Homer
The Iliad - an excerpt
Translated by Ian Johnston

This translation is dedicated to my son
Geoffrey (1974 - 1997)
and to my grandson Fabian (b.1992)
Generations of men are like the leaves.
In winter, winds blow them down to earth,
but then, when spring season comes again,
budding wood grows more. And so with men–
one generation grows, another dies away.
(Iliad 6.181-5)

Book One

Sing, Goddess, sing of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus—

That god was Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto.                                                         10

“Menelaus, Agamemnon, sons of Atreus,                                                 20

all you well-armed Achaeans, may the gods

on Olympus grant you wipe out Priam's city,

and then return home safe and sound.

Release my dear child to me. Take this ransom.

Honour Apollo, far-shooting son of Zeus.”

                                                            “Old man,

don't let me catch you by our hollow ships,

sneaking back here today or later on.                                                             30

Who cares about Apollo's scarf and staff?

I'll not release the girl to you, no, not before

she's grown old with me in Argos, far from home,

working the loom, sharing my bed. Go away.

If you want to get home safely, don't anger me.”

                        “God with the silver bow,

protector of Chryse, sacred Cilla,                                                                 40

mighty lord of Tenedos, Sminthean Apollo,¹

hear my prayer: If I've ever pleased you

with a holy shrine, or burned bones for you—

bulls and goats well wrapped in fat—

grant me my prayer. Force the Danaans

to pay full price for my tears with your arrows.”

his arrows rattling in anger against his arm.                                                               50

the silver bow reverberating ominously.

concerned for the Danaans, seeing them die.                                                                60

                                            “Son of Atreus,

I fear we're being beaten back, forced home,

if we aren't all going to be destroyed right here,

with war and plague killing off Achaeans.

Come now, let's ask some prophet, priest,

interpreter of dreams—for dreams, too, come from Zeus—

a man who might say why Apollo is so angry,

whether he faults our prayers and offerings,

whether somehow he'll welcome sacrificial smoke                                         70

from perfect lambs and goats, then rouse himself

and release us from this plague.”

 

 

“Achilles, friend of Zeus, you ask me to explain

Apollo's anger, the god who shoots from far.

And I will speak. But first you listen to me.                                                 80

Swear an oath that you will freely help me

in word and deed. I think I may provoke

someone who wields great power over Argives,

a man who is obeyed by everyone.

An angry king overpowers lesser men.

Even if that day his anger is suppressed,

resentment lingers in his chest, until one day

he acts on it. So speak. Will you protect me?”

 

In response to Calchas, swift-footed Achilles said:

 

“Take courage. State what your powers tell you.                                     90

By Apollo, whom Zeus loves, to whom you, Calchas,

pray in prophesy to the Danaans, I swear this—

while I live to look upon the light of day,

no Achaean will raise violent hands against you,

no, not even if you name Agamemnon,

who claims he's by far the best Achaean.”

“Apollo does not fault us for prayers or offerings,

but for his priest, disgraced by Agamemnon,

who did not free his daughter and take ransom.                                         100

That's why the archer god has brought disaster,

and will bring still more. He won't remove

this wretched plague from the Danaans,

until we hand back bright-eyed Chryseis,

give her to her beloved father, freely,

without ransom, and offer holy sacrifice

at Chryse. If we will carry out all that,

we may change Apollo's mind, appease him.”

 

wide-ruling, mighty Agamemnon, stood up before them,                                     110

“Prophet of evil, when have you ever said

good things to me? You love to predict the worst,

always the worst! You never show good news.

Now, in prophecy to the Danaans,

you say archer Apollo brings us pain

because I was unwilling to accept

fine ransom for Chryses' daughter, Chryseis.

But I have a great desire to take her home.                                                 120

In fact, I want her more than Clytaemnestra,

the wife I married. Chryseis is just as good

in her shape, physique, intelligence, or work.

Still, I'm prepared to give her back, if that's best.

I want the people safe, not all killed off.

But then you'll owe me another prize.

I won't be the only Argive left without a gift.

That would be entirely unfair to me.

You all can see my spoils are going elsewhere.”

At that point, swift-footed Achilles answered the king:                                         130

“Noble son of Atreus, most acquisitive of men,

how can brave Achaeans give you a prize now?

There are none left for us to pass around.

We've divided up what we allotted,

loot from captured towns we devastated.

For men to make a common pile again

would be most unfair. Send the girl back now,

as the god demands. Should Zeus ever grant

we pillage Troy, a city rich in goods,

we'll give you three or four times as much.”                                             140

“Achilles, you're a fine man, like a god.

But don't conceal what's in your heart.

You'll not trick me or win me with your words.

You intend to keep your prizes for yourself,

while the army takes my trophy from me.

That's why you tell me to give Chryseis back.

Let Achaeans give me another prize,

equal in value, something I'll enjoy.

If not, then I'll take a prize myself by force,                                             150

something from you or Ajax or Odysseus.

The man I visit is going to be enraged.

But let's postpone discussion of all this.

Let's drag a black ship to the sacred sea,

select a crew, load oxen on for sacrifice,

and Chryseis, that fair-complexioned girl.

Let's have as leader some wise counselor—

Idomeneus, Ajax, godlike Odysseus,

or you, Peleus's son, most eminent of all,

so with a sacrifice we may appease                                                             160

the god who shoots from far away.”

“You insatiable creature, quite shameless.

How can any Achaean obey you willingly—

join a raiding party or keep fighting

with full force against an enemy?

I didn't come to battle over here

because of Trojans. I have no fight with them.

They never stole my bulls or horses

or razed my crops in fertile Phthia,                                                             170

where heroes grow. Many shady mountains

and the roaring sea stand there between us.

But you, great shameless man, we came with you,

to please you, to win honour from the Trojans—

for you, dog face, and for Menelaus.

You don't consider this, don't think at all.

You threaten now to confiscate the prize

I worked so hard for, gift from Achaea's sons.

When we Achaeans loot some well-built Trojan town,

my prizes never match the ones you get.                                                    180

The major share of war's fury rests on me.

But when we hand around the battle spoils,

you get much larger trophies. Worn out in war,

I reach my ships with something fine but small.

So I'll return home now to Phthia.

It's far better to sail back in my curved ships.

² The aegis is Zeus’ special shield, the sight of which has the power to terrify men and make them run away. Zeus sometimes lends it to other gods.

 

I don't fancy staying here unvalued,

to pile up riches, treasures just for you.”

“Fly off home then, if that's your heart's desire.                                         190

I'll not beg you to stay on my account.

I have others around to honour me,

especially all-wise Zeus himself.

Of all the kings Zeus cherishes, it’s you

I hate the most. You love constant strife—

war and combat. So what if you're strong?

Some god gave you that. So scurry off home.

Take ships and friends. Go rule your Myrmidons.

I don't like you or care about your rage.

But I'll make this threat: I'll take your prize,                                                    200

fair-cheeked Briseis. I'll fetch her in person.

You'll see just how much I'm the better man.

And others will hate to speak to me as peers,

in public claiming full equality with me.”

control his fury? As he argued in his mind and heart,                                             210

“Child of aegis-bearing Zeus,²

why have you come now? Do you wish to see                                         220

how overbearing Agamemnon is?

I'll tell you where all this is going to lead—

that arrogance will soon cost him his life.”

“I came down from heaven to curb your passion,

if you obey. White-armed Hera sent me.

She loves you both alike, cares equally.

Give up this quarrel. Don't draw your sword.

Fight him with words, so he becomes disgraced.

For I say to you, and this will happen,                                                         230

because of Agamemnon's arrogance

some day gifts three times greater than this girl

will be set down before you. Control yourself.

Obey.”

and pushed the massive sword back in its scabbard.                                         240

“You drunken sot, dog-eyed, deer-timid coward,

you're never strong enough within yourself

to arm for war alongside other comrades,

or venture with Achaea's bravest on a raid.

To you that smells too much like death.

No. You'd much prefer to stroll around                                                     250

throughout the wide Achaean army,

to grab gifts from a man who speaks against you.

A king who gorges on his own people!

You lord it over worthless men. If not,

son of Atreus, this would be your last offence.

I'll tell you, swear a great oath on this point,

by this sceptre, which will never sprout

leaves and shoots again, since first ripped away

from its mountain stump, nor bloom any more,

now that bronze has sliced off leaf and bark.                                         260

This sceptre Achaea's sons take in hand

whenever they do justice in Zeus' name.

An oath on this has power. On this I swear—

the time will come when Achaea's sons

all miss Achilles, a time when, in distress,

you'll lack my help, a time when Hector,

that man killer, destroys many warriors.

Then grief will tear your hearts apart,

because you shamed Achaea's finest man.”

So the son of Peleus spoke, throwing to the ground                                         270

“Alas, this is great sorrow for Achaeans.                                             280

Priam and Priam's children will be glad,

the hearts of other Trojans swell with joy,

should they find out about such quarreling,

a fight between you two, among Danaans

the very best for counsel or combat.

But listen. You are both younger men than I.

And I've been colleague of better men than you,

men who never showed me any disrespect,

men whose like I have not seen again,

and never will—like Peirithous, Dryas,                                                 290

a shepherd to his people, Caeneus,

Exadios, god-like Polyphemus,

³ Centaurs are creatures with the head and torso of a man and the body of a horse.

 

Theseus, son of Aegeus, all god-like men—

the mightiest earthborn men, the strongest.

And the enemies they fought against were strong,

the most powerful of mountain centaurs.³

But they destroyed those creatures totally.

Associate of theirs, I came from Pylos,

a long way from that land, summoned personally.

I fought on my own behalf, by myself.                                                 300

No man alive on earth could now fight them.

Yet they heard me and followed my advice.

So listen, both of you. That's what's best now.

Agamemnon, you're an excellent man,

but do not take Briseis from Achilles.

Let that pass. Achaea's sons gave her to him first.

And you, Peleus' son, don't seek to fight the king,

not as your enemy. The sceptre-bearing king,

whose powerful authority comes from Zeus,

never shares honours equally. Achilles,                                                 310

you may be stronger, since your mother was divine,

but he's more powerful, for he rules more men.

But you, son of Atreus, check your anger.

Set aside, I urge you, your rage against Achilles,

who provides, in the middle of war's evils,

a powerful defence for all Achaeans.”

“Old man, everything you say is true enough.

But this man wants to put the rest to shame,

rule all of us, lord it over everyone.                                                         320

But some, I think, will not obey him.

So what if the gods, who live forever,

made him a spearman? Is that some reason

we should let him say such shameful things?”

“I'd be called a coward, a nobody,

if I held back from any action

because of something you might say.

Order other men about. Don't tell me

what I should do. I'll not obey you any more.                                         330

But I will tell you this—remember it well—

I'll not raise my hand to fight about that girl,

no, not against you or any other man.

You Achaeans gave her to me, and now,

you seize her back again. But you'll not take

another thing from my swift black ship—

you'll get nothing else with my consent.

If you'd like to see what happens, just try.

My spear will quickly drip with your dark blood.”

Thus the pair of them continued arguing.                                                             340

The men bathed in the sea, washed off impurities.                                             350

“Go to Achilles' tent, Peleus's son,

take fair-complexioned Briseis by the hand.

Bring her to me. If he won't surrender her,

I'll come myself in force and take her.                                                         360

For him that will be a worse disaster.”

“Cheer up, heralds, messengers for gods and men.                             370

Come here. I don't blame you, but Agamemnon.

He sends you both here for the girl Briseis.

Come, Patroclus, born from Zeus, fetch the girl.

Give her to these two to take away.

Let them both witness, before blessed gods,

mortal men, and that unfeeling king,

if ever there's a need for me again

to defend others from a shameful death.

That man's wits are foolish, disastrously so—

he's not thinking about past or future,                                                 380

how Achaeans may fight safely by their ships.”

“Mother, since you gave me life—                                                         390

if only for a while—Olympian Zeus,

high thunderer, should give me due honour.

But he doesn't grant me even slight respect.

For wide-ruling Agamemnon, Atreus' son,

has shamed me, has taken away my prize,

appropriated it for his own use.”

and settled down before him, as he wept. She stroked him,                             400

“You know. Why should I tell you what you know?

We came to Thebe, Eëtion's sacred city,

sacked it, taking everything the city had.

Achaea's sons apportioned it all fairly

amongst themselves. Agamemnon's share

was fair-skinned Chryseis. Then Chryses arrived                                    410

at the swift ships of bronze-armed Achaeans.

Archer god Apollo's priest sought out his daughter.

He brought with him an enormous ransom,

carried in his hands the sacred golden staff

with the shawl of archer god Apollo.

He begged Achaeans, above all Atreus' two sons,

the people's leaders. All Achaeans called on them

to respect the priest, accept the splendid ransom.

But that didn't please Agamemnon in his heart.

He sent him roughly off with harsh abusive orders                                 420

The old man went away again, enraged.

He prayed to Apollo, who loved him well.

The god heard him and sent his deadly arrows

against the Argives. The troops kept dying,

one by one, as the god rained arrows down

throughout the wide Achaean army.

The prophet Calchas, understanding all,

told us Apollo's will. At once I was the first

to recommend we all appease the god.

But anger got control of Agamemnon.                                                     430

He stood up on the spot and made that threat

which he's just carried out. So quick-eyed Achaeans

are sending Chryseis in fast ships back to Chryse,

transporting gifts for lord Apollo, and heralds came

to take away Briseis from my huts,

the girl who is my gift from Achaea's sons.

So now, if you can, protect your son.

Go to Mount Olympus, implore Zeus,

if ever you in word or deed have pleased him.

For often I have heard you boast in father's house                                 440

that you alone of all the deathless gods

saved Zeus of the dark clouds from disgraceful ruin,

when other Olympians came to tie him up,

Hera, Pallas Athena, and Poseidon.

But you, goddess, came and set him free,

by quickly calling up to high Olympus

that hundred-handed monster gods call Briareos,

and men all name Aigaion, a creature

whose strength was greater than his father's.

He sat down beside the son of Cronos,                                                     450

exulting in his glory. The sacred gods, afraid,

stopped tying up Zeus. So sit down right by Zeus,

clasp his knee, remind him of all that,

so he'll want to help the Trojans somehow,

corner Achaeans by the sea, by their ships' prows,

have them destroyed, so they all enjoy their king,

so the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon,

himself may see his foolishness, dishonouring

Achilles, the best of the Achaeans.”

Thetis, shedding tears, answered her son, Achilles:                                             460

“Oh my child, why did I rear you,

since I brought you up to so much pain?

Would you were safely by your ships dry-eyed.

Your life is fated to be short—you'll not live long.

Now, faced with a quick doom, you're in distress,

more so than any other man. At home,

I gave you life marked by an evil fate.

But I'll tell these things to thunder-loving Zeus.

I'll go myself to snow-topped Mount Olympus,

to see if he will undertake all this.                                                             470

Meanwhile, you should sit by your swift ships,

angry at Achaeans. Take no part in war.

For yesterday Zeus went to Oceanus,

to banquet with the worthy Ethiopians.

The gods all journeyed with him. In twelve days,

when he returns and comes home to Olympus,

I'll go to Zeus' bronze-floored house, clasp his knee.

I think I'll get him to consent.”

angry at heart for lovely girdled Briseis,                                                                 480

They brought off the offerings to archer god Apollo.                                         490

After saying this, he handed the girl over.                                                         500

“Hear me, god of the silver bow, protector

of Chryse, mighty lord of holy Cilla,

sacred Tenedos. You heard me earlier,

when I prayed to you. Just as you honoured me,

striking hard against Achaeans then, so now,                                     510

grant me what I pray for—remove disaster,

this wretched evil, from the Danaans.”

Once the thighs were well burned, they sampled entrails,                                 520

honouring in dance and song the god who shoots from far.                             530

When they reached the broad Achaean army,                                                 540

Twelve days later, the company of gods came back 550

“Father Zeus, if, among the deathless gods,                                         560

I've ever served you well in word or deed,

then grant my prayer will be fulfilled.

Bring honour to my son, who, of all men

will be fate's quickest victim. For just now,

Agamemnon, king of men, has shamed him.

He seized his prize, robbing him in person,

and kept it for himself. But honour him,

Zeus, all-wise Olympian. Give the Trojans

the upper hand, until Achaeans respect my son,

until they multiply his honours.”                                                             570

                                            “A nasty business.

What you say will set Hera against me.

She provokes me so with her abuse. Even now,                                 580

in the assembly of immortal gods,

she's always insulting me, accusing me

of favouring the Trojans in the war.

But go away for now, in case Hera catches on.

I'll take care of this, make sure it comes to pass.

Come, to convince you, I'll nod my head.

Among gods that's the strongest pledge I make.

Once I nod my assent, nothing I say

can be revoked, denied, or unfulfilled.”

Zeus, son of Cronos, nodded his dark brows.                                                 590

silver-footed daughter of the Old Man of the Sea.                                             600

                                                                “Hera,

don't hope to understand my every plan.

Even for my own wife that's dangerous.

What's appropriate for you to hear about,

no one, god or man, will know before you.                                             610

But when I wish to hide my thoughts from gods,

don't you go digging after them,

or pestering me for every detail.”

“Most dread son of Cronos, what are you saying?

I have not been overzealous before now,

in questioning you or seeking answers.

Surely you're quite at liberty to plan

anything you wish. But now, in my mind,

I've got this dreadful fear that Thetis,                                                        620

silver-footed daughter of the Old Man of the Sea,

has won you over, for this morning early,

she sat down beside you, held your knees.

I think you surely nodded your agreement

to honour Achilles, killing many soldiers,

slaughtering them by the Achaean ships.”

“My dear lady, you're always fancying things.

Your attention picks up every detail.

But you can't do anything about it,                                                 630

except push yourself still further from my heart,

making matters so much worse for you.

If things are as they are, then that's the way

I want them. So sit down quietly.

Do as I say. If not, then all the gods

here on Olympus won't be any help,

when I reach out to set my hands on you,

for they're invincible.”

in fear, silently suppressing what her heart desired.                                     640

“A troublesome matter this will prove—

unendurable—if you two start fighting

over mortal men like this, inciting gods to quarrel.

If we start bickering, we can't enjoy the meal,

our excellent banquet. So I'm urging mother,

though she's more than willing, to humour Zeus,

our dear father, so he won't get angry once again,                                 650

disturb the feast for us. For if Zeus,

the Olympian lord of lightning, was of a mind

to hurl us from our seats, his strength's too great.

But if you talk to him with soothing words,

at once Olympian Zeus will treat us well.”

“Stay calm, mother, even though you are upset.

If not, then, as beloved as you are,

I may see you beaten up before my eyes,                                             660

with me incapable of helping out,

though the sight would make me most unhappy.

It's hard to take a stand opposing Zeus.

Once, when I was eager to assist you,

Zeus seized me by the feet and threw me out,

down from heaven's heights. The entire day

I fell and then, right at sunset, dropped

on Lemnos, almost dead. After that fall,

men of Sintes helped me to recover.”

As he spoke, the white-armed goddess Hera smiled.                                       670

and counter-song. When the sun's bright light had set, 680