Lewis Iliad Chapter 1

8/23/2019 Lewis Iliad Chapter 1

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lewis-iliad-chapter-1 1/29

BOOK I

S1NG thou the W rath , 0 M ute I tM balefu l

wrath

O f Pdcul' lO ft , Achilles: w rath which heaped Unn .mbtred woes upon Acha's band.

And hurlftl to Hades countless mighty $auls O f beroa, and tbdr boclitS g&\'e for 5p0il To does and birds of prey, that the d ~ i g nO f Zeus mi&ht be fulfilled thui. · n ~ t h i n ~ : S all

Found oriain that day when poanrJ tin tIn jralous biclt'rina A pm em non, lurc.l

Of w arrion , and Achilles the divine.

Who was it thftt a m M ~ the 2tJdS who brou2ht

Tbae tw o to diKOrd and to feud? The son

Of Zeus and L do . He, coneeivin2 ireApinat tht monarch, caused a fearful plague

To raae t h r o u ~ t h o u t the arm)'• ~ t n d the mrn

Were fallin& fast. For Atreus' son had civ'n

A flroat to ( . ."0r} '$eS ,- to tlaat pnt'S t who t:lmc To thr swift barks of G u ~ to free his child,

Bringing a boundlm rMsom. In his hnndBore he the fillets of the a r e h e r - ~ t o d Apollo, on a ataff of gold entwined ;

Imploring all tbe Grech, ~ p e c i a l l y The twain Atridr, marshals of thr throng:

"Ye ~ of Atreus,- all yc • r e a v ~ d trsin,



The llitiJ

C o ~ from Acha. I en trea t tbt hostThroned on Olym pus, that your lot may be To spoil erat Priam's city, and ~ t u mTo ,·our own homa, ~ u prospered. Yet ratore

l \ 1 ~ now t h ~ daughter whom I love, and take

The protlertd ransom ; revermc:inc thus

Apollo the far-darting. Zeus's son."

Tbm, with approval, all the other Grerb

u ,.d that tlw p r i e s t ~ bonoml.- his rich store

Rea:iwd ; bu t Apmemnon, A treus' son,

The thinK pltaatd not. He sent the suppliant thence

With words of insult, and upon him laid

Thus his acem m andate: .. Let me nn-crm ore

Find thee, old man, be$ide our wide-hulled barb;

ow ling'ring here, no r darinc to return I

Else staff and fillet of the archer-kine

May naught avail thee. For that maid of t h i n ~ , I " "ill not free her. Sooner shall old ~ Come o 'er htt there in AfKQS, in my halls,

Far from her country, as she plies the loom And decks my ~ u c h "ith busy trud.

Begone, then, and provoke me not to wrath,

I f thou wouldst find thy way unsc:atht'd from here."

H e spa.kt: the old man trembled and obeyed ,

And sonowful ro '•ed on along the str.andOf countless-tchoed ocean. As he paned,

Thus he invoked with many an eam rst prayer

Lordly Apollo, fair-haired Leto's child:

" Hear, Archer sih·er·howrd! defender thou

' . _ _ ~ O f Chn1oa and of Cilia's hsllowed w a l ~



Booi lflu Tcnu diJ kinalr tway I

If ewer llwve ..-.a allariae to lhee T'MI: pie Mill . ._ wcU, 0 Smiatbeual if 1 'er CMw••• tbiDe a ltan tbe fat thicha Of ••n • ~ t e , aow waachMfe co me

Thil lloaaI aae:

lblt, l l l l i t ttn by thy d am ,Tile Arahe laGit IIAiJ' apia te thae can.••

'n. lie: llld Apollo hard h il prafft'.

Daaa fnal * hefah&s OIJUIPiul, full of race.T ill AR fllr 1.- 111 d; lad his lhouldm bore

":ne ._ .a co•acd qu iyer : utd the shafts

U poa tiMI of cbe &nii'Y kina

3

• lie mowecl. Like niaht he c a m ~ : afar p ,_ . the Orak 1laib be Dte him down, and sped All anow: from tbc lilver llow wu hard, D1 z• to ebe m r, a twang. He first •ailed Tile .... N I n i m b i ~ clop ; but 10011 be w i n ~W• h¥1

•ft'pinst the men; thick-crowded

"'l1le ,_ ., . PJI"8 enlcinclled for the slain.

fa•" a,. tlw mi-la of the KOCf

J&cl ... &nel the army: the tenth day ~ I • ••••III'IIICd to a council-throng JJil wanicwa; Hera, the w h i ~ a r m e d , inspired

The ehirf to do to, IOftu"•ing for the host ,TJ.a CO laeWcl them perish. Whtn the Greeks

Wae ..U, pdacred, swift Achilles ro t t

l in t 1h"MM tM people and in these words r;pake:

" 0 • • • of Atreus. now must we, I wetn,

ICIIL.acll ..if we find

•



•

The Iliad

Escape from death, since pcostilt>nce and strife

Unite to c.rusb the Ar6:i\'es. Ut us tile

O ne of the $ 0 0 t h s a y ' ~ or comulc some priotOr dream-expounder- :ay, for v i : ~ i o n ~ too

Are sent by Zeus- tha t he may tell us why

P h ~ b \ J j the tni'-!hty hath conceive,l ~ u c h ire

Against u.s : - if he blame us for n e ~ : l c c tOf ,·ow, for hecatomb w ithheld; and !lee

I f haply, ~ e t c J b)• the savory sm ell

Of Jamb$, or goats unblemished, he may deign

To rescue from destruction this our h06t."

He 'Jialce, and took his $Cat. Then next stood

forthThe son of Thestor, Calchas, gTt>atest far

Of all the <Lugurs; he who lrnew All thinp

Present and past and f u r u ~ . lie it w as

W ho, aided b)' that gift of prophecy

Bestowed by Phrebu.s, brought to Ilium's strand

Tla• Achll".ltl squadron. Wisely thus he spalce:''A chilles, loved of Zeu,. 'tis thy oontmand

That I should tell ) 'Ou w hat bath caused the rage

Of Pha:bu , of the & T C ~ t F:ar·Archer. So

\Vill I proclaim it: but do thou take heed And •wear to me now, willinJ!ly to lend

Thy word and hand to shie ld me; for I trow That w hat I say must atir to w rath a chief

Who r u l ~ with miaht o 'er l l l l the ArJ:ives:-him

\Vho holds th' A d l : r ~ n s subject to his swa)··

A monarch proves the s t r o n ~ r when his ire

Is kindled 'pin1t a man of low degree;



-

Boolc I

Thoup he diKtSt his initr for the Jpace

Of duat umc day, his thirst for ''m gtancc: bicksStill in l1is brelUt till slaked. Consider thm

U thou wilt undt"rcalce to cllampW>n me.''

A chilla. swift of foot, thus nnsw'ring Jpake:

•• Tell fearlc:ssl}· the hta\·'nl)· word that dwdls

'Vi hin thy thoughts ; for here: I s w e ~ ~ r to thee, Calch:u, by Pho:obu$,- him to wlwm thy pr . l ) ' tn

Arc: uttered, wMn to our A chr:ans here

Thou dost disdose th ine a u . ~ : u r i l ' J - that while

1 ~ i \ · ~ and while I still bthold the: light

Upon the: earth, no mJin of all thr Grt"cks

Shall by upon thtt b)' our hollow barhA band to harm thee, though the nRmc: thou name ~ that of Apmemnon, hi ru who claim$ Such proud prccm inm cc 'moog all our host."

Then $flGike the noble auJtUr, talc n ~ he:lrt:

"No vow is it, nor heatom b, for which

He blames ) 'Ou: 'tis clut :\rma' scinn ~ v eAHront to P b rrbus ' p r i ~ t , and would not Irc:c

His child, r d u s i n ~ aU his lriftr.. Fnr this

The god wbo sp«ds his shafts dar hath b r o u ~ h t Thac won upon you,- y ~ and still will bring,

Alld never from your ~ t will th rust a.side

T he loathsome pestnencr, until )'C y i ~ l d T he queck-eyed maid : l ~ : U n ro her fond , . i ~Unbought, unransomed, and to C h r y ~ bring

A haUowcd hecatomb ; for onlt· thm

Could Pha:bus be apl)t'asc:J and rt(onciled.''

5

He spakc, and took his ~ t . Then following rose



•

6 Tlu Iliad

V . ' i d ~ · r u l i n g Agamem non, h e m - ~ n Of Atreus, full of grid; his darkened soul Brimmed o 'er with anger, and ~ t l n w c - c l forth his eyn

Like: burning flame. With t h f t ' : t t ' n i n ~ : s n i ~ n he

tlJm.ed14itsr upo1l Caleha.'l, and in t h ~ e w ortls "pake:

" Ill bodtng prophet! no ~ : o o d word hast thou

Yet ever u tte red to m e. Aye thy heart

D dights in auguring disaster, while:Good fortune thou hau never prophrsieti

!'lor brought to pass. 'l'hy divination now Proclnims before the G m :ks . forsooth, th a t t h i ~H ath led the . t \ l ' ( h c r - ~ d to Stntl these iJt,..Upon th' A c h ~ n n s - this, that I r c f u ~ d To liberate for tathOtn Chry!!b.' chilct,E 'en for rich g i l ~ Far rather would I keep The m:tid with me; for I prder her e'en

To Cl)'ttmnestra,- her. my'' cddcd wife:

Sin('( M\\ ~ e this d a m ~ d w nn.e th:tn ~ h e ,In form, in face. in mind, in skillful lore.

Y rt if be$t, I n o n ~ t h ~ I ~ c o n ~ c - n tTo render up the 111aid : for 'tis my will

The JlC'Ople ~ h o u l d be savC'd, and no t be lost.

Ytt do ye !ltraightw:ly -s ince 'tis e'en d i ~ V : I . C l e Th:u I alone among our Argive: bandShould unrew :trded go prepllre for me

Some fitting gift; for ye do all beholtl How mine ; a l l n t r ~ d pri7..c C'$C1\flC'1> my hands."

Then ans\\ cffii thus Achilles, )wift of foot:

" 0 son of Atre-u<, thou of all mankind

•



Boolt I

Most glorious and mo&t gr«d)', how, I pra}'•Shall the pe&t-j()Uled A ch:nns ~ r : & n t tl) theeThe gih thou aakest? Nowhere we beholdSuCh thinp as these laid by llS common !.tore;

Nay, all the spoil of p i l t a ~ d towns has now

Been pualcd out a m o n ~ t us. It would i ll

Become our host to gather up onot more

Thit once·di'"idN t r e a s u r e ~ Prithee yield

Thy damstl for the non.:e to Ph<rbu'J; then

Threefold, yea, fourfold shall the Argive host

Requite thy loa , if 7 ~ s sh:all l!;fllnt to us

'\V cJI·guardcd I liw n 's cit}· for our spoil.''

The monarch AICMlemnon t h u ~ ~ p l i e d :.. Godlike Acllillcs, though indeed thou beA mi&hty hero, think not tl1us to hide

The thoughts within thy heart: for thou ~ l 1 1 1 l not

Elude me, nor pcnuade me. Then wouldst thou

Enjoy, forsooth, thine own JH ir.e uruliuurbecl,

Whibt, $hom of honors, I ~ i t idlr hen:? 1D ou bid'st me fm the maiden:- if the G ~ Mighty of 1001, shall du lr honor me

\ \1 ith some meet r i f t ll(lapted to m y mood,

That 1 ma)' have th ' cqui\·a lcn t- be it so;

But if they grant it not, mnelf w ill I

Seize upon Ajax' guerdon or on thine,Or t'Ue 0 d ) ' $ $ t ' u ~ ' - hr to whom I comeM:ay wdl bt' wroth, 1 trO \\, But thi" mlly l,e

I A t ~ r c o n J i d ~ r e d . Quickly lc:t us draw

Down to the dusky dtc:p a hollO\V baric,

Gath'ring on board such oarsmen as we: nerd,

7



•

8 The Iliad

And place within a hecAtomb, bt-sideThe r o s y - c h e e k ~ Chf)·scis. Ltt there come

Some man, some counsd-bearer, who shall be ~ d e r on board; ldomeneus, pm;hMc:c,

Or Ajax, or d y ~ e u s , godlike chief,

Or thou, 0 son of Pdrus,- of all men M ost dread,- by ! ' t 3 . i f i c i r i t ts to win

The r e a t F ar-\\ 'o rker 's favor for our host."

Thtn sw ift Achilles, \\ ith a d : ~ r l d i n g m i t t ~ ,T hus answered him: "Ah, man o f greed and guile,

And clotlted in s h a m e ! ~ ness I ~ any one

Among th' Achlt'l'ns yidd obedience, save

\V ith ~ t r u d ~ t i n £ spirit, \11\to th)· b c h e s ~When that thou bid'st them journey, or contend

S tou tly · ~ ~ n s t foe.1-? No e ; t u ~ e of w ~ r I h ~ t d\\'ith the sptar-balring Trojans brouw u me here.

The qu:trrcl with them j , not mine. They ne'e r

Jla\•e d riv 'n my herds of ca ttle from tn)' lands,

Nor ) ' r t my steccls, nor in rich Phthia, whereHeroes arc nurrured, have they t \ 'e r laid

~ I > grain·fidds waste. Full many a l e a ~ N e , I trow,

Of shn.dow}' steep and ~ u n d i n g ocean lies

D a \ · i d i n ~ u ~ 0 , lait to shame! ' twM thou

\\'e foiiO\\-ed, t h : ~ t thou 1night'st be ~ t i l l e d ;F o r M cn d au s ' s a l t ~ . thou dog, Rnd thine \V e u g b t to w rrng requital from Troy'' r ; ~ c eFor wront.t$ that they had done you. Naught of thi.sDost thou give heed to nor consider now.

And now thou thrttt'ncst me, with thine ow n hand

To i % e my euerdon-mted of painful toil,



•

Book l

Bat011ed upan me by the Gredan bravl'S.

Whm the Grub wute a populous towrt of Troy

I ftC'I"fr win a trophy matching thine;

Mint arc the hands that bur the heavier pllrt

Of furious com bat; ytt, whene'cr is made

Dn·ition of the spoil, the richer s!areP H ~ e S to thee, while, w orn with warfare, I

Take to my abips a portion which thouKh small

ls dearly cherished. Now shalJ I r ~ u mTo Phtbia, since ' t is better that I fare

Homeward with curved barks; nor yet, I ween,

Hen, where I sufkr such affront$, wilt thouSua:ccd in gath'ring wealth and golden store."

Then thus K i n ~ t Aaamemnon made rc"ply :

" F l ~ . tbm , by all means, if 'tis thus thy he.1rt Proaspteth tltee. I am not the man to crave

That for my Uke thou tarry. Others }·et

H&Te I to win me honor; cliief of all

9

The couru1or Zeus. Of all heav'n·nurturcd kir1gs

I bate th« m ost. Thy b ~ n i.s ncr prone

To bidcrinp, to quarrels and to atrife.

Though thou an mighty , yet it was a god

Gave thee thy mi&ht. H aste homew:trcl, thm, with

all

Thy ships and mm, .-nd o'er the M)'rmidonsH old pe t I) ' sway. No httd I give to thee ;

I care not for thy wnrth. This, furthermore,

Shall be my th reat to thtt. Since Phrebus w rests

From me the fair O u y ~ ' i s , I 'l l send back

g , . . . . . a . - - l . . . . . - h . J ~ ; . . . . . l . . .L..



•

10 Tire 1/ia fl

l11en to thr lod5!e wil l I m y ~ l f procttd,And talc from thtt B r i s e i ~ rosy-cheeked, That prize of thine; that thou m a ) · ~ t krlow full well H ow far :un 1 the m i ~ h t i e s t of us twainl-

That other m en may dread to St}le thetnscl\'es, Helore my faee, my peen and equals here."

T hus spa.ke the monar.:h. A n ~ t u i s h filled the r.oulOf Peleus' son; ,.,.ithin his shaei:Y breast

His heart betwixt tw o COunt$ \\'Ol\·ered; one

To d raw from by his thigh his whene4 brand And, s t ~ r t l i n ~ all the othel'$, to l ~ y low

Atrides and to spoil him of bis arms;-

One, to rotrain his fury t.nd to quell H is raging spirit. \ Vhilst he pondered thus,

Petplexed in mind Md heart, 11nd from i ~ sheath

\Vas drawing the huge brand, Athena came,Oe.oending from the 3 l t i ~ ; t-he h11d been l<"ntBv white-armed Hera the divine, who lo\·ed

And cheri$hed both theh e r ~

equally.Behind the chief she stcpt, and l.a.id her hand

Upon his yellow hlt.ir;- to him alone

Appearing, and by aU the rest unseen.

1\chili('S, marv'ling, turned, and instant k n ~ wPn.llas A th tna ; f i e r ~ l y r.leamed her eyts,

As thus to her in winged

wordshe SJ>akc: ' ' Ah, wl1y, thou child of :cais-be:\ritlg Zeus,

A rt thou come hither? \ Vas it to behold The l1ateful : l r t ' o ~ n c e of Atreus'

Na)', this I tdl thee plainly, and, I \\etn1

Soon ~ h a l l it be: fulfllled . T his h o u n d l ~ pride



Book ISlall cost his lllr, and at no di·uant dar.,.

Then thus returned the goddess, l u ~ t r o u s , e y t d Pll!As: "To •till this r:l.:e of th inc: I came

fltll3 hcav'n, if thou w ilt betd me. S m t \\8.9

IBy d i v i n ~ H ~ t a t h ~ white-arm ed, whn lovrs

Ycu both, and cherishcth both equall}'.

Comt, erase this strife; let not thy mighty hand

Stiu on thy sword to draw it; yet with speech

Upbraid him as thou mayst. For t h u ~ do (

Dcdart, nor of fulfillment shall it fail:

'Ow, through this arrogance of his. one dayli:h gifts, )'e a, th rke as many, shall be thine:

Restrain thywlf, and to our voice gl\'e heed."

Then answered htr A c h i l l ~ , passing 8cct :

"The m andate , goddm , of you two must be

lfttdcd in sooth, though bitterly nty he:arc

Jk raging. Thus 'tis br$t; the praycr of him

Who ~ y s the f,t'Ods obedience, gains their ear."

He spake, and la)•ing on the sih ·er hilt

His m i ~ t h t y IWid, I t ~ thru,.t the huge sw ord b:aclc

Inro its !K'abbard, failing not t o heed

The words of P a l l a . . ~ . who had sought meantime

T h ' Olympian hnghts, where regis-be:lrcr 7-4'us

W ith all the othu pow 'rs c::ell!$tial dwdk

It

Thrn P d eus ' son once more with taunts addressed

.Auidcs, nor abated )·ct lais ire:

"\V ine-soddm man, dog-eyed, with fain t hind's

heard

N n•tr hast thou } ' t t cl:tred to lion th ine arms

To lead thy soldiers boldly to the fT &) :



12

Nor vmtured to 10 fonh to ambutcacle

Amon& the other chieftains of our host ;Sure death it aetms to thee. Far better, sooth.

Throughout the wide Ach.ran camp to ranKe

And spoil o f trophies all who dare to raise Protatin& voice apinst thee. Kin& that feeds

Upon his people:! Surely thou dolt reignO'er phan tom warrion; ebe, At rides, this

Of all thy foul affronts should be the last.

Y t t plainly will I tell thee, and beside

Swear a p-eat oath upon thia rod I widd:

So surely aJ it ne'er &Ktin shall budWith leaws o r shoots. aince first it ldt behind Ita Stock upon the steep, nor ever teem Apin with bl06S0Dls; for the brum axe Hath stripped from every side the leaves and harl

And now th ' Ac:h2ans btu i t in their hands,Warden of justice, they that well defend Laws in Zeus' name: yea, this of mine shall be

A migf,ty oath: One day o'er all this host

Shall come a yramin1 after Peleus' son:

Tilen- howe'er bitter be thy aorrow- thou

Shalt lack the pow'r to save tMm whm they fall

In throngs bmeath the deadly II «tor's hand:

And thou thalt rm d thy spirit with r e m o ~ That thou didst slight the bravest o f the Grttb."

T h u• spake the son of P d n ~ s ; on the around

He threw the attptn, studded o'tr with nails- L - - - O f srold. and took his o liO '. Meantime h ~ ~ " V l ~ = =



Booft I IJ

Thea rose sweet-speaking Ntsror, c o u n ~ l o r Clcu-voittd of P)·lus: he whose speecll Bowfd fonb

J.fore sweet than honey from his lips. Jo.:renow

Hid this man seen two aeneratiom pau Oimortals born and b r ~ d in byKCne ~ · ~With him in Meted Pylus; and 'twas now

1'Le third o 'er which he r u l ~ H e, well ditpoted,

Addmsed them in these words:

" :\t.s the wllile I

Scme fearful woe now cometh on the land

Of the Achans. V ttily great joy

Would fall to Priam and to Pri.am's sons,

And miehtily tbe othtr men of Troy

Would feel their hurts ault, if t h ~ y should hur

T'br tale of all this strife 'tw ixt you w ho stand

In war and council first among this h o ~ t . Hea.rktn to me now ; ye are younger both

In yean tlwt I. For oomrades have been rnine

Bra,·er than ) ' t ; and ne\'eT yet did they

Oapisoe me. Never have 1 seen such tnen,

N e ' ~ r shall Sfc more. as were Pirithoiis once

And Dryas, called the shepherd of h i, hC»t,

Czntus. Endius too, and he who vied

\vrth eods, areat Polyphemus; and th:at son

Of JEcns, ~ s , of immortal form.

Tbc miehticst of c-arth·nurtured mt>n were they ;

Jtlitfariest, and with the M iihtiest dared contend-

With monsters of the mountains; terrib ly

Did they destroy them. Of these men wl\.1 I

A CODlTade, when from mine own Pylas, fu



Tire Iliad

Awar, within a disunt Lind, I c:une;

For the,• had called me to their aid. T h e ~ I

Battled alone; and none would dare to oopc \ Vitlt t l t ~ e , - no e:trthly m(,)rtnl Mw alive.

These hearkened to my counsels and obey·cd

M y w . a r n i n ~ N0 \'1- do ye tts we'll $cive h«d ;

'T is best to hearken. D o not wrest a\\ A)'

The maid from him, t h o u ~ t h strong indffii thou an;

But ~ u f f c r him to keep her, since the ha$t

Assigned her for his ruf!'C'd. N or yet do thou.

0 .on of Peleus, nnture with thy k i n ~To stri\'e w ith hostile m i ~ t for nc \ er } 'tt

Hath s<;cptrcd monttrch, Zeus·endowtd with pow'r, Attained such honor as h:ult Atreus' son .

Though grent thou art M d goddt55-born, he still

~ mightier, r u l i n ~ t :1 ruure rtumerau!l hDit.

Thou, son of A t r e u : s ~ cease th ine anger now; Ab:ue thou, 1 myself i m p l o ~ , thine ire

A gainst A c h i U ~ , deemed b}· all tl1e Grecb Their strong sure bulwnrk ' J ! l l i n ~ t the f ~ f u l frar."

To hint in answer thll:) the monarch spa..ke,

G ~ . a t Ag:macmnon: "Y 'a, nil thi'(, old 1ire.

'T hou seasonabl) ' hut spoken. Yet this nun

Ycam s co be ~ r e a t e r than nll m<'D b ~ i d c , To rule o'er all, to lortl it

o v ~ rall ,

And ~ i v e commMds to all. There 's one, I wrm,

\ Vho'lt not ohty him. 1 l 1 o u ~ h th' immortlll g_od1

~ l a d e him a m ighty speam1a.n, is 't for this

' T h ~ · uffer him to utter taunt$ like th$? ••

Divine Achilles. i n r e r r u p t i n ~ . cried :



Book I

"Ya. for 1 justly should b ~ c a l l ~ d poltroon

Aoa hue, if I in all thinp w ere to ridd

Oledicnce to thine ~ n r y u t t ~ r t d spc«h:

Lnjcitl thou othm thut, but unto me:

Git-c no such mandates, since I am r r 9 0 1 v ~ d

15

~ DlOJ'e to heed them. Y C't another thing

ntcrll th te - &tore i t w ~ u within th y hr:ltt:

Noc for t b ~ damsel shall these bands conte-ndWith thre nor o t h ~ , . , Sffing that )'e "ho gave An taken. But of all mine other goods &aide mr dusky plley, dare not move

One "'hit without my license. C o m ~ . forsooth.

ADd try, that these ma)' ~ the outoume; soonAround my ~ a r · h e a d sh:all the dark blood flow."

Thus having wasted tlu:ir wordy w:n, t h ~ tw o

Arost, d i s p c r s i n ~ thus t h ~ council-throng

Br the Gretk $QUadron. Now did Pdrus' ~ o n ,JJj, mm-:u-am11, ancl M e n r e t i : u l ~ ,Pass to the lodga and the shape!)• barks; Atride» ordered a JWift ship to be

Drawn to the deep, and oarsmen c h ~ . a score.

To within; and to :.ppe:ase the .:otl

Placed in the ship a hcC3tomb. and las-t

He l ~ d on board Chry$C'iS, fair of dlee!c,

W h i l ~ as CClCllmander went Odysseus, heOf many c o u ~ l s . T hus ditl they tmbtlrk,

And sailed the water)' w:ay9; and At e u ~ · son M tantime bade all the host be purified.And so they did, ancl ~ ~ t the o f f ' r i n ~ down

To O cean, and unblemished hecatombs

•



16 Tlu Iliad

Of goats tnd bullocks slew they there ~ i J e The wild sea's m a r ~ , to P h ~ u s ; the ~ \ H e t tttnt,

In w n o l c ~ w l ' " Q t h s w hirled, sped upward to th e sky.

So th rough th e cam p they labartd . Xeitller yet

D(l;isted ,\;amcmnon from the feud

'''itl• which he la te httd m e n ~ Pt'leus' son;

But called Talthybius, a.nd ~ p a k t to him And to Eurybates- hi:s heralds these

And sw if t attendants: u Get ~ to the lodKC

Of Pdeus' son, Achilles; br the h1111d

Take )C: Brjjeis, r ~ y - c h e e ~ e d . and bring

The: damsel hither. I f he will not )'ieldHer to m e frtel)·, then myself w ilt I

Gather a force and come to seize her; he

• Shall lind tl•e issue wor$e.' ' 'T w ll$ thus he spal:e ,

And sent them, weighted with stem words, awar.

Onward, r e l u c t ; ~ n t l y , the C'nVO)"S

B)• barren ocean's strand, until they· neared

T he M ynnidonian tmts #nd galley" There

Beside h ~ Iod,e a.nd dusky bark they found

The warrior SQted ; nor did Pdeus' sonRejoice to see them come. In trembling fur,

Yet rc\·'rc:ndng the king. the twain stood niU ,

\Vith ~ i l c : n t l i p ~ . nor u t t e r i n ~ t a w ord .

Y et well he guegcd thdr errand, and thus spake:

" H:ail to you, hernhls, m ~ s e n g e ~ ctf ZeusA like and m en. A pproach ; no cause: of blam e

I find in )·ou,- none s:tve in A treu s ' son,

\Vho !or the nl3id U r ~ t s sen t you heTe.

Come then, Patroclus, sprung from Zeus, and brin&



Boolt I 17

Tht tirl, that they may take her. Tilttt samt two,

B c f o ~ blat eods and mortalt, and btforc

'I'hit tyrant kine. lhal1 btar me witna.s then,

Jf rvtr he require mine aid co save

The ra t from shame and ruin. Verily

He races witb a fell, infuriate heart ;

No: u n d ~ t a o d a he bow at o n ~ to heecl Tbt PMt and fu ture , that th' Acbnn hostMi&ht batde on unconqu«ed by their ba.rlt$."

He t p ~ k e ; Patroc lu s bad obt)·l'd m unw hile

His low d friend's tnandate. J:o"rom the loc!ge he

broudat

Brisds of the comely cheeks :md pve To lie led tbmcto. The two, returninr, carne

To the sw ift ships of Grm:e agam ; and she Followed, reluctant. But Achilles sate

Aloof from hi$ companiont, and, w ith C)'CS

That w dled w ith t ~ r s , btside the hoary m•nd

Of Ocan, cu ing o'n the winc-hueJ tidl".1 \en to his mother loved, with outstrt'tehecl ltandt,

B ~ t h e d he an earnest p r a ~ r : " 0 M other, since

Thou brou&ht'st me forth to lh•t but little while,

H i & f t - t h u n d ' r i n ~ t Zeut. th ' O lrmpian, ouJ;:ht a t lr-a.st

To have

endov;ed me with SOIM

sh3J'e of fame .But now no whit of honor doth he yield;

For Aptnt'mnon, the w i d e - r t i 2 f ) i n ~ sonOf Arreus, hath disgraced me: his own handHam com from mt my ilJtrdon and doth lttep.u

Tbus .aid ht, weeping. In the briny depths,



18 The Iliad

Seated beside her anc im t father, heard

The miaht)' queen hi$ prayer; and inJtant role

Out from the gray sea like a mist ; ~ f o r e Him 1at she. as he wept, and with her hiU'Id

Caressed him fondly, calling him by name:

" \Vhy w e e ~ s t thou, 0 son? and why hath grid

Come o 'er thee thus? Tell frank ly; let th)• heart

Hide nothing from me, that we both may kno":,"

And then , d e c p - s i ~ h i n g , sw ift A chille$ sp:alce:"E'en now thou know'st it; why need I tell all

To thee who know Q t? L ate to Thebes w e fared,

Eetion's sacred city: this we sacked,

And all its treasures brought away. Our Green Prtsently portioned 'm ong themselves the >J>Oil,

Fairl)•; for Atreus' son they chose, and gll\'CO,

Rose-cheeked Chryseit.. Then to the ~ w i f t barks

Of the brom:e-m ailro Acha:ans ChT)"SC'S 1.-ume,

P r i ~ t of Apollo, him " h ~ e shafts fly far;

A boundlm ransom brougllt he. In his hand Bore he the fillets of the archer-aoJ

Apollo, on a golden staff entwined,

E ntrtA ting all the G r«lcs, apecia lly

The tw o A trid:r, marshals of the throng ;

And nil the other Greeb. ~ a p p r o v i n l ( l ) · ,Gn\'e \'oic:e that rev'rence shou ld be shown the priestAnd rich gifts acc-cpte<l. Y ct the sonOf A r ~ u s . Ai8fllC1Unon, sore d i s p l ~ d .Sent him away w ith haDb i n ~ u l t i n ~ : : ~ p e t t h ,L:l)·ing on him fttern mandates. Then returned

The aged man in a n ~ r ; and his prayer,



Boolt I

& tlw of one ~ l o n d , Apollo hurd,

ADd aimed bit bitter arrow at our h '" t .

And now the men were falling thick and fast,

As lllroulth the wide camp of Adu.:a ~ p r c l 'The missiles of the god ro e\·ery han(!.Thm for ut did a skillful &e'er make known

The oracles of Ph<rbus. Fim w as 1

To Uf&e tha t we propitiate him: and then Forthwith Atrides ~ ~ d with rage,

Utt'rinc a thrut, which is accompliwJ now,

For hu w q u i d : ~ y e d Greeks to Chrrs;a cakeLa a sw ift bark. with ofF rings to the king

P!xtbU$. But maid Brisel$., whom the Grt'c:k-s Assigned 1M as my share, tw o h e r s l d ~ late

Have seized from ou t my tmt, Md borne away.If thou art able, round tby br1we san '"-:ut

Thine aTnl$ to shield me. Seck th' Olympian steep:

If thou, by w ord or dttd, didn t\'tr .:ive

Aid unto bus, mtrn.t him; for I oft Have heard thee boastin i, in my father's hll,

HOIW thou alone am ong the goJs didst S3\'e

The son of Chroma$, whom dark doud" enfold,

From 1ham dul ruin) when the rest tllat bide

On high Olym pus willed to bind him f ~ ~ S tBoth H era and H c p l 1 z s t u ~ ancl :lS wellPallas. Thou c : a m ~ t , goddess, to set free

The m on:m:h from his ch;tin '; for th ou didst call

To lon.c Ol) ·m pus him of hundred h a n d ~ B rian\is named among th' im mortal host,Bat b all mtn JEgeon ; " 'ho in might



•

20 The Iliad

Excelleth his own father. He, in pride Exultunt, took hi5 Kl l t br Olronu ' $On; Tht.n ft2red the b l i s ~ f u l KO«fs, and bound not Zeus.

R calJ to llim thC$C t h i n ~ now; br his side

Sir atlcl e m b r ~ his k.nees; in\·olce his aid

For Ilium 's meo, tbat he may gran t them strcn&\h

To slay the .Arltive$, crushed

betwixttheir bark.s

And O cean 's strand; that all rna}' find at last

Delight in this their king- that also he,E 'en Atffus' son, may learn bis folly soon

In spuming thus the b ravut of his b:and." The:n weepin6: answered Thet is : " 0 my son,

"'h)· did I reu thee, $inc:e ' twas but to WCle

I bore thee? Would thou wert beside th)' ba.rk.s

Seated unharmed and tearlcss; for thy day

On earth ~ n be but brief, nor Ions: C:Ul last.

But now of all men most short-lived thou art

And eke mott wreccl1ed. lll, then, was the hue

To which I bore thee in my pala.ce. Still

\Viii I repair to the O l y m p ~ n steep,

Mantled in snow, and carry th is m)' tale

To Zeus that wields the thunderbolt, i f heH ~ p l ) ' may hearken. S it thou here meantime

By thy swift galleys- sit and vent thine ire

Upgn th' A e ~ a n :umy, from the strife

A b ~ t a i n i n i t utterly. For yC$terda)'\Vent 7...eu$ to O ~ ' s Strt:.tm, to banquet there

Amid the acdlmt lEthiopians, all

The ~ o d s l l t t e n d i n ~ ; hut in t\,•elve d a ~ time

He mun return Olympus-ward i then I



Boolt I 21

WaJ 1M the braun threshold of uua' hall,

AM clasp biJ knees. with hope to win him o'er.''

She ~ b , and went again her way and ldt

A r h i l l t ~ there, consume-d w ith grie f at ht'art

for that fa.ir-&irdled maid whom front his ar"tMThey tore in spite of him. Ody'S$C'\u spedTo Olrr- w ith the hallowed hecatomb;

. ~ when they drew \\•ithin the harbor deep,1'bq furled the sails. and in the dus.ky hold

They laid them, dropping to i t t crutch the mastBr drawin1 down the fore$t&)'S with due ,peed;

Thm rowed the bark with oars to anchorage,

C. forth the $ ton tt for moorinlt, and bound fu t

1M cables; forth they stepped upon the mand

O i ocean, bringing forth the hccatQmhFor great Apollo, Archer-king; and forth

OnJKis stept from out the roving barlt.

OdTJKUS, m a n ~ u ~ J l e d , leading her

On to the altar, to her father's arms

Restored the child he IO\·ed, artd said to hint:

.. 0 C h r y ~ Agamemnon sent me htre,

That king of men, to brinst to thee thy child

.And rm der Ph<rbus holy sacrifice,

For all the Grt'eb a h ~ t o m b that we

May thus appease the liOV'reis:o who hath sentFull & rinous sufl'rinp on the Argtve band."

He spake, and placed hrr in her father's arms,

.And he " ·i th joy rettived his own loved child.

1nm round the well-built a l t a r ' ~ slope the Greeks

in otdtt. mect. and SJ)e(dily,

•



22 The Iliad

The god's pure hecatomb; their hands they laved.And took the barley-JZrl\ins; and C h ~ c s pr.ayedAn earnest pnyer for them "ith lifted har\dl\:

" Hear rnt', thou Archer of thc silver bow,Guard ian of C h r ~ : l :uld th e ~ J t c r e d wllll$

Of Cilia, wbo o'er Twcdos dost ho)J

Thy miJChty $W ilf;<LS

thou before: didsth ~ d

My supplication, and d i d ~ t honor me,

And f ~ : u f u l l y th, Ach:t'.ans, so

Now IP'ant to me 1 h i ~ second boon and $:&Ve

From this fc:Jl pestilence the Argive band."

'Tw it$ thus thtlt Chry_es pr.t)ed; and P hrebu'

he: a rd.

And when their p r n y \ ' ~ were done, ;md they had

strown

The g r t ~ i n s upon the victims, b < ~ c k ther drew

T heir heads, desp:1tchc:d and flayed them, am! cu t

• forth

The thighs, :mu tloul.lly the:.e o'erlaicl with b t

And uncooked flesh. The: aged priest burned all

On 'LJlif'l, : tnd poured upon them 'p;arlclilll! w ine,

W'hile youths stood nc:ar with f h - c - p r o n ~ fork in

hand.

W hen the thigh-picas were at length consumed

And they l1ad tliSted of the en trn ils , then

' ln ey cut the rest to piectJ, a t ~ d with sp its

P i c : r c i n ~ the flesh , tliq• r o a ~ t w i:t with c:rrcAnd drew it off o n ~ more. And \\hen : l t last

Their toil was done, and nll the food p"parcd ,

They fea$ted; no tnm '$ appetite was kept



'Book I 23

From equal portion . Now whm dte dt$ire

For food and drink w as s a t ~ d . t h ~ young men,

BrimminK the wa.W l-bowls, outpourtd the wine

ln chalica w ith rituals meet, and made

1'bm their libations, to each 1\)cst his share

Duly apportioning. Then all the da)'

Laboffd th' Achaean )'Ouths with sonit to gain

T'he fa\·or o f the god ; and chantd loud

'I'beir pa-an J\lo 'rtt; of Him who w orks t ~ f a rWas a ll their song. The ~ t o d rejoiced at hHrt

To hear their straim . \Vhm sank rhe sun and cune

O'tr th em the dark , tbty laid thetn dO\\ n to rest

By the ships' cables. Now whm brake the dawn,That to$y-lin.:ered ~ t o d c l e s , child of day,

They put to sea for the broad Grecian Qmp;

And the F a ~ w o r l t e r catmd a f ~ w o r i n g .:ale

To blow up o n them. In its place the)' ~ c tmat, the white p i!\ l"prud. The fair breeze

filltd The swdling sat1, and rnund the sttm roan!d loud

The purp le wave, u onward s ~ the barlc;

So through the wavn she ftew, and r . r ~ > \0011

H t'r course. \Vhen now the wide Greek cam p w as

pintd,

Tht)· btach<'d the d u t ~ k y ve$$el on the ~ t r n n c lH igh on the s a n d ~ . and 'neath her set long t a y s As props, and soon dispc-rsed 'monl! tenN Md fleet.

But swift Achilles, P e l c u ~ · l iO n divint',

Srill sate in anger by his rapid barks,

Nor e 'e r the council, m a n - e : n n o b l i n ~ t m o ~



Frequented, nor the b a t t l e ~ but ftln1iotdTht>re where he wou, whilst grief consumed his be.an, 'Y ~ t yearning for th' alarum and t h ~ ft:ly.

But when the twelfth dawn from this day ap-J)eMN,

Rctumc:d Ol}mpusward th' eternal band

AU in one concourse, Zeus tlte first. Nor provedThetis unmindful of her son 's behest :

Out from the deep at bren of day she cameAnd climbed Olympus to wide hea\''n, :t.nd there

Found w i d N c ~ i n ~ Zeus, who from the otllers farOn mn.ny-ridaed O l y m p u s ~ topmost peale

\Vas throned. Before him sat she down, and threw'Her ld t :um round hii lcnees; her dtxtc:r Jw\d

Placed underneath his chin; and suppliandyTh" mn.dc petiti¢n unto 011onus' son:

" 0 Father Zeus, if e'er by word or deed

I did thee servioe 'mong the deathless throng.l<uUU now this my wish, nnd honor yidd

M ~ san, of Rll men marked for swifte$t doom.

For now hath A g a m m ~ n o n , lord of men,

Humiliated him; the l:ing's own handSeized my son's trophy and withholds it still,

But y e t ~ Olympian couns'lor Zeus, do thou

V o u d s ~ a f e to ,lorif}· him and to yield

PrC\•ailing strength to lllum, till the GrcebShall load my $On with honors and with fame."Thus prayed she; but d1e Cloud-cGmpdler lon

Sat silent, n a u ~ h t replyina. 'rheti$ chen,

A$ h e bad clo.sped his k n e ~ so now clung fast



Boolt. I

To than. imploring him a S«<nd time:r.Gi'-e me th)' word, unfailing, and thy h ~

Bcnr in a .n t , o r c:IK r d u ~ . since thou

Jill( naught to fear - t11at I rna)' know how br f .un most ~ r n e d among rht hc:av'nly throna."

Thm UuS, the C loud<om pdlcr sorrowing spake:

"Faw petition t thou wilt brinr;: me: soonTo mmity with Hera, when with words

C ~ r a i d i n e she ~ I rou!le my w rath. t:'en nowContiaually among th ' c:tcrnals here

Doth Hera chide me, saying thllt I lrnd

Aid in the strife ro Troy. But leave me now,

!.at Hera thould peraive thee; I will heedThis thy request unril it be fulfilled.

Come, I will unto thee assenting no.d

l l r head, that thou mayst tru!lt me; thi'l with meJuurut token 'mong the immortal throng:

for that to whid1 I nod is ne'er rc:e2lled,

Nor e'er decei11cs, nor f2ils to come to p ~ c : . " Thus apakc great Saturn'$ son; witlt his dark

brows

He nodded; down the locks ambro);ial weamed from that un,lying h e ~ ; while 311 the pt:tk.s

O f hiath Olympus shook with awful sound.

Thus partt'd now the tw2in . their o u n ~ e l

done:The KOddess sprang from the resplendent crest

Olympian to the deep salt :<.e:l; Zeus p:tssrd~ o his own hall. ·rhen 3ll the heav'nly band

Rose from their seats when they beheld their sire;

.And none dared " 'a i t his advent, but they all



26 The llituJ

Uprose, and went to meet him. On his throne He took his ~ t ; and Hera marked full well

That silver-footed Thetis, she, the chiJd Of that old ~ a n king. had w ith her lord

Framed counsels and c:oncerted. Tauntingly

The quem addressed Chronidts, and thus spake:

" Thou wiJy one I who now among the godsHath formed desilt"S with thee? T h o u lovest ayt,

Apart from me, to harbor hidden thoughts

And pronounce judgments. Ne'er ret bast thou

d tign td

To tdl me thine intentions readily."

Thm answered her the sire of ~ and m en:" Hope not, 0 Hera, that thou canst know all

My thoualus: 'tw ill prove tO<> hard for thee, though

thou

My OOOI()r t art. That which is fit for thee To hear, no dtity shall sooner know,

Nor an)· 'mon5t m ankind : but what, apan From th' o th e r gods, I choose to ponder.- askThou not of this, nor q u ~ t i o n what it be:•

Thm thus made 21\SWer Hcrt, large-eyed queen:

"What words arc t h ~ . Cbronidcs. dreaded lord?

N C\cr h ~ v e r aforetim e asked thy thougf\ts

Nor sought to know them : unruolcstrd quiteJ)ai.t thou ddiberate at th y free will.B ut now rn)' mind is full of fear that she, T hat Th('tis of the silv'ry ~ t , the child

01 that old ocean· lord, hath won thee o'er:

For, when the da)' dawnrd, seated at thy side,



Boolt I

She clasped thy knees; and thou didst nod, I wem,

To btt a .u ran ce that thou wouldJt not failTo rindicate Achilles and destroy

FuJJ many .an Argive warrior hy the hark1."

Thm the C l o u d - g a t h ' ~ r Zeus r e j o i n i n ~ spake:

• PmerK one I ever 'tis ' I think • with th re ;

Ji1u&ht that J do escapes t h ~ None the lrss,Thor.. canst accomplish nothing. but shalt br: Tht further from my heart, otnd w one r.halt fare. Ir thus it ~ 'tis that I will it so. Sit down in •ilence, b e e d i n ~ my b e h ~ t , Lea haply I come nip, and all gods here:

Upon Olympus fail to wield thee, wlarn I by upon thee mine unconquered hands.''

HC' spakc:, and H era of the t<'ndcr

D.nced, sate silent down, aod bowed her will,

While sorrow smote the he&\•'nly·mansionrd b;md Throughout the h o u t ~ e of Zeu!. H e p h I ! S t then,

The skilled artificer, stood fonh to speak, Met loving service did hi$ mother de:tr,1\e white-anned H ers: " Bitter times, alas,SbalJ come, and unendurable, if thus

Ye two o'e r mortals biclr.er, raising din

.Among the &00s; no pleasure shall be found

In 5U.Diptuout feast$ , since mischief reigneth. l CourmJ my mother,- thoogb she u n d e ~ t 1 m d s 1llc t h o u ~ h t I have :,- to bend bdore the will

Of my dnu father Zeus, that he no moreUpbraid her, and disturb our banquet'll here.

If but th ' Olympian - he to whom the gleams



•

Tlu Iliad

Of l i ~ h t n i n g Bash o ~ d i m t - c h ~ c - to hu rlAll fiom our th rono , the p tl \ \ 'r j , hii: for he

Is far the mightiest. But bespeak him now With ~ h i n ~ t w o r c l ~ ; : Md the 01) mpi:m soon

\ ViJI look upo n us ~ : t c i o u ! l y once moN:."

Thus said H erh:rstus. Leaping UJ"I, the god

Placed now a double tzOblet in the handsOf his loved mother, saying t h u < ~ ro her:

" fle patient, mother minC', nnd bcar thinc ilJ,Although thy he.art be sore; that nC''er mine q ·es

M ay sec thy d ~ r form stricken; then could I

Lend thee no aiel, thou5!h sad - a fe:trful r.uk

I t Is to cope wuh the 01} mpian J(jng.Erenow, when onc-e [ ~ o t r to rescue thee,

Jle sdud me by the foot, 31\d hurled me down

From hc-.:w'n's hi5:h t h ~ h o l d . All thc day I fe ll,

And a t the set of sun to esrth 1 came

In L c m n n ~ ; little breath remained in m<";

T he Sintians raised me up from where 1 br." 11tus said he; .and the w h i t ~ m 1 c : d goddC'Ss m ~ i l r o

A nd took the bWer from her dear $00 s lu'lnd.For all the other gods, from Jc:ft to right,

Heplt:ae>tu$ poured sw eet n tctar , dipping it

From out the waSS3il-bowL T h ~ blissful host

f l u ~ t into mirth unquenchable to $CC

H tph:rstus bustling b ~ a t h l c : s ; throu{!h the: hall.

Thus fr:uted thc:r all dar, till set of sun ;

J\nd no one'$ :appetit-e now laclctd it!l $h:tre

Of th ' rqua1 f ~ t ; nor did they yearn in vain

For P h u : b u ~ · glorioU! lute:, nor \ l u ~ who



Book l 29

\\lith their swret voic<"S sang r r - . . s p o n ~ i v d y . But w hffl d ~ e bright light of the !lun h ~ d sunk,

E;ac.h to his home:, the others turned to rest,

\,.{here farned H r p h ~ t u ~ , ; ~ m b i d r . ~ t r O l l ~ ~ n d , Jo"or each, \\ ith cunning ~ k i l l , ~ h . , u ~ e had framed.

Olym pian 7A"u5, the g'Od of lightning. paS!.ed

To his ow n couch ' 'here I.e \\ ~ "unt to lie

\\ 'bc:n over him ~ w e e t ~ l u m b l ' : r c a ~ t its <pdl.

A ~ d i n 2 i t , the monarch laid l1im down,

\\'ith gold-throned Hera b)• his ~ d e , and dept.

Documents

Lewis Iliad Chapter 1