ ὑποδεξίη, πολέεσσι δʼ ἀνάσσεις.
Your huts are full of all hospitality, and you rule over many.
πολλῶν δʼ ἀγρομένων1 τῷ πείσεαι ὅς κεν ἀρίστην
And when many are gathered, you will obey him who
βουλὴν βουλεύσῃ· μάλα δὲ χρεὼ πάντας Ἀχαιοὺς
counsels the best counsel; for indeed there is great need for all the Achaeans
ἐσθλῆς καὶ πυκινῆς, ὅτι δήϊοι ἐγγύθι νηῶν
of one that is noble and prudent, since the enemy near our ships
καίουσιν πυρὰ πολλά· τίς ἂν τάδε γηθήσειε;
are burning many watch-fires; who could rejoice at these things?
νὺξ δʼ ἧδʼ ἠὲ διαρραίσει στρατὸν ἠὲ σαώσει.
This night will either destroy our army or save it.”
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο.
So he spoke, and they readily heard him and obeyed.
ἐκ δὲ φυλακτῆρες σὺν τεύχεσιν ἐσσεύοντο
And the sentinels rushed forth with their armor,
ἀμφί τε Νεστορίδην Θρασυμήδεα ποιμένα λαῶν,
around Nestor’s son Thrasymedes, shepherd of the host,
ἠδʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀσκάλαφον καὶ Ἰάλμενον υἷας Ἄρηος
and around Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Ares,
ἀμφί τε Μηριόνην Ἀφαρῆά τε Δηΐπυρόν τε,
and around Meriones, Aphareus, and Deipyrus,
ἠδʼ ἀμφὶ Κρείοντος υἱὸν Λυκομήδεα δῖον.
and around the son of Creon, noble Lycomedes.
ἕπτʼ ἔσαν ἡγεμόνες φυλάκων, ἑκατὸν δὲ ἑκάστῳ
Seven were the leaders of the sentinels, and with each one a hundred
κοῦροι ἅμα στεῖχον δολίχʼ ἔγχεα χερσὶν ἔχοντες·
youths marched along, holding long spears in their hands.
κὰδ δὲ μέσον τάφρου καὶ τείχεος ἷζον ἰόντες·
They went and sat down in the space between the trench and the wall;
ἔνθα δὲ πῦρ κήαντο, τίθεντο δὲ δόρπα ἕκαστος.
and there they kindled a fire, and each man prepared his supper.
Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ γέροντας ἀολλέας ἦγεν Ἀχαιῶν
But the son of Atreus led the gathered elders of the Achaeans
ἐς κλισίην, παρὰ δέ σφι τίθει μενοεικέα δαῖτα.
to his hut, and set before them a heart-satisfying feast.
οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
And they stretched forth their hands to the good things set ready before them.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
But when they had put away the desire for drink and food,
τοῖς ὁ γέρων πάμπρωτος ὑφαίνειν ἤρχετο μῆτιν
among them the old man first of all began to weave his counsel,
Νέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·
Nestor, whose counsel had even before seemed the best.
ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
He with wise intent addressed them and spoke:
Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον
”Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men,
ἐν σοὶ μὲν λήξω, σέο δʼ ἄρξομαι, οὕνεκα πολλῶν
with you will I end, and with you will I begin, because over many
λαῶν ἐσσι ἄναξ καί τοι Ζεὺς ἐγγυάλιξε
peoples you are king, and to you Zeus has delivered
σκῆπτρόν τʼ ἠδὲ θέμιστας, ἵνά σφισι βουλεύῃσθα.
the scepter and the laws, that you might take counsel for them.
τώ σε χρὴ περὶ2 μὲν φάσθαι ἔπος ἠδʼ ἐπακοῦσαι,
Therefore it behoves you above all to speak your word, and to hearken,
κρηῆναι δὲ καὶ ἄλλῳ, ὅτʼ ἄν τινα θυμὸς ἀνώγῃ
and to fulfill also for another, when his heart bids him
εἰπεῖν εἰς ἀγαθόν· σέο δʼ ἕξεται ὅττί κεν ἄρχῃ.
speak for our good; for on you will depend whatever may prevail.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα.
But I will speak as seems to me to be best.
οὐ γάρ τις νόον ἄλλος ἀμείνονα τοῦδε νοήσει
For no other man will think of a better mind than this
οἷον ἐγὼ νοέω ἠμὲν πάλαι ἠδʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦν
which I think, both of old and even now,
ἐξ ἔτι τοῦ ὅτε διογενὲς Βρισηΐδα κούρην
ever since that day when, O Zeus-born, the girl Briseis
χωομένου Ἀχιλῆος3 ἔβης κλισίηθεν ἀπούρας
you went and took from the hut of angry Achilles,
οὔ τι καθʼ ἡμέτερόν γε νόον· μάλα γάρ τοι ἔγωγε
not at all according to our mind; for indeed I, for my part,
πόλλʼ ἀπεμυθεόμην· σὺ δὲ σῷ μεγαλήτορι θυμῷ
strove much to dissuade you; but you, yielding to your great-hearted soul,
εἴξας ἄνδρα φέριστον, ὃν ἀθάνατοί περ ἔτισαν,
dishonored a most excellent man, whom even the immortals honored;
ἠτίμησας, ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχεις γέρας· ἀλλʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦν
for you took and keep his prize. Yet even now
φραζώμεσθʼ ὥς κέν μιν ἀρεσσάμενοι πεπίθωμεν
let us consider how we may appease and persuade him
δώροισίν τʼ ἀγανοῖσιν ἔπεσσί τε μειλιχίοισι.
with gentle gifts and soothing words.”
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
Then in turn Agamemnon, king of men, answered him:
ὦ γέρον οὔ τι ψεῦδος ἐμὰς ἄτας κατέλεξας·
”Old man, in no way falsely have you recounted my blindness.
ἀασάμην, οὐδʼ αὐτὸς ἀναίνομαι. ἀντί νυ πολλῶν
I was blind, I do not deny it myself. Worth many
λαῶν ἐστὶν ἀνὴρ ὅν τε Ζεὺς κῆρι φιλήσῃ,
hosts is the man whom Zeus loves in his heart,
ὡς νῦν τοῦτον ἔτισε, δάμασσε δὲ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν.
even as now he has honored this man, and has destroyed the host of the Achaeans.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἀασάμην φρεσὶ λευγαλέῃσι πιθήσας,
But since I was blind, yielding to my miserable passion,
ἂψ ἐθέλω ἀρέσαι δόμεναί τʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα.
I am minded to make amends, and to give countless gifts of atonement.
ὑμῖν δʼ ἐν πάντεσσι περικλυτὰ δῶρʼ ὀνομήνω
In the presence of you all I will name the glorious gifts:
ἕπτʼ ἀπύρους τρίποδας, δέκα δὲ χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,
seven tripods that have not felt the fire, and ten talents of gold,
αἴθωνας δὲ λέβητας ἐείκοσι, δώδεκα δʼ ἵππους
and twenty gleaming cauldrons, and twelve horses,
πηγοὺς ἀθλοφόρους, οἳ ἀέθλια ποσσὶν ἄροντο.
sturdy prize-winning steeds, who have won prizes by their speed.
οὔ κεν ἀλήϊος εἴη ἀνὴρ ᾧ τόσσα γένοιτο,
Not without booty would a man be who possessed so many,
οὐδέ κεν ἀκτήμων ἐριτίμοιο χρυσοῖο,
nor unpossessed of precious gold,
ὅσσά μοι ἠνείκαντο ἀέθλια μώνυχες ἵπποι.
as many prizes as those single-hoofed horses have won for me.
δώσω δʼ ἑπτὰ γυναῖκας ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίας
And I will give seven women skilled in faultless handiwork,
Λεσβίδας, ἃς ὅτε Λέσβον ἐϋκτιμένην ἕλεν αὐτὸς
women of Lesbos, whom when he himself took well-built Lesbos
ἐξελόμην, αἳ κάλλει ἐνίκων φῦλα γυναικῶν.
I chose out, and who in beauty surpassed the race of women.
τὰς μέν οἱ δώσω, μετὰ δʼ ἔσσεται ἣν τότʼ ἀπηύρων
These will I give him, and among them shall be she whom I then took away,
κούρη Βρισῆος· ἐπὶ δὲ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμοῦμαι
the daughter of Briseus; and I will swear a great oath therewith,
μή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι ἠδὲ μιγῆναι,
that never did I go into her bed or lie with her,
ἣ θέμις ἀνθρώπων πέλει ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ γυναικῶν.
as is the custom of mankind, of men and women.
ταῦτα μὲν αὐτίκα πάντα παρέσσεται· εἰ δέ κεν αὖτε
All these things shall be ready at once; and if hereafter
ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο θεοὶ δώωσʼ ἀλαπάξαι,
the gods grant us to sack the great city of Priam,
νῆα ἅλις χρυσοῦ καὶ χαλκοῦ νηησάσθω
let him heap up his ship with gold and bronze in abundance,
εἰσελθών, ὅτε κεν δατεώμεθα ληΐδʼ Ἀχαιοί,
entering in when we Achaeans divide the spoil;
Τρωϊάδας δὲ γυναῖκας ἐείκοσιν αὐτὸς ἑλέσθω,
and let him choose for himself twenty Trojan women,
αἴ κε μετʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην κάλλισται ἔωσιν.
who shall be fairest after Argive Helen.
εἰ δέ κεν Ἄργος ἱκοίμεθʼ Ἀχαιϊκὸν οὖθαρ ἀρούρης4
And if we return to Achaean Argos, the richest of land,
γαμβρός κέν μοι ἔοι· τίσω δέ μιν ἶσον Ὀρέστῃ,
he shall be my son-in-law, and I will honor him even as Orestes,
- 9.74πολλῶν δʼ ἀγρομένων
Genitive absolute structure. The following dative demonstrative pronoun τῷ serves as the object of πείσεαι ("you will obey"), introducing the relative clause.
- 9.100περὶ
Used adverbially here rather than as a preposition, meaning "above all" or "exceedingly," modifying the infinitives φάσθαι and ἐπακοῦσαι.
- 9.107χωομένου Ἀχιλῆος
Genitive absolute structure ("while Achilles was angry"). The subject of the aorist participle ἀπούρας ("having taken away") is identical with the subject of the main verb ἔβης (Agamemnon).
- 9.141οὖθαρ ἀρούρης
A metaphorical expression meaning "the udder of the land," standing in apposition to Ἄργος to emphasize the fertility and richness of Argos.