The Snare of Hephaestus and Release of Ares — Odyssey §8.294-8.367 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

οἴχεται ἐς Λῆμνον μετὰ Σίντιας ἀγριοφώνους.

"He is gone to Lemnos, to the Sintians of savage speech."

ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἐείσατο κοιμηθῆναι.

So he spoke, and to her it seemed right welcome to lie with him.

τὼ δʼ ἐς δέμνια βάντε κατέδραθον· ἀμφὶ δὲ δεσμοὶ

And the two went to bed and fell asleep, and round them the bonds

τεχνήεντες ἔχυντο πολύφρονος Ἡφαίστοιο,

of cunning Hephaestus were poured,

οὐδέ τι κινῆσαι μελέων ἦν οὐδʼ ἀναεῖραι.

and they could in no way move or raise their limbs.

καὶ τότε δὴ γίγνωσκον, ὅ τʼ οὐκέτι φυκτὰ πέλοντο.

Then indeed they knew that there was no longer any escaping.

ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις,

And near at hand came to them the famous lame god,

αὖτις ὑποστρέψας πρὶν Λήμνου γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·

having turned back again before he reached the land of Lemnos;

Ἠέλιος γάρ οἱ σκοπιὴν ἔχεν εἶπέ τε μῦθον.

for Helios kept watch for him and brought him word.

βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι πρὸς δῶμα φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ·

And he went on his way to his house, grieved in his heart;

ἔστη δʼ ἐν προθύροισι, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ᾕρει·

and he stood in the doorway, and fierce anger seized him;

σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησε, γέγωνέ τε πᾶσι θεοῖσιν·

and he cried out terribly, and called aloud to all the gods:

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,

"Father Zeus, and you other blessed gods who exist forever,

δεῦθʼ, ἵνα ἔργα γελαστὰ καὶ οὐκ ἐπιεικτὰ ἴδησθε,

come hither, that you may see deeds laughable and intolerable,

ὡς ἐμὲ χωλὸν ἐόντα Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη

how me, who am lame, Zeus' daughter Aphrodite

αἰὲν ἀτιμάζει, φιλέει δʼ ἀίδηλον Ἄρηα,

ever dishonors, and loves destructive Ares,

οὕνεχʼ ὁ μὲν καλός τε καὶ ἀρτίπος, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε

because he is fair and straight of limb, whereas I

ἠπεδανὸς γενόμην. ἀτὰρ οὔ τί μοι αἴτιος ἄλλος,

was born weak. But no other is to be blamed for me,

ἀλλὰ τοκῆε δύω, τὼ μὴ γείνασθαι ὄφελλον¹.

save my two parents, who I would had never begotten me!

ἀλλʼ ὄψεσθʼ, ἵνα τώ γε καθεύδετον ἐν φιλότητι

But come, look where these two lie sleeping in love,

εἰς ἐμὰ δέμνια βάντες, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁρόων ἀκάχημαι.

having gone into my bed, while I am grieved at the sight.

οὐ μέν σφεας ἔτʼ ἔολπα² μίνυνθά γε κειέμεν οὕτως

I do not think they will care to lie thus any longer, even for a little,

καὶ μάλα περ φιλέοντε· τάχʼ οὐκ ἐθελήσετον ἄμφω

though they love each other ever so much; soon they will have no mind, both of them,

εὕδειν· ἀλλά σφωε δόλος καὶ δεσμὸς ἐρύξει,

to sleep; but my snare and bonds shall hold them fast,

εἰς ὅ κέ μοι μάλα πάντα πατὴρ ἀποδῷσιν ἔεδνα,

until their father pays me back all the bridal gifts

ὅσσα οἱ ἐγγυάλιξα κυνώπιδος εἵνεκα κούρης,

which I put into his hands for the sake of the shameless girl,

οὕνεκά οἱ καλὴ θυγάτηρ, ἀτὰρ οὐκ ἐχέθυμος.

because his daughter is beautiful, but not self-controlled."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀγέροντο θεοὶ ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ·

So he spoke, and the gods gathered to the house with brazen floor.

ἦλθε Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος, ἦλθʼ ἐριούνης

Poseidon, the girdler of the earth, came, and helper

Ἑρμείας, ἦλθεν δὲ ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων.

Hermes came, and the king, far-darting Apollo.

θηλύτεραι δὲ θεαὶ μένον αἰδοῖ οἴκοι ἑκάστη.

But the female goddesses remained at home, each for shame.

ἔσταν δʼ ἐν προθύροισι θεοί, δωτῆρες ἑάων·

And the gods, the givers of good things, stood in the doorway;

ἄσβεστος δʼ ἄρʼ ἐνῶρτο γέλως μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι

and unquenchable laughter arose among the blessed gods

τέχνας εἰσορόωσι πολύφρονος Ἡφαίστοιο.

as they looked upon the craft of wise Hephaestus.

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

And thus would one speak, looking at his neighbor:

οὐκ ἀρετᾷ κακὰ ἔργα· κιχάνει τοι βραδὺς ὠκύν,

"Ill deeds thrive not; lo, the slow catches the swift!

ὡς καὶ νῦν Ἥφαιστος ἐὼν βραδὺς εἷλεν Ἄρηα

As now Hephaestus, slow though he be, has caught Ares,

ὠκύτατόν περ ἐόντα θεῶν οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν,

though he is the fleetest of the gods who hold Olympus,

χωλὸς ἐὼν τέχνῃσι· τὸ καὶ μοιχάγριʼ ὀφέλλει.

catching him by his craft, though he is lame. Therefore Ares owes the fine of the adulterer."

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·

Thus they spoke to one another.

Ἑρμῆν δὲ προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

And the king, Apollo, son of Zeus, spoke to Hermes:

Ἑρμεία, Διὸς υἱέ, διάκτορε, δῶτορ ἑάων,

"Hermes, son of Zeus, messenger, giver of good things,

ἦ ῥά κεν ἐν δεσμοῖς ἐθέλοις κρατεροῖσι πιεσθεὶς

would you indeed be willing, pressed down by strong bonds,

εὕδειν ἐν λέκτροισι παρὰ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ;

to sleep in bed beside golden Aphrodite?"

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·

And the messenger, the slayer of Argus, answered him:

αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο γένοιτο, ἄναξ ἑκατηβόλʼ Ἄπολλον·

"Would that this might be, lord Apollo, far-shooter!

δεσμοὶ μὲν τρὶς τόσσοι ἀπείρονες ἀμφὶς ἔχοιεν³,

Let there be bonds thrice as many, past finding out, to hold me fast,

ὑμεῖς δʼ εἰσορόῳτε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι,

and you gods look on, and all the goddesses too,

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εὕδοιμι παρὰ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ.

yet would I sleep beside golden Aphrodite."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἐν δὲ γέλως ὦρτʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.

So he spoke, and laughter arose among the deathless gods.

οὐδὲ Ποσειδάωνα γέλως ἔχε, λίσσετο δʼ αἰεὶ

But Poseidon laughed not; rather he kept praying

Ἥφαιστον κλυτοεργὸν ὅπως λύσειεν Ἄρηα.

Hephaestus, famous for his work, that he would loose Ares.

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

And he spoke, and addressed him with winged words:

λῦσον· ἐγὼ δέ τοι αὐτὸν ὑπίσχομαι, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις,

"Loose him, and I promise you that he himself, as you bid,

τίσειν αἴσιμα πάντα μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.

shall pay all that is right in the presence of the deathless gods."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·

Then the famous lame god answered him:

μή με, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε, ταῦτα κέλευε·

"Ask me not this, Poseidon, girdler of the earth.

δειλαί τοι δειλῶν γε καὶ ἐγγύαι ἐγγυάασθαι.⁴

Verily, a surety for a knave is a sorry thing to take.

πῶς ἂν ἐγώ σε δέοιμι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν,

How could I bind you in the presence of the deathless gods,

εἴ κεν Ἄρης οἴχοιτο χρέος καὶ δεσμὸν ἀλύξας;

if Ares should depart, escaping both his debt and his bonds?"

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

Then Poseidon, the shaker of the earth, answered him:

Ἥφαιστʼ, εἴ περ γάρ κεν Ἄρης χρεῖος ὑπαλύξας

"Hephaestus, even if Ares should escape his debt and

οἴχηται φεύγων, αὐτός τοι ἐγὼ τάδε τίσω.

flee away, I myself will pay you this."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·

Then the famous lame god answered him:

οὐκ ἔστʼ οὐδὲ ἔοικε τεὸν ἔπος ἀρνήσασθαι.

"It is not possible, nor is it seemly, that I should deny your word."

ὣς εἰπὼν δεσμὸν ἀνίει μένος Ἡφαίστοιο.

So saying, the mighty strength of Hephaestus loosed the bonds.

τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ δεσμοῖο λύθεν, κρατεροῦ περ ἐόντος,

And the two, when they were loosed from the bonds, strong though they were,

αὐτίκʼ ἀναΐξαντε ὁ μὲν Θρῄκηνδε βεβήκει,

straightway sprang up, and he went to Thrace,

ἡ δʼ ἄρα Κύπρον ἵκανε φιλομμειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη,

and she, the laughter-loving Aphrodite, came to Cyprus,

ἐς Πάφον· ἔνθα δέ οἱ τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.

to Paphos, where is her precinct and fragrant altar.

ἔνθα δέ μιν Χάριτες λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ

There the Graces bathed her and anointed her with oil,

ἀμβρότῳ, οἷα θεοὺς ἐπενήνοθεν αἰὲν ἐόντας,

deathless oil, such as is on the gods who exist forever,

ἀμφὶ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσαν ἐπήρατα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.

and they clothed her in lovely raiment, a wonder to behold.

ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

This then was the song of the famous minstrel; but Odysseus

Syntax notes4 items

8.312τὼ μὴ γείνασθαι ὄφελλον
The combination of ὄφελον (here in the Homeric form ὄφελλον) with the infinitive (γείνασθαι) expresses a past unfulfilled wish (expressing regret: 'who I wish had never begotten me'). The dual relative pronoun τώ refers to Hephaestus's parents (Zeus and Hera).
8.315οὐ μέν σφεας ἔτʼ ἔολπα
The verb ἔολπα (perfect of ἔλπω, here meaning 'to expect' or 'to think'), accompanied by the negative οὐ, governs an accusative with infinitive construction (σφεας κειέμεν), meaning 'I do not think they will care to lie...'. κειέμεν is the Homeric present infinitive of κείμαι.
8.340δεσμοὶ μὲν τρὶς τόσσοι ἀπείρονες ἀμφὶς ἔχοιεν
The series of optatives without conjunctions (ἔχοιεν, εἰσορόῳτε, εὕδοιμι) juxtaposes wishes to vividly depict a hypothetical situation with an extreme concession: 'even if there were thrice as many bonds and all looked on, I would still wish to sleep beside Aphrodite.'
8.351δειλαί τοι δειλῶν γε καὶ ἐγγύαι ἐγγυάασθαι.
A proverbial expression with a wordplay-like ring: 'sureties (ἐγγύαι) for worthless men (δειλῶν, referring to Ares) are worthless (δειλαί, meaning insecure or invalid) to take (ἐγγυάασθαι).' The predicate adjective δειλαί is placed at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:8.294-8.367