§17.417πᾶσι χάνοι·
"may it swallow us all!
τό κεν ἧμιν ἄφαρ πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη §17.418εἰ τοῦτον Τρώεσσι μεθήσομεν ἱπποδάμοισιν §17.419ἄστυ πότι σφέτερον ἐρύσαι καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι. §17.420ὣς δέ τις αὖ Τρώων μεγαθύμων αὐδήσασκεν· §17.421ὦ φίλοι, εἰ καὶ μοῖρα παρʼ ἀνέρι τῷδε δαμῆναι §17.422πάντας ὁμῶς, μή πώ τις ἐρωείτω πολέμοιο. §17.423ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε, μένος δʼ ὄρσασκεν ἑκάστου.
That indeed would be far more profitable for us straightway, if we are to yield this man to the horse-taming Trojans, to drag to their city and win glory." And thus on the other side would one of the great-souled Trojans say: "My friends, even if it be our fate that all of us together be slain beside this man, let no man yet shrink back from the battle." So would one speak, and rouse the spirit of each.
§17.424ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο, σιδήρειος δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς §17.425χάλκεον οὐρανὸν ἷκε διʼ αἰθέρος ἀτρυγέτοιο·
So they fought, and the iron din reached the bronze heaven through the waste ether.
§17.426ἵπποι δʼ Αἰακίδαο μάχης ἀπάνευθεν ἐόντες §17.427κλαῖον, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα πυθέσθην ἡνιόχοιο §17.428ἐν κονίῃσι πεσόντος ὑφʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο.
But the horses of the grandson of Aeacus, being apart from the battle, were weeping ever since they first learned that their charioteer had fallen in the dust beneath manslaughtering Hector.
§17.429ἦ μὰν Αὐτομέδων Διώρεος ἄλκιμος υἱὸς §17.430πολλὰ μὲν ἂρ μάστιγι θοῇ ἐπεμαίετο θείνων, §17.431πολλὰ δὲ μειλιχίοισι προσηύδα, πολλὰ δʼ ἀρειῇ·
Verily Automedon, the valiant son of Diores, with swift whip would strike and urge them, and many a time he spoke to them with gentle words, and many a time with threats.
§17.432τὼ δʼ οὔτʼ ἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἐπὶ πλατὺν Ἑλλήσποντον §17.433ἠθελέτην ἰέναι οὔτʼ ἐς πόλεμον μετʼ Ἀχαιούς, §17.434ἀλλʼ ὥς τε στήλη μένει ἔμπεδον, ἥ τʼ ἐπὶ τύμβῳ §17.435ἀνέρος ἑστήκῃ τεθνηότος ἠὲ γυναικός, §17.436ὣς μένον ἀσφαλέως περικαλλέα δίφρον ἔχοντες §17.437οὔδει ἐνισκίμψαντε καρήατα·
But the two would neither go back to the ships by the broad Hellespont, nor into the battle among the Achaeans, but as a gravestone remains unshaken, which stands upon the barrow of a dead man or woman, so they remained steadfastly holding the beautiful chariot, leaning their heads to the ground.
δάκρυα δέ σφι §17.438θερμὰ κατὰ βλεφάρων χαμάδις ῥέε μυρομένοισιν §17.439ἡνιόχοιο πόθῳ· θαλερὴ δʼ ἐμιαίνετο χαίτη §17.440ζεύγλης ἐξεριποῦσα παρὰ ζυγὸν ἀμφοτέρωθεν.
And warm tears flowed from their eyes to the ground as they wept in longing for their charioteer; and their rich manes were soiled, streaming down from the yoke-pad beside the yoke on both sides.
§17.441μυρομένω δʼ ἄρα τώ γε ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρονίων, §17.442κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν· §17.443ἆ δειλώ, τί σφῶϊ δόμεν Πηλῆϊ ἄνακτι §17.444θνητῷ, ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐστὸν ἀγήρω τʼ ἀθανάτω τε;
And as they wept, the son of Cronos saw them and pitied them, and he shook his head, and spoke to his own heart: "Ah, unhappy pair, why did we give you to king Peleus, a mortal, while you are ageless and immortal?
§17.445ἦ ἵνα δυστήνοισι μετʼ ἀνδράσιν ἄλγεʼ ἔχητον;
Was it that you might have sorrows among wretched men?
§17.446οὐ μὲν γάρ τί πού ἐστιν ὀϊζυρώτερον ἀνδρὸς §17.447πάντων, ὅσσά τε γαῖαν ἔπι πνείει τε καὶ ἕρπει.
For there is nothing more wretched than man, of all things that breathe and creep upon the earth.
Yet surely upon you and your finely-wrought chariot Hector, son of Priam, shall never ride; for I will not suffer it.
§17.450ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὡς καὶ τεύχεʼ ἔχει καὶ ἐπεύχεται αὔτως;
Is it not enough that he has the armor and boasts vainly as he does?
§17.451σφῶϊν δʼ ἐν γούνεσσι βαλῶ μένος ἠδʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ, §17.452ὄφρα καὶ Αὐτομέδοντα σαώσετον ἐκ πολέμοιο §17.453νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· ἔτι γάρ σφισι κῦδος ὀρέξω §17.454κτείνειν, εἰς ὅ κε νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀφίκωνται §17.455δύῃ τʼ ἠέλιος καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἱερὸν ἔλθῃ· §17.456ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐνέπνευσεν μένος ἠΰ.
But into your knees and your heart will I cast strength, so that you may bring Automedon safe out of the war to the hollow ships; for still will I vouchsafe glory to them to slay, until they come to the well-benched ships, and the sun sets and sacred darkness comes on." So saying, he breathed strong courage into the horses.
§17.457τὼ δʼ ἀπὸ χαιτάων κονίην οὖδας δὲ βαλόντε §17.458ῥίμφα φέρον θοὸν ἅρμα μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς.
And they shook the dust from their manes to the earth, and fleetly bore the swift chariot into the midst of the Trojans and Achaeans.
§17.459τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Αὐτομέδων μάχετʼ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου §17.460ἵπποις ἀΐσσων ὥς τʼ αἰγυπιὸς μετὰ χῆνας· §17.461ῥέα μὲν γὰρ φεύγεσκεν ὑπʼ ἐκ Τρώων ὀρυμαγδοῦ, §17.462ῥεῖα δʼ ἐπαΐξασκε πολὺν καθʼ ὅμιλον ὀπάζων.
And behind them fought Automedon, though grieving for his comrade, rushing with his horses like a vulture among geese; for easily would he flee out from the tumult of the Trojans, and easily would he charge, pursuing them through the great throng.
§17.463ἀλλʼ οὐχ ᾕρει φῶτας ὅτε σεύαιτο διώκειν· §17.464οὐ γάρ πως ἦν οἶον ἐόνθʼ ἱερῷ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ §17.465ἔγχει ἐφορμᾶσθαι καὶ ἐπίσχειν ὠκέας ἵππους.
Yet he did not slay any men when he rushed to pursue them; for it was in no wise possible for him, being alone in the sacred car, to charge with the spear and hold the fleet horses.
§17.466ὀψὲ δὲ δή μιν ἑταῖρος ἀνὴρ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν §17.467Ἀλκιμέδων υἱὸς Λαέρκεος Αἱμονίδαο· §17.468στῆ δʼ ὄπιθεν δίφροιο καὶ Αὐτομέδοντα προσηύδα· §17.469Αὐτόμεδον, τίς τοί νυ θεῶν νηκερδέα βουλὴν §17.470ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔθηκε, καὶ ἐξέλετο φρένας ἐσθλάς;
But at last a comrade saw him with his eyes, Alcimedon, son of Laerces, son of Haemon; and he stood behind the chariot and spoke to Automedon: "Automedon, which of the gods has put a profitless counsel in your breast, and taken away your excellent understanding?
That thus you are fighting alone with the Trojans in the forefront of the throng?
ἀτάρ τοι ἑταῖρος ἀπέκτατο, τεύχεα δʼ Ἕκτωρ §17.473αὐτὸς ἔχων ὤμοισιν ἀγάλλεται Αἰακίδαο. §17.474τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Αὐτομέδων προσέφη Διώρεος υἱός· §17.475Ἀλκίμεδον τίς γάρ τοι Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ὁμοῖος §17.476ἵππων ἀθανάτων ἐχέμεν δμῆσίν τε μένος τε, §17.477εἰ μὴ Πάτροκλος θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος §17.478ζωὸς ἐών;
But your comrade has been slain, and Hector himself boasts with the armor of the grandson of Aeacus on his shoulders." To him then Automedon, son of Diores, made answer: "Alcimedon, what other of the Achaeans was like you to guide and control the spirit of the immortal horses, save only Patroclus, a counselor equal to the gods, while he lived?
νῦν αὖ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κιχάνει.
But now death and fate have overtaken him.
§17.479ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα §17.480δέξαι, ἐγὼ δʼ ἵππων ἀποβήσομαι, ὄφρα μάχωμαι. §17.481ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀλκιμέδων δὲ βοηθόον ἅρμʼ ἐπορούσας §17.482καρπαλίμως μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσίν, §17.483Αὐτομέδων δʼ ἀπόρουσε·
Do you then take the whip and the shining reins, and I will dismount from the horses to fight." So he spoke, and Alcimedon sprang upon the chariot, swift to help, and quickly took the whip and reins in his hands, and Automedon leaped down.
νόησε δὲ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ, §17.484αὐτίκα δʼ Αἰνείαν προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα· §17.485Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε χαλκοχιτώνων §17.486ἵππω τώδʼ ἐνόησα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
And glorious Hector marked them, and straightway spoke to Aeneas, who was near: "Aeneas, counselor of the bronze-clad Trojans, I have marked those two horses of the fleet-footed grandson of Aeacus"