Bibliotheca Polyglotta

Setting the scene, the rage of Achilles, Chryses and his daughter taken by Agamemnon, his denial to send her back and the pestilence sent by Apollo l.1-56

Divination of the cause, dialogue between Achilles and Agamemnon on honour l.57-187

Achilles’ anger is checked by Athena, he should use the word not the sword l.188-222

Achilles attacks again Agamemnon with harsh words l.223-253

Nestor speaks l.254-284

Agamemnon speaks l.285-291

Achilleus answers angrily, Agamemnon orders to take Briseis, and Achilleus, unwillingly, gives her to Agamemnon and complains to his mother Thetis l.292-427

Offering to Apollo, Odysseus brings the hecatombe to Chryses, and they feast l.428-492

Meeting of the gods with Zeus in Olympus, request of Thetis, suspicion of Hera, and feast l.493-611

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τὸν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑποβλήδην ἠμείβετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς:
ἦ γάρ κεν δειλός τε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς καλεοίμην
εἰ δὴ σοὶ πᾶν ἔργον ὑπείξομαι ὅττί κεν εἴπῃς:
295 ἄλλοισιν δὴ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπιτέλλεο, μὴ γὰρ ἔμοιγε
σήμαιν᾽: οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγ᾽ ἔτι σοὶ πείσεσθαι ὀΐω.

Huic iam sub oculis torue retribuens diuus achylles
Certe piger et uilis uocare
Si tibi in omni opere obediam quodam dices
Aliis iam haec praecipe : non certe mihi
Significa non enim ego admoneor tibi puto

Brilliant Achilles broke in upon him and replied: “Surely I would be called cowardly and of no account, if I am to yield to you in every matter that you say. On others lay these commands, but do not give orders to me, [295] for I do not think I shall obey you any longer.

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ᾽ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσι:
χερσὶ μὲν οὔ τοι ἔγωγε μαχήσομαι εἵνεκα κούρης
οὔτε σοὶ οὔτέ τῳ ἄλλῳ, ἐπεί μ᾽ ἀφέλεσθέ γε δόντες:
300 τῶν δ᾽ ἄλλων ἅ μοί ἐστι θοῇ παρὰ νηῒ μελαίνῃ
τῶν οὐκ ἄν τι φέροις ἀνελὼν ἀέκοντος ἐμεῖο:
εἰ δ᾽ ἄγε μὴν πείρησαι ἵνα γνώωσι καὶ οἵδε:
αἶψά τοι αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐρωήσει περὶ δουρί.

Aliud autem tibi dicam · tu autem in sensibus pone tuis
Manibus non certe ego pugnabe causa pueallae
Neque tibi neque alii postque acciptum quod dedistis
Aliarum autem quae mihi sunt cita in naui nigra
Quarum non feres accipiens nolente me
Sed eia experire : ut sciant et alii
Subito tibi sanguis niger curret per lanceam

And another thing I will tell you, and take it to heart: with my hands I will not fight for the girl’s sake either with you nor with any other, since you are taking away what you have given. But of all else that is mine by my swift black ship, [300] nothing will you take or carry away against my will. Come, just try, so that these too may know: forthwith will your dark blood flow forth about my spear.”

ὣς τώ γ᾽ ἀντιβίοισι μαχεσσαμένω ἐπέεσσιν
305 ἀνστήτην, λῦσαν δ᾽ ἀγορὴν παρὰ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν:
Πηλεΐδης μὲν ἐπὶ κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἐΐσας
ἤϊε σύν τε Μενοιτιάδῃ καὶ οἷς ἑτάροισιν:

Sic isti per contrarium pugnauerit verbis
Diuersimode souerit congregationem in nauibus frecorum
Pelides certe ad tendam et naues tendens
Ibat cumque cum Menietiade et suis foriis

So when the two had made an end of contending with violent words, they rose, and broke up the gathering beside the ships of the Achaeans. [305] The son of Peleus went his way to his huts and his balanced ships together with the son of Menoetius, and with his men;

Ἀτρεΐδης δ᾽ ἄρα νῆα θοὴν ἅλα δὲ προέρυσσεν,
ἐν δ᾽ ἐρέτας ἔκρινεν ἐείκοσιν, ἐς δ᾽ ἑκατόμβην
310 βῆσε θεῷ, ἀνὰ δὲ Χρυσηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον
εἷσεν ἄγων: ἐν δ᾽ ἀρχὸς ἔβη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς.

Et Atrides vere nauem citam in mare proiecit
Ad remigium iudicauit XX et eccathomben
139v ::: Posuit deo supraque criseida pulchras genas habentem
Tulit portans princeps acndit multi consilii vlyxes

but the son of Atreus launched a swift ship on the sea, and chose for it twenty rowers, and drove on board a hecatomb for the god, and brought the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses and set her in the ship; [310] and Odysseus of many wiles went on board to take command.

οἳ μὲν ἔπειτ᾽ ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα,
λαοὺς δ᾽ Ἀτρεΐδης ἀπολυμαίνεσθαι ἄνωγεν:
οἳ δ᾽ ἀπελυμαίνοντο καὶ εἰς ἅλα λύματα βάλλον,
315 ἕρδον δ᾽ Ἀπόλλωνι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας
ταύρων ἠδ᾽ αἰγῶν παρὰ θῖν᾽ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο:
κνίση δ᾽ οὐρανὸν ἷκεν ἑλισσομένη περὶ καπνῷ.

Hi certe postque ascenderunt nauigabant mollia maria
Populus atrides lauari percipiebat
Hi autem lauabantur et in mare purgamenta uistorum ponebant
Vrebant apollini perfectas eccathombas
Taurorum atque capraruum per lutus maris sine sine fece
Emissa ad celum ibat reuoluta per fumum

So these embarked and sailed over the watery ways; but the son of Atreus bade the people purify themselves. And they purified themselves, and cast the defilement into the sea, and offered to Apollo perfect hecatombs [315] of bulls and goats by the shore of the barren sea; and the savour thereof went up to heaven, eddying amid the smoke.

ὣς οἳ μὲν τὰ πένοντο κατὰ στρατόν: οὐδ᾽ Ἀγαμέμνων
λῆγ᾽ ἔριδος τὴν πρῶτον ἐπηπείλησ᾽ Ἀχιλῆϊ,
320 ἀλλ᾽ ὅ γε Ταλθύβιόν τε καὶ Εὐρυβάτην προσέειπε,
τώ οἱ ἔσαν κήρυκε καὶ ὀτρηρὼ θεράποντε:
ἔρχεσθον κλισίην Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος:
χειρὸς ἑλόντ᾽ ἀγέμεν Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον:
εἰ δέ κε μὴ δώῃσιν ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαι
325 ἐλθὼν σὺν πλεόνεσσι: τό οἱ καὶ ῥίγιον ἔσται.

Sic isti certe haec laborabant per exercitum · Hec Agamemnon
Finiebat litem quam primum minatur fuerat achilli ·
Sed hic taltibium et euribatem alocutus est ·
Qui erant percones et citi famuli
Ite ad tendam pellide achilles
Manu accipite : ferte briseida pulcras genas habentem
Si autem non dabit : egoque ipse accipiam
veniens cum pluribus quod ei rectibile erit

Thus were they busied throughout the camp; but Agamemnon did not cease from the strife with which he had first threatened Achilles, but called to Talthybius and Eurybates, [320] who were his heralds and ready squires: “Go to the hut of Achilles, Peleus’ son, and take by the hand the fair-cheeked Briseis, and lead her hither; and if he give her not, I will myself go with a larger company and take her; that will be even the worse for him.” [325]

ὣς εἰπὼν προΐει, κρατερὸν δ᾽ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε:
τὼ δ᾽ ἀέκοντε βάτην παρὰ θῖν᾽ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο,
Μυρμιδόνων δ᾽ ἐπί τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἱκέσθην,
τὸν δ᾽ εὗρον παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ
330 ἥμενον: οὐδ᾽ ἄρα τώ γε ἰδὼν γήθησεν Ἀχιλλεύς.

Sic dicens misit minaci sermone percipiebat
Isti nolentes iuerunt ad littus sine fece maris
Mirmedenum ad tendas et et naues uenerunt
Hunc inuenerunt in tenda et in naui nigra
Sedentem · neque istos uidens · gauisus fuit achilles

So saying he sent them forth, and laid upon them a stern command. Unwilling went the two along the shore of the barren sea, and came to the tents and the ships of the Myrmidons. Him they found sitting beside his tent and his black ship; and Achilles was not glad at sight of them. [330]

τὼ μὲν ταρβήσαντε καὶ αἰδομένω βασιλῆα
στήτην, οὐδέ τί μιν προσεφώνεον οὐδ᾽ ἐρέοντο:
αὐτὰρ ὃ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φώνησέν τε:
χαίρετε κήρυκες Διὸς ἄγγελοι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν,
335 ἆσσον ἴτ᾽: οὔ τί μοι ὔμμες ἐπαίτιοι ἀλλ᾽ Ἀγαμέμνων,
ὃ σφῶϊ προΐει Βρισηΐδος εἵνεκα κούρης.

Isti autem pertimueruntur et verecundabuntur de rege
Et stererunt neque impsum uocabant : neque loquebantur
Postquam hic sciuit fuis in sensibus uocauit
Gaudete percones Iouis nuntium atque et hominum
Prope venite · non me uos cante? · sed Agamemno
Qui uos misit brisidis causa puellae

The two, seized with dread and in awe of the king, stood, and spoke no word to him, nor made question; but he knew in his heart, and spoke: “Hail, heralds, messengers of Zeus and men, draw near. It is not you who are guilty in my sight, but Agamemnon, [335] who sent you forth for the sake of the girl, Briseis.

ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες ἔξαγε κούρην
καί σφωϊν δὸς ἄγειν: τὼ δ᾽ αὐτὼ μάρτυροι ἔστων
πρός τε θεῶν μακάρων πρός τε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων
340 καὶ πρὸς τοῦ βασιλῆος ἀπηνέος εἴ ποτε δ᾽ αὖτε
χρειὼ ἐμεῖο γένηται ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι
τοῖς ἄλλοις: ἦ γὰρ ὅ γ᾽ ὀλοιῇσι φρεσὶ θύει,
οὐδέ τι οἶδε νοῆσαι ἅμα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω,
ὅππως οἱ παρὰ νηυσὶ σόοι μαχέοιντο Ἀχαιοί.

Sed eia nater a diis patrocle abstrahet puellam
Et ipsis des ferre · hi ipsi restes sint
Ad deos beatos · et ad mortales homines
Et ad imperatorem crudelem · si quidem postea
Opus mei fiet mortalem morbum expellent
Aliis certe hic corruptibilibus sensibus cremabitur
Neque scit intelligere simul ante et post ·
Vt ei in nauibus salui pugnent greci

But come, Patroclus, sprung from Zeus, bring forth the girl, and give her to them to lead away. However, let these two themselves be witnesses before the blessed gods and mortal men, and before him, that ruthless king, if hereafter [340] there shall be need of me to ward off shameful ruin from the host. Truly he rages with baneful mind, and knows not at all to look both before and after, that his Achaeans might wage war in safety beside their ships.”

345 ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθεθ᾽ ἑταίρῳ,
ἐκ δ᾽ ἄγαγε κλισίης Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον,
δῶκε δ᾽ ἄγειν: τὼ δ᾽ αὖτις ἴτην παρὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν:
ἣ δ᾽ ἀέκουσ᾽ ἅμα τοῖσι γυνὴ κίεν: αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
δακρύσας ἑτάρων ἄφαρ ἕζετο νόσφι λιασθείς,
350 θῖν᾽ ἔφ᾽ ἁλὸς πολιῆς, ὁρόων ἐπ᾽ ἀπείρονα πόντον:

Sic fatus patroclus autem amico obediit sotio
Extinxit ex tendo briseida pulcras malas habentem
Dedit ferre · isti autem restituerunt ad naues grecorum
Haec autem iniura simul istis mulier iuit · Postea achylles
Lachrymans sotiis sine sedit diuisus
In littore maris · ferris resipiens ad nigrum pontum

So he spoke, and Patroclus obeyed his dear comrade, [345] and led forth from the hut the fair-cheeked Briseis, and gave her to them to lead away. So the two went back beside the ships of the Achaeans, and with them, all unwilling, went the woman. But Achilles burst into tears, and withdrew apart from his comrades, and sat down on the shore of the grey sea, looking forth over the wine-dark deep. [350]

πολλὰ δὲ μητρὶ φίλῃ ἠρήσατο χεῖρας ὀρεγνύς:
μῆτερ ἐπεί μ᾽ ἔτεκές γε μινυνθάδιόν περ ἐόντα,
τιμήν πέρ μοι ὄφελλεν Ὀλύμπιος ἐγγυαλίξαι
Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης: νῦν δ᾽ οὐδέ με τυτθὸν ἔτισεν:
355 ἦ γάρ μ᾽ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
ἠτίμησεν: ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.

Multa autem matri amice orauit manus extendens
Mater postquam me peperisti parue in teque existente
Honorem mihi debebat celestis tradere
Iupter altisonans · nunc autem ne me modici teipsi honrauit
140r ::: Certe me atris ample regnans agamemnon ·
Inhonorauit Accipiens enim habet honorem ipsem usurpans

Earnestly he prayed to his dear mother with hands outstretched: “Mother, since you bore me, though to so brief a span of life, honour surely ought the Olympian to have given into my hands, Zeus who thunders on high; but now he has honoured me not a bit. Truly the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon [355] has dishonoured me: for he has taken and keeps my prize through his own arrogant act.”

ὣς φάτο δάκρυ χέων, τοῦ δ᾽ ἔκλυε πότνια μήτηρ
ἡμένη ἐν βένθεσσιν ἁλὸς παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντι:
καρπαλίμως δ᾽ ἀνέδυ πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἠΰτ᾽ ὀμίχλη,
360 καί ῥα πάροιθ᾽ αὐτοῖο καθέζετο δάκρυ χέοντος,
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνόμαζε:
τέκνον τί κλαίεις; τί δέ σε φρένας ἵκετο πένθος;
ἐξαύδα, μὴ κεῦθε νόῳ, ἵνα εἴδομεν ἄμφω.

Sic fatus lachrymans : hunc autem audiebat dulcis mater
Sedens in profundita maris in patre sene
Fortiter autem ascendit · et cano mari sicut caligo
Et leuiter penes eum fedit lachrymas fundentem
manu ipsum liniuit verbum locuta nominauit
Fili quid fles · quid autem tibi sensibus venit fletus
Propola · non occulta intellctu vt uiideamur ambo

So he spoke, weeping, and his lady mother heard him, as she sat in the depths of the sea beside the old man, her father. And speedily she came forth from the grey sea like a mist, and sat down before him, as he wept, [360] and she stroked him with her hand, and spoke to him, and called him by name: “My child, why do you weep? What sorrow has come upon your heart? Speak out; hide it not in your mind, that we both may know.”

τὴν δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς:
‘365 οἶσθα: τί ἤ τοι ταῦτα ἰδυίῃ πάντ᾽ ἀγορεύω;
ᾠχόμεθ᾽ ἐς Θήβην ἱερὴν πόλιν Ἠετίωνος,
τὴν δὲ διεπράθομέν τε καὶ ἤγομεν ἐνθάδε πάντα:
καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ δάσσαντο μετὰ σφίσιν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
ἐκ δ᾽ ἕλον Ἀτρεΐδῃ Χρυσηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον.

Hanc grauiter suspicians affatus est pediuelox achilles
Sic taliter quid tibi haec sciemi omnia contionabor
Iuimus thabas sacram ciuitatem illius homini
Hanc autem perdari fuimus et tulimus huc omnia
Et hec certe bene diuisarunt inter ipsos filii greacorum
Et dederunt atride criseida pulchram malas

Then with heavy moaning spoke swift-footed Achilles to her: “You know. Why then should I tell the tale to you who knows all? [365] We went forth to Thebe, the sacred city of Eetion, and laid it waste, and brought here all the spoil. This the sons of the Achaeans divided properly among themselves, but for the son of Atreus they chose out the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses.

370 Χρύσης δ᾽ αὖθ᾽ ἱερεὺς ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος
ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
λυσόμενός τε θύγατρα φέρων τ᾽ ἀπερείσι᾽ ἄποινα,
στέμματ᾽ ἔχων ἐν χερσὶν ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος
χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ, καὶ λίσσετο πάντας Ἀχαιούς,
375 Ἀτρεΐδα δὲ μάλιστα δύω κοσμήτορε λαῶν.

Crisis autem sacerdos longe sagittantis appollinis
Venit citas ad naues graecorum et aenea habentum indumenta
Soluiturusque filiam ferens innumerabilia pretia
Coronam habens in manibus Echibolii procul sagittantis apollinis
Aureo cum sceptro et rogabat omnes grecos
Atridas autem magis duos ornatores populorum

However, Chryses, priest of Apollo, who strikes from afar, [370] came to the swift ships of the bronze-clad Achaeans, to free his daughter, bearing ransom past counting, and in his hands he held the wreaths of Apollo who strikes from afar, on a staff of gold, and he implored all the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus, marshallers of the people. [375]

ἔνθ᾽ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ
αἰδεῖσθαί θ᾽ ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα:
ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἥνδανε θυμῷ,
ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δ᾽ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε:

Vbi alii certe omnes laudauerunt graeci
Venerari sacerdotem et splendida recipere pretia
Se non atride Agamemnon placuit animo
Sed male expulit fortem ac sermone percipiebat

Then all the rest of the Achaeans shouted assent, to reverence the priest and accept the glorious ransom; yet the thing did not please the heart of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, but he sent him away harshly, and laid upon him a stern command.

380 χωόμενος δ᾽ ὁ γέρων πάλιν ᾤχετο: τοῖο δ᾽ Ἀπόλλων
εὐξαμένου ἤκουσεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα οἱ φίλος ἦεν,
ἧκε δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ Ἀργείοισι κακὸν βέλος: οἳ δέ νυ λαοὶ
θνῇσκον ἐπασσύτεροι, τὰ δ᾽ ἐπῴχετο κῆλα θεοῖο
πάντῃ ἀνὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν: ἄμμι δὲ μάντις
385 εὖ εἰδὼς ἀγόρευε θεοπροπίας ἑκάτοιο.

Iratus senex uerum recessit : hunc autem Apollo
Orantem audiuit : quia valde ei amicus erat
Misit autem ad graecos malum telum certe populi
Moriebantur creberrimi · haec ambulabant tela dei
Vbique exercitum amplum graecorum · vobis autem mantis
Bene sciens concionabatur diuinationes echatio

So the old man went back again in anger; and Apollo [380] heard his prayer, for he was very dear to him, and sent against the Argives an evil shaft. Then the people began to die thick and fast, and the shafts of the god ranged everywhere throughout the wide camp of the Achaeans. But to us the prophet with sure knowledge declared the oracles of the god who strikes from afar. [385]

αὐτίκ᾽ ἐγὼ πρῶτος κελόμην θεὸν ἱλάσκεσθαι:
Ἀτρεΐωνα δ᾽ ἔπειτα χόλος λάβεν, αἶψα δ᾽ ἀναστὰς
ἠπείλησεν μῦθον ὃ δὴ τετελεσμένος ἐστί:
τὴν μὲν γὰρ σὺν νηῒ θοῇ ἑλίκωπες Ἀχαιοὶ
390 ἐς Χρύσην πέμπουσιν, ἄγουσι δὲ δῶρα ἄνακτι:
τὴν δὲ νέον κλισίηθεν ἔβαν κήρυκες ἄγοντες
κούρην Βρισῆος τήν μοι δόσαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.

Subito utem ego primus percipiebat deum mitigare
Atridaem postea ira coepit subito surgens
Mimnarus est sermonem qui iam prefectus est
Hanc certe cum naui cita remigatores graeci
Ad crisem mittant : ferentem autem dona regi
Hanc nuper ad tenda iuerunt percones ferentes
Puellam Briseida : quam me dederent filii graecorum

Forthwith, then, I first bade propitiate the god, but thereafter anger seized the son of Atreus, and straightway he arose and spoke a threatening word, which now has come to pass. For the quick-glancing Achaeans are taking the maiden in a swift ship to Chryse, and are bearing gifts to the god; [390] while the other woman the heralds have just now taken from my tent and led away, the daughter of Briseus, whom the sons of the Achaeans gave me.

ἀλλὰ σὺ εἰ δύνασαί γε περίσχεο παιδὸς ἑῆος:
ἐλθοῦσ᾽ Οὔλυμπον δὲ Δία λίσαι, εἴ ποτε δή τι
395 ἢ ἔπει ὤνησας κραδίην Διὸς ἠὲ καὶ ἔργῳ.

Sed tu si potes succurrere filio tuo
Itura ad olympium Iouem · roga aliquem certe
Vel (i.l.) iuuasti cor Iouis vel et opere

But, you, if you are able, guard your own son; go to Olympus and make prayer to Zeus, if ever you have gladdened his heart by word or deed. [395]

πολλάκι γάρ σεο πατρὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄκουσα
εὐχομένης ὅτ᾽ ἔφησθα κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίωνι
οἴη ἐν ἀθανάτοισιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι,
ὁππότε μιν ξυνδῆσαι Ὀλύμπιοι ἤθελον ἄλλοι
400 Ἥρη τ᾽ ἠδὲ Ποσειδάων καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη:

Multotiens tui patris in atriis audiui
Te iactantem quam dixisti nigra nube Saturno
Solam immortalibus destructibilem morbum expellerem
quam ipsam ligare celestes voluerant alii
140v Iuno atque neptunnus et pallas athena

For often I have heard you glorying in the halls of my father, and declaring that you alone among the immortals warded off shameful ruin from the son of Cronos, lord of the dark clouds, on the day when the other Olympians wished to put him in bonds, even Hera and Poseidon and Pallas Athene. [400]

ἀλλὰ σὺ τόν γ᾽ ἐλθοῦσα θεὰ ὑπελύσαο δεσμῶν,
ὦχ᾽ ἑκατόγχειρον καλέσασ᾽ ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,
ὃν Βριάρεων καλέουσι θεοί, ἄνδρες δέ τε πάντες
Αἰγαίων᾽, ὃ γὰρ αὖτε βίην οὗ πατρὸς ἀμείνων:
405 ὅς ῥα παρὰ Κρονίωνι καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίων:
τὸν καὶ ὑπέδεισαν μάκαρες θεοὶ οὐδ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ἔδησαν.

Sed tu ad huc veniens de soluisti de ligamine
Cito centimanum vocasti ad longum alympum
Quem Briareon uocant · dei virique omnes
Egeona : hunc enim post ipsius patrem meliorem
Qui leuire penes Saturnius sedebat gloria terrarum
Quem et pertimuerunt beati dii neque igauerunt

But you came, goddess, and freed him from his bonds, when you had quickly called to high Olympus him of the hundred hands, whom the gods call Briareus, but all men Aegaeon; for he is mightier than his father. He sat down by the side of the son of Cronos, exulting in his glory, [405] and the blessed gods were seized with fear of him, and did not bind Zeus.

τῶν νῦν μιν μνήσασα παρέζεο καὶ λαβὲ γούνων
αἴ κέν πως ἐθέλῃσιν ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρῆξαι,
τοὺς δὲ κατὰ πρύμνας τε καὶ ἀμφ᾽ ἅλα ἔλσαι Ἀχαιοὺς
410 κτεινομένους, ἵνα πάντες ἐπαύρωνται βασιλῆος,
γνῷ δὲ καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
ἣν ἄτην ὅ τ᾽ ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισεν.’

Horum nunc ipsum facias recordari · clinate et recie genua
Si forte velit ad troianos dare auxilium
Hos autem per proras et per mare trahere graecos
interfectos · ut omnes blasphement imperatorem
Sciat et atrides alte regnans Agamemnon
Qualem lesionem quia optimum grecorum non honorauit

Bring this now to his remembrance, and sit by his side, and clasp his knees, in hope that he might perhaps wish to succour the Trojans, and for those others, the Achaeans, to pen them in among the sterns of their ships and around the sea as they are slain, so that they may all have profit of their king, [410] and that the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon may know his blindness in that he did no honour to the best of the Achaeans.”

τὸν δ᾽ ἠμείβετ᾽ ἔπειτα Θέτις κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα:
ὤ μοι τέκνον ἐμόν, τί νύ σ᾽ ἔτρεφον αἰνὰ τεκοῦσα;
415 αἴθ᾽ ὄφελες παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀδάκρυτος καὶ ἀπήμων
ἧσθαι, ἐπεί νύ τοι αἶσα μίνυνθά περ οὔ τι μάλα δήν:
νῦν δ᾽ ἅμα τ᾽ ὠκύμορος καὶ ὀϊζυρὸς περὶ πάντων
ἔπλεο: τώ σε κακῇ αἴσῃ τέκον ἐν μεγάροισι.

Huic autem retrtribuit postea thetis lachrymas fundens
Heu fili mi quare te nutriebam : mate peperi
Iam debuisti in nauibus sine lachryma et sine lesione
Sedere postquam tibi fatum parue uite · non vald iam
Hunc cito simul moriturus et inhonoratus vltum omnes
Es in tanto et malo fato genui in atriis

Then Thetis answered him as she wept: “Ah me, my child, why did I rear you, cursed in my child-bearing? Would that it had been your lot to remain by your ships without tears and without grief, [415] since your span of life is brief and endures no long time; but now you are doomed to a speedy death and are laden with sorrow above all men; therefore to an evil fate I bore you in our halls.

τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέουσα ἔπος Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
420 εἶμ᾽ αὐτὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἀγάννιφον αἴ κε πίθηται.

Hoc certe dicam verbum Ioui delectanti in tonitruis
Ibo ipsam ad olympum de albatum · sique obedier

Yet in order to tell this your word to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt I will myself go to snowy Olympus, in hope that he may be persuaded. [420]

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν νηυσὶ παρήμενος ὠκυπόροισι
μήνι᾽ Ἀχαιοῖσιν, πολέμου δ᾽ ἀποπαύεο πάμπαν:
Ζεὺς γὰρ ἐς Ὠκεανὸν μετ᾽ ἀμύμονας Αἰθιοπῆας
χθιζὸς ἔβη κατὰ δαῖτα, θεοὶ δ᾽ ἅμα πάντες ἕποντο:
425 δωδεκάτῃ δέ τοι αὖτις ἐλεύσεται Οὔλυμπον δέ,
καὶ τότ᾽ ἔπειτά τοι εἶμι Διὸς ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ,
καί μιν γουνάσομαι καί μιν πείσεσθαι ὀΐω.

Sed tu certe nunc nauibus sedens citis
Irascere graecis · bellum finias totaliter
Iupiter ad oceanum cum sine taesione Ethiopis
Hesternus iuit post cibum · dii autem simul secuti sunt
In duodecima autem uerum veniet ad olympum
Et tunc postea ibo Iouis ad ferream domum
Et ipsum rogabo · et ipsumque fleti puto

But remain by your swift, sea-faring ships, and continue your wrath against the Achaeans, and refrain utterly from battle; for Zeus went yesterday to Oceanus, to the blameless Ethiopians for a feast, and all the gods followed with him; but on the twelfth day he will come back again to Olympus, [425] and then will I go to the house of Zeus with threshold of bronze, and will clasp his knees in prayer, and I think I shall win him.”

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