.
Translation by Ian Johnston
Book Two
Agamemnon's Dream and The Catalogue of Ships
[Zeus sends a false dream to Agamemnon; Agamemnon reports the dream to his advisors and outlines a test of the army; Agamemnon urges his troops to go home; Odysseus restores order; Thersites insults Agamemnon; Odysseus deals with Thersites, reminds the men of Calchas' original prophecy; Nestor suggests a display of the troops; the Catalogue of Ships (list of the Achaean, Trojan, and allied forces)]
Gods and warriors slept through the entire night.
But sweet Sleep did not visit Zeus, tossing and turning
over in his mind some way to honour Achilles,
by slaughtering many soldiers by Achaean ships.
In Zeus' heart the best idea seemed to be
to send a wicked Dream to Agamemnon.
Calling the Dream, Zeus said these winged words to him:
"Evil Dream, fly quickly to Achaea's men
at their swift ships. Go to Agamemnon's hut,
Atreus' son. Report my words precisely. 10 [10]
Bid him arm long-haired Achaean troops at once,
for now they'll capture Troy, city of wide streets.
Immortal gods dwelling on Mount Olympus
no longer disagree about all this.
Hera's entreaties have persuaded them.
Trojans can expect more sorrows, more disasters."
Zeus spoke. With these instructions, Dream set off,
quickly reaching Achaea's fast ships and Atreus's son.
He found Agamemnon resting in his hut,
wrapped up in the sweet divinity of Sleep. 20
Dream stood above his head, looking just like Nestor, [20]
son of Neleus, of all the more senior men,
the one Agamemnon held in special honour.
In that shape, divine Dream spoke to Agamemnon:
"You are sleeping, son of fiery Atreus,
tamer of horses. But a prudent man,
one to whom people have given their trust,
who has so many things to think about,
should not sleep all night long. So pay attention.
Hear what I have to say. I come to you 30
as Zeus' messenger, with his orders.
He's far off, but pities and cares for you.
He bids you arm long-haired Achaeans right away,
for now you can take Troy, city of wide streets.
The immortal gods dwelling on Mount Olympus [30]
no longer disagree about all this.
Hera's entreaties have persuaded them.
Trojans can expect from Zeus more sorrows,
more disasters. Remember what I've said.
Don't let forgetfulness seize on your mind, 40
when honey Sleep has loosed his sweet grip on you."
This said, Dream went off, leaving the king imagining things
which would never happen. He thought he'd take Troy,
Priam's city, that very day. Fool! He had no clue
of what Zeus really meant, his plan to load on them,
Trojans and Danaans both, still more suffering,
more cries of sorrow, through war's brutality. [40]
Agamemnon roused himself from sleep, the divine voice
all round him still. He sat up, pulled on a supple tunic,
new and finely made. On top he threw a large cloak. 50
He laced up lovely sandals over his sleek feet,
and slung a silver studded sword around both shoulders.
He took with him the royal staff of his ancestors,
eternal and imperishable. Gripping this,
he approached the ships of the bronze-armed Achaeans.
When Goddess Dawn rose high up on Olympus,
bringing light to Zeus and the immortals,
Agamemnon bid the loud-voiced heralds summon [50]
all the long-haired Achaeans to assembly.
Such a call went out. Men answered on the run. 60
But first, Agamemnon convened a meeting
of all his great-hearted senior councillors.
They met by Nestor's ships, king born on Pylos.
To the assembled group Agamemnon then sketched out
a plan he had conceived—a devious one.
"My friends, listen.
A divine Dream has just come to me
through the sacred night, as I lay asleep,
in form, size, and voice just like worthy Nestor.
He stood above my head and spoke these words:
'You are sleeping, son of fiery Atreus, 70 [60]
tamer of horses. But a prudent man,
one to whom people have given their trust,
who has so many things to think about,
should not sleep all night long. So pay attention.
Hear what I have to say. I come to you
as Zeus' messenger, with his orders.
He's far off, but pities and cares for you.
He bids you arm long-haired Achaeans right away,
for now you can take Troy, city of wide streets.
Immortal gods dwelling on Mount Olympus 80
no longer disagree about all this.
Hera's entreaties have persuaded them.
The Trojans can expect from Zeus more sorrows, [70]
more disasters. Remember what I've said.'
With that, Dream flew off, sweet Sleep released me.
Come, then, let's get long-haired Achaeans
somehow armed for battle. But first,
it's only right I test the men, ordering them
to go home in their ships with many oars.
You hold them back with your commands, 90
each one working from his own position."
Agamemnon finished speaking and sat back down.
Nestor stood up before them, king of sandy Pylos.
With a wise sense of their common cause, he spoke to them:
"My friends, chiefs and leaders of the Argives,
if any other Achaean had told us such a dream, [80]
we would declare it quite false, dismiss it.
But now the man who has a claim to be
the greatest of Achaeans has witnessed it.
So come, let's find a way to arm Achaea's sons." 100
So Nestor spoke. Then he began to make his way back,
leaving the council meeting. The others stood up,
all sceptre-bearing kings, following Nestor's lead,
his people's shepherd. Troops came streaming out to them.
Just as dense clouds of bees pour out in endless swarms
from hollow rocks, in clusters flying to spring flowers,
charging off in all directions, so from ships and huts [90]
the many clans rushed out to meet, group after group.
Among the troops Rumour blazed, Zeus' messenger,
igniting them. The assembly was in uproar. 110
Beneath the men, as they sat amid the din, earth groaned.
Nine heralds shouted out instructions, attempting
to control the noise, so men could hear their leaders,
god's chosen ones. Gradually men settled down,
kept quiet in their places. The noise subsided.
King Agamemnon stood up, holding his staff, [100]
one fashioned by Hephaestus' careful craftsmanship.
That god had given it to lord Zeus, son of Cronos.
Later Zeus had presented it to Hermes,
the guide, killer of Argus. Hermes, in his turn, 120
gave it to king Pelops, the chariot racer,
who passed the staff to Atreus, the people's leader.
This man, as he lay dying, left it for Thyestes,
who owned many flocks. Thyestes, in his turn,
passed it on to Agamemnon, who held it
as ruler of all Argos and many islands.
With this staff as his support, Agamemnon spoke:
"You Danaan warriors, comrades, [110]
companions of Ares, god of war,
Zeus, son of Cronos, has entangled me 130
in some really serious foolishness.
Perverse Zeus! He promised me, he agreed—
I'd have devastated well-built Troy
before I went home. Now he plans a cruel trick,
tells me to return to Argos dishonoured,
after I've lost so many warriors.
This is apparently what high Zeus desires,
he who has smashed so many city heights,
and will destroy still more, such is his power,
the greatest power of all. This is a great disgrace, 140
which people will learn about in years to come—
how an Achaean force of such quality and size [120]
vainly sailed off to fight a lesser force,
and failed to get what they set out to attain.
For if we Achaeans and the Trojans wished,
in good faith, to draw up a treaty,
to tally up the numbers on both sides,
with Trojans counting each inhabitant of Troy,
and if we Achaeans set ourselves in groups of ten,
and chose, for every group, a Trojan man 150
to pour our wine, then of our groups of ten,
many would lack a man to act as steward.
That, I tell you, indicates how much
Achaea's sons outnumber Trojans,
those who live in Troy. But all their allies, [130]
warrior spearmen from many cities,
are a huge problem for me. They thwart my wish
to smash down those sturdy walls of Troy.
Nine of great Zeus' years have rolled on past.
Ships' planks have rotted, their ropes have frayed. 160
Back home our wives and children wait for us.
The work for which we came remains undone.
So come, let's all agree to what I say.
Let's go back to our own dear country in our ships. [140]
For we'll not capture Troy with its broad streets."
So Agamemnon spoke. Among the soldiers,
all those with no idea of what he'd planned,
men's feelings quickened. The assembly was aroused.
Just like huge ocean waves on the Icarian Sea,
when East Wind and South Wind rush down together 170
from Father Zeus' clouds to whip up the sea,
the whole assembly rippled, like a large grain field,
undulating underneath the fury of the storm,
as West Wind roars in with force, all ears of corn
ducking down below the power of the gusts.
Like that, the shouting men stampeded to their ships. [150]
From underneath their feet a dust cloud rose.
They yelled orders to each other to grab the ships,
drag them to the sacred sea, clear out channels
for launching ships, knock out props from underneath, 180
frantic to get home. Heaven echoed with the din.
At that point, the Argives might well have gone back—
contravening what fate had in store for them—
had Hera not spoken to Athena:
"Alas, unconquerable child of Zeus,
who bears the aegis, the Argives will flee,
go back home to their dear native land,
cross the wide sea, abandoning Helen,
an Argive woman, leaving in triumph
Priam and his Trojans. On her account, 190 [160]
many Achaeans have perished here in Troy,
far from the homes they love. So now, come on,
go down to the bronze-clad Achaean troops,
use your persuasive power to stop the men
hauling their curved ships down to the sea."
So Hera spoke. Bright-eyed goddess Athena obeyed.
She sped off, raced down from Olympus' crest
and quickly reached Achaea's ships, rushing to the spot
where Odysseus, a man as wise as Zeus, was standing.
He'd laid no hand on his fast, black, well-decked ship. 200 [170]
His stout heart was filled with pain. Standing close to him,
bright-eyed Athena spoke out.
"Odysseus,
divinely bred, resourceful son of Laertes,
so you are going to fly back home,
sail off, returning to your own dear land.
You'll leap into your ships with many oars,
and leave in triumph Priam and the Trojans,
abandoning Argive Helen, for whose sake
so many Achaeans have died here in Troy,
far from the homes they love. But come now, 210
move around among Achaean soldiers.
Don't hesitate. Persuade each man to stop [180]
dragging the curved ships down into the sea."
So Athena spoke. Odysseus knew her from her voice,
as she talked. Then he ran off, shrugging off his cloak—
Eurybates, the herald, later picked it up,
a man from Ithaca, Odysseus' aide.
Odysseus went straight to Agamemnon, Atreus' son,
took from him his imperishable ancestral staff.
Grasping this, he ran to the bronze-clad Achaeans' ships. 220
Whenever he met some king or major leader,
he'd confront him, telling him to hold his ground:
"Friend, it's not suitable for you to panic, [190]
as if you're worthless. Instead take your seat.
Get other soldiers to remain in place.
You've no clear sense of Agamemnon's plan.
Right now he's testing all the army.
Soon enough he'll punish Achaea's sons.
Didn't we all hear what he said in council?
In his rage he may harm Achaean troops— 230
passions run high in kings whom Zeus supports.
Their honour comes from Zeus the Counsellor,
who loves them."
By contrast, when Odysseus
came across some common soldier yelling out,
he'd beat him with the staff, admonishing him:
"My friend, take your place in silence. Stay put. [200]
Listen to what others say, your betters,
you puny coward, useless in war or council.
Achaeans can't all rule here as kings.
No good comes from having many leaders. 240
Let there be one in charge, one ruler,
who receives from crooked-minded Cronos
sceptre and laws, so he may rule his people."
Odysseus moved throughout the army, calming things.
From ships and huts, soldiers rushed to reassemble,
echoing like waves of the roaring sea crashing on shore,
as Ocean thunders on. Men sat calmly in their places. [210]
But a single man kept on yelling out abuse—
scurrilous Thersites, expert in various insults,
vulgar terms for inappropriate attacks on kings, 250
whatever he thought would make the Argives laugh.
Of all the men who came to Troy, he was the ugliest:
bow legged, one crippled foot, rounded shoulders
curving in toward his chest. On top, his pointed head
sprouted thin scraggly tufts of hair. Achilles hated him, [220]
as did Odysseus, too, both subject to his taunts.
But now Agamemnon was the target of his gibes.
The Achaeans, despising Thersites in their hearts,
were furious at him. But he kept shouting out,
aiming noisy insults right at Agamemnon: 260
"Son of Atreus, what's your problem now?
What are you missing? Your huts stuffed with bronze,
plenty of choice women, too—all presents
we Achaeans give you as our leader,
whenever we ransack some city.
Or are you in need of still more gold,
a ransom fetched by some horse-taming Trojan [230]
for his son tied up and delivered here
by me or by some other Achaean?
Or do you want a young girl to stash away, 270
so you can screw with her all by yourself?
It's just not fair that you, our leader,
have botched things up so badly for us,
Achaea's sons. But you men, you soldiers,
cowardly comrades, disgraceful people,
you're Achaean women, not warriors.
Let's sail home in our ships and leave this man,
our king, right here in Troy to enjoy his loot.
That way he might come to recognize
whether or not we're of some use to him. 280
Now Agamemnon has even shamed Achilles,
a much finer warrior than himself,
stealing a prize, keeping it for his own use. [240]
Then there's Achilles, no heart's anger there,
who lets it all just happen. If he didn't,
this bullying of yours, son of Atreus,
would be your last."
Thersites yelled out these insults
right at Agamemnon, the people's shepherd,
abusing him. Noble Odysseus stood up quickly,
confronting Thersites. Scowling, he lashed out sternly: 290
"Shut up, chatterbox. You're a champion talker.
But don't try to have it out with kings
all by yourself. Let me tell you something—
of all those who came to Troy with Atreus' sons
you're the most disgraceful. So shut your mouth. [250]
No more words from you abusing our kings,
seeking to sneak back home. How this war will end,
we've no idea—whether Achaea's sons
will go back home successful or otherwise.
You sit here, railing at Agamemnon, 300
Atreus' son, leader of his people,
because Danaan heroes have given him
so many gifts—but that's a cheap insult.
So I'll tell you how things are going to be—
if I find you being so foolish any more,
then let Odysseus' head no longer stay
upon his shoulders, let him no longer
be called the father of Telemachus, [260]
if I don't grab you, rip off all your clothes,
cloak and tunic, down to your cock and balls, 310
and beat you back to the fast ships in tears,
whipping you in shame from our assembly."
Saying this, Odysseus lashed out with the sceptre,
hitting Thersites hard across his back and shoulders.
He doubled up in pain, shedding many tears.
In the middle of Thersites' back sprang up
bloody welts beneath the golden sceptre.
He sat down, afraid and hurt, peering around,
like an idiot, rubbing away his tears.
The soldiers, though discontent, laughed uproariously, 320 [270]
saying to one another:
"Comrades,
Odysseus has done lots of fine things before,
thinking up good plans and leading us in war.
But that's the best thing he's done by far
to help the Argives, shutting up that rabble-rouser.
Thersites' bold spirit won't urge him on
to trash our kings again with his abuse."
That's how the soldiers talked together. Then Odysseus,
destroyer of cities, rose up, grasping the sceptre.
At his side, bright-eyed Athena, looking like a herald, 330
silenced troops, so Achaeans close by and far away [280]
could hear him and follow to his advice. Odysseus,
bearing in mind their common good, spoke out:
"Son of Atreus,
now the Achaeans wish to disgrace you,
their king, shame you before all mortal men.
They're refusing now to keep their promise,
the one they swore to while sailing here,
still on their way from Argos, where horses breed,
that oath that they'd return after we'd destroyed
Troy's strong walls They're like infants or widows, 340
whining to each other about going home. [290]
But going back demoralized is bad.
A man who spends one month aboard his ship,
away from his wife, becomes downhearted
when winter gusts and stormy seas confine him.
This is now the ninth revolving year
we've been waiting here, on this very spot.
So I don't think that badly of Achaeans
in their frustration here by their curved ships.
Still, it's shameful to go home with nothing. 350
My friends, be patient, give us all more time,
until Calchas' prophecy comes true or not. [300]
We all have kept in mind what he foretold.
You all are the witnesses, those whom fate
has not yet visited to carry off in death.
Not long ago, when our Achaean ships
gathered at Aulis, bringing disaster
for Priam and his Trojans, we sacrificed
on holy altars placed around a spring
hundreds of perfect creatures to the gods, 360
the immortals—underneath that tree,
a lovely plane tree, where bright water flowed.
And then a great omen appeared, a snake,
blood-red along its back, a dreadful sight,
a thing sent out by Zeus into the daylight.
Out from under the altar that snake slithered, [310]
darting for the plane tree, where there lay
tiny, new-born sparrows, eight fledglings,
huddled under foliage at the very top.
The ninth one was the mother of the batch. 370
The serpent ate the infants, who screamed with fear.
The mother fluttered around here and there,
lamenting her dear chicks. The coiled serpent
snatched the crying mother by the wing.
Once the beast had gobbled up the sparrow
and her chicks, the god who'd made the snake appear
did something to it there for all to see.
Crooked Cronos' son changed that snake to stone!
We stood there astounded at what we'd seen— [320]
a horror desecrating the gods' sacrifice. 380
Calchas at once spoke out in prophecy:
'Long-haired Achaeans, why stand there so mute?
Counsellor Zeus has made manifest to us
a tremendous omen. It has come late,
will take a long time to be fulfilled,
but its fame will never die. Just as that snake
swallowed the sparrow's brood, eight in all,
with the mother who bore them the ninth one killed,
so for that many years we'll fight over there.
In the tenth year we'll take Troy, wide streets and all.' 390
That's what Calchas said. Now it's coming true. [330]
So come on, all you well-armed Achaeans,
let's stay, until we seize Priam's great city."
At this speech Argives gave out an enormous cheer.
The ships on all sides resounded ominously,
as Achaeans roared out their endorsement of his words.
Then Nestor, the Geranian horseman, cried out:
"Alas! In our assembly you're all infants,
silly children, with no sense of war's events.
What will happen to our agreements, 400
the oaths we made? Let fire consume [340]
our strategies, men's plans, our treaties,
ratified with wine and handshakes, everything
we used to trust. For now we fight ourselves,
arguing like this. We can't find any remedy,
though we've been sitting here for years.
Son of Atreus, you must maintain with force
your previous plan to lead the Argive troops
directly to the harsh demands of war.
And let those one or two be damned, 410
the men who don't think like Achaeans,
the few of them who yearn to go back home—
something they'll find they cannot do—
before we learn the truth or falsehood
of what was promised by aegis-bearing Zeus.
For I assure you mighty Zeus nodded assent [350]
on that very day the Argives put to sea,
bearing Troy's destructive fate in their swift ships.
On our right hand, Zeus hurled down lightning bolts,
signs manifesting his good will to us. 420
So let no man rush to get back home—
not before he's had sex with some Trojan's wife,
payment for Helen's miseries, her cries of pain.
If any man is really keen to get back home,
let him just set hand to his well-benched ship,
he'll come face to face, in plain view of all,
with death, his fate. You, my lord, think carefully—
think about what someone else suggests. [360]
Don't simply cast away what I say to you.
Agamemnon, set men in groups by tribes and clans, 430
so clans encourage clans, tribes bolster tribes.
If you do that, if Achaeans all obey,
you'll then recognize who's good and bad
among your leaders and your men. Ranged like that,
the two groups will oppose each other.
You'll then know whether failure to take Troy
stems from divine will or craven soldiers
or ineptitude in managing the war."
Mighty Agamemnon then answered Nestor:
"Old man, in our assembly once again 440 [370]
you win out over all Achaea's sons.
O father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo—
if only I had ten such counsellors
among Achaeans, king Priam's city
would soon fall, be taken, sacked at our hands.
But aegis-bearing Zeus, son of Cronos,
keeps showering me with grievous troubles.
He throws me into pointless bitter fights.
So Achilles and I fought for that girl,
yelling at each other. The first offence was mine. 450
If we were to agree, were of one mind,
then Troy's fate would be sealed without delay, [380]
without a moment's pause. But let's go off to eat,
so we can resume the fight. Every one of you,
get your spears and shields prepared for action.
Feed your swift-footed horses properly.
Inspect the chariots with a careful eye,
so we can stand all day and battle Ares,
hateful god of war. We'll get no respite,
not even for a moment, except at dusk, 460
when nightfall separates the frenzied soldiers.
Chest straps on our protective body shields
will be soaked through with sweat. Around our spears
hands will grow numb. Horses, too, will sweat, [390]
under the strain of hauling polished chariots.
But if I see a man coming out to fight
reluctantly, malingering by our curved ships,
he'll not escape being food for dogs and birds."
Argives answered Agamemnon with a huge shout,
like waves by a steep cliff crashing on the rock face, 470
lashed by South Wind's blasts, always foaming on the rock,
whipped on by every wind gusting here and there.
The men leapt up, moved off, scattering to ships,
set fires by their huts, and each man ate his dinner.
Every man then sacrificed to the immortal gods, [400]
praying to escape death and war's killing zone.
Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed an ox,
a fat one, five years old, to Zeus, exalted son of Cronos.
He summoned the best senior men of all Achaeans—
first, Nestor and Idomeneus, then both Ajaxes, 480
then Diomedes, Tydeus' son. Seventh came Odysseus.
Warrior Menelaus arrived without a summons,
knowing in his heart all Agamemnon's worries.
They stood by the ox, picked up barley grains for sprinkling. [410]
Then Agamemnon prayed on their behalf:
"Most powerful Zeus,
exalted lord of thunder clouds, Zeus,
who dwells in heaven, grant my prayer—
May the sun not go down, nor darkness come,
before I have cast down Priam's palace,
covered it with dust, destroyed its doors 490
in all-consuming fire, and with my bronze sword
sliced to shreds the tunic on Hector's chest.
May many of his comrades lie beside him,
face down on the ground, teeth grinding dirt."
So he prayed. But Cronos' son did not grant his wish.
Zeus took the offering but increased their suffering. [420]
Once the men had prayed, scattering barley grain,
they pulled back the beast's head, slit its throat, flayed it,
sliced thigh bones out and hid them in twin layers of fat,
with raw meat on top. They cooked these on split wood, 500
then placed the innards on spits in Hephaestus' fire.
When the wrapped up thigh bones were completely cooked,
and they'd tasted samples of the inner organs,
they chopped up the rest, arranged the meat on spits,
cooked it carefully, then drew it from the fire.
This work finished, the men prepared a meal and ate. [430]
Each soldier's appetite was fully satisfied—
all dined equally. When every man had eaten
as much food and drink as anyone could wish,
Geranian horseman Nestor was the first to speak. 510
"Lord Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
king of men, let's end our discussions now,
let's not postpone work given by the gods.
Come, let heralds of bronze-clad Achaeans
summon all the soldiers to assembly.
Let's move together across the wide front,
to stir Achaea's men with blood-lust for this war." [440]
Agamemnon, king of men, agreed with Nestor.
He ordered clear-voiced heralds immediately
to sound the battle call to long-haired Achaeans. 520
The call went out. Troops assembled on the run.
Around Agamemnon, kings nurtured by gods
rushed to establish order. With them strode Athena,
her eyes glittering, holding up the aegis—
her priceless, ageless, eternal aegis,
its hundred golden tassels quivering,
each finely woven, valued at a hundred oxen.
With this, she sped on through Achaean ranks, [450]
like lightning, firing soldiers' hearts for war.
As she passed, she roused in men that hot desire 530
to fight, to kill. At once she made each man feel war
far sweeter than returning home, finer than sailing
in the hollow ships back to his dear native land.
Just as an all-consuming fire burns through huge forests
on a mountain top, and men far off can see its light,
so, as soldiers marched out, their glittering bronze
blazed through the sky to heaven, an amazing sight.
As many birds in flight—geese, cranes, and long-necked swans— [460]
in an Asian meadow by the flowing river Caystrios,
fly here and there, proud of their strong wings, and call, 540
as they settle, the meadow resounding with the noise,
so the many groups of soldiers moved out then
from ships and huts onto Scamander's plain.
Under men's and horses' feet the earth rang ominously.
Then they stood there, in that flowered meadow
by the Scamander, an immense array,
as numerous as leaves and flowers in springtime.
Like flies swarming around shepherds' pens in spring, [470]
when pails fill up with milk, so the Achaeans,
a huge long-haired host, marched out onto that plain 550
against the Trojans, eager to destroy them.
Just as goatherds sort out with ease the wandering beasts
all mixed up in the pasture, so through all the army
the leaders organized the troops for battle.
Among them powerful Agamemnon roamed,
eyes and head like Zeus, who loves the thunder,
waist like Ares, god of war, chest like Poseidon.
Just as in cattle herds the bull stands out above the rest, [480]
by far the most conspicuous amid the cows,
so on that day Zeus made Agamemnon stand 560
pre-eminent among the troops, first of heroes.
Now, you Muses living on Olympus, tell me—
for you are goddesses and know everything,
while we hear only stories, knowing nothing certain—
tell me the leaders of Danaans, the rulers.
It would be impossible for me to tell
the story of or name those in the common mass,
even if I had ten tongues, ten mouths, an untiring voice,
a heart of bronze, unless the Olympian Muses, [490]
daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus, could sing of the men, 570
all those who came to Troy. But I shall list the leaders,
commanders of the ships, and all the ships in full.
Peneleus, Leitus, and Arcesilaus
led the Boeotians, with Clonius and Prothoenor.
Their men came from Hyria, rocky Aulis,
Schoenus, Scolus, mountainous Eteonus,
Thespeia, Graia, spacious Mycalassus,
men holding Harma, Eilesiun, Erythrae;
men holding Eleon, Hyle, Peteon, [500]
Ocalea, the well-built fortress Medeon, 580
Copae, Eutresis, Thisbe, city full of doves;
men from Coronea, grassy Haliartus;
men from Plataea, Glisas, those who held
fortified Lower Thebes and sacred Onchestus,
with Poseidon's splendid grove; men from Arne,
land rich in grapes, Midea, sacred Nisa,
and distant Anthedon. Fifty ships came with these men,
each with one hundred and twenty young Boeotians. [510]
Men from Aspledon and Minyan Orchomenus
were led by Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, 590
Ares' sons. Astyoche bore them in Actor's house,
Azeus' son, to mighty Ares. She, a modest virgin,
went upstairs, where the god lay with her in secret.
These men brought with them a fleet of thirty ships.
Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of Iphitus,
the son of great-hearted Naubolus,
commanded Phoceans—men from Cyparissus,
rocky Pytho, holy Crisa, Daulis, and Panopeus; [520]
men from Anemorea and Hyampolis;
from around the sacred river Cephissus, 600
from Lilaea, beside Cephissus' springs.
Forty black ships these two leaders brought with them.
Moving around, as soldiers armed themselves,
they set Phocean ranks by the Boeotians, on their left.
The Locrians were led by swift Ajax, son of Oïleus,
the lesser Ajax, not the greater Ajax,
son of Telamon, but a much smaller man.
Though he was short and wore cloth armour,
among all Hellenes and Achaeans he excelled [530]
in fighting with his spear. Locrians came from Cynus, 610
Opous, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe,
lovely Aegeiae, Tarphe, Thronion,
and from around the river Boagrius.
Ajax brought forty black ships of Locrians
living across from sacred Euboea.
Elephenor, offspring of Ares, son of Chalcodon,
great-hearted leader, commanded the Abantes,
who live to breathe war's fury, soldiers from Euboea,
Chalcis, Eretria, wine-rich Histiaea, Cerinthus by the sea,
men from the steep fortress Dium, Carystus, and Styra. 620
These swift Abantes came with Elephenor, [540]
their hair grown long behind, warrior spearmen,
filled with fierce desire to tear apart their enemies,
to pierce armed bodies with their long ash spears.
Forty black ships came with Elephenor.
Soldiers came from that well-built fortress Athens,
land of proud Erechtheus, whom Athena raised,
after he was born out of the harvest land.
She placed him at her own rich shrine in Athens.
To him Athenian youth make sacrificial offerings, 630
with bulls and rams as each year comes around. [550]
Menestheus, son of Peteos, led these men.
In tactics no one alive on earth could match him
in deploying chariots or shield-bearing men.
Nestor, from a previous age, was his only rival.
Menestheus brought with him fifty black ships.
From Salamis Ajax commanded twelve ships.
He organized his men in their positions,
so they stood adjacent to Athenian ranks.
Warriors from Argos, fortified Tiryns, Hermione, 640
Asine, both with deep bays,
vine-rich Epidaurus, Achaean youth from Aegina, Mases—
all these were led by mighty fighter Diomedes,
skilled in war cries, and by Sthenelus, dear son
of famous Capaneus. There was a third leader,
god-like Euryalus, Mecisteus' son, son of lord Talaus.
But warlike Diomedes was the main commander.
These men brought with them eighty black ships.
Troops from the strong fortress Mycenae, rich Corinth,
well-built Cleonae, Orneae, lovely Araethyrea, 650 [570]
Sicyon, whose first king was Adrestos,
with men from Hyperesia, lofty Gonoessa,
Pellene, from Aegium, men from coastal regions
and wide Helice—of these men Agamemnon,
son of Atreus, led one hundred ships.
He brought with him the most men, the best troops by far.
In their midst, Agamemnon put on a proud display,
dressed in gleaming armour, prominent among all heroes.
He was the best of all, because he had most men. [580]
Men from Lacedaemon, land of ravines,
Pharis, 660Sparta, Messe, where doves congregate,
men living in Bryseae, beautiful Augeiae,
Amyclae, coastal Helos, men from Laäs,
from around Oetylus—all these in sixty ships
were led by powerful, warlike Menelaus,
Agamemnon's brother. Among these warriors,
as they armed themselves some distance off,
Menelaus strode—confident, courageous—
rousing his troops for war, his heart passionate
to avenge Helen's struggles, her cries of pain. 670 [590]
Men from Pylos, lovely Arene, Thryum,
by Apheus ford, well-built Aipy, Cyparisseis,
Amphigenea, Pteleum, Helos, Dorium,
where the Muses met the Thracian Thamyris,
and stopped his singing—he was coming back
from Oechalia, from the court of Eurytus the king,
having boasted his singing would surpass the Muses,
daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus, should they compete,
so in their anger the Muses mutilated Thamyris,
taking away his godlike power of song, 680
and making him forget his skill in playing the lyre. [600]
Geranian horseman Nestor led these men
in a flotilla of ninety hollow ships.
Men from Arcadia, from below steep Mount Cyllene,
near Aepytus' tomb, where men excel in combat
hand to hand, troops from Pheneus, Orchomenus,
rich in flocks, Rhipe, Stratie, windy Enispe,
Tegea, lovely Mantinea, Stymphelus,
Parrhasia—mighty Agapenor led these men,
Ancaeus' son, in sixty ships. Many Arcadians 690
came in each ship, skilled fighters. Agamemnon, [610]
king of men, had himself provided well-decked ships
for them to sail across the wine-dark ocean,
for these men lacked expertise in matters of the sea.
Soldiers from Bouprasium, fair Elis, those parts
bounded by Hyrmine, coastal Myrsinus,
the rock of Olene, and Alesium—these troops
had four commanders, each with ten swift ships.
The many Epeians on board were commanded
by Amphimachus, son of Cteatus, and Thalpius, 700 [620]
son of Eurytus, descended both from Actor.
Third leader was Diores, son of Amarynces.
Fourth was Polyxenus, son of Agasthenes, Augeas' son.
Men from Doulichium, sacred Echinean islands,
living across the sea from Elis, were commanded
by warlike Meges, son of Phyleus, the horseman,
loved of Zeus. Phyleus, angry with his father,
moved to Doulichium. Meges brought with him
forty black ships in his flotilla.
Odysseus led on [630]
the Cephallenians, soldiers from Ithaca, 710
well wooded Neritum, Crocylea,
rugged Aegilips, from Zacynthus, Samos,
both those inhabiting the mainland
and those from cities on the facing shore.
Odysseus, as wise as Zeus, led these troops,
who came with him in twelve black ships.
Thoas, son of Andraemon, led the Aetolians,
men from Pleuron, Olenus, Pylene,
coastal Chalchis, and rocky Calydon. [640]
Proud king Oeneus had no living sons, 720
and he himself was dead, as was fair-haired Meleager.
Thus, Thoas ruled alone. He brought forty black ships.
Famous spearman Idomeneus led the Cretans
from Cnossus, fortified Gortyn, Lyctus, Miletus,
chalky Lycastus, from Phaestus and Rhytium,
both populous towns, with other warriors
from Crete's hundred cities. Idomeneus,
famous for fighting with a spear, led these troops, [650]
along with Meriones, as skilled at killing men
as Ares, god of war. They brought eighty black ships. 730
Tlepolemus, son of Hercules, a huge brave man,
led nine ships of courageous troops, men from Rhodes,
split into three divisions: from Lindus, Ialysus,
and chalky Cameirus—all led by Tlepolemus,
famous spearman, born to Astyocheia
and mighty Hercules, who'd taken her from Ephyra,
by the river Selleis, after razing many towns [660]
full of vital warriors. Once he'd grown up
in their well-furnished home, Tlepolemus had killed
his father's uncle, Licymnius, a well-loved old man, 740
a great fighter, too. At once Tlepolemus built a fleet,
assembled many men, fled overseas. Other sons
and grandsons of great Hercules had threatened him.
He suffered badly, until he came to Rhodes,
whose people live in three groups split up by tribes.
Zeus, who governs gods and men, loved them,
and so the son of Cronos blessed them with great wealth. [670]
Nireus brought three well-balanced ships from Syme.
The son of Aglaea and lord Charopus,
the handsomest of all Danaans who sailed across to Troy, 750
after Achilles, who had no equal. But he was weak,
for he had few followers.
Men from Nisyrus,
Crapathus, Casus, Cos, Eurypylus' city,
the Calydnian islands had Pheidippus and Antiphus,
sons of lord Thessalus, Hercules' son, as leaders.
With them came thirty hollow ships. [680]
All the troops from Pelasgian Argos, Alos,
men living in Alope, Trachis, from Phthia,
and Hellas, where lovely women live, men called
Myrmidons, Hellenes, and Achaeans—these troops 760
Achilles led in fifty ships. But their minds weren't set
on the grim clash of war. They had no one to lead them.
Godlike Achilles, swift of foot, sat by his ships,
still angry over fair-complexioned Briseis, seized
from Lyrnessus after heavy fighting. [690]
Achilles had laid waste Lyrnessus and the walls of Thebe,
overthrown the spearmen Mynes and Epistrophus,
sons of lord Euenus, son of king Selepius.
Because of her, Achilles sat still grieving.
But soon enough he'd rouse himself again. 770
Troops from Phylace, flowering Pyrasus,
shrine of Demeter, Iton, where flocks breed,
Antrum by the sea, and grassy Pteleum—
brave Protesilaus had led these men, while still alive.
Now the black earth held him. In Phylace, [700]
he left behind a wife to tear her cheeks in grief,
home half complete. Some Dardanian killed him
as he jumped on Trojan soil, the first on shore,
far ahead of all Achaeans. His soldiers lamented
the loss of their chief, but didn't lack a leader. 780
Warlike Podarces, son of Iphicles, led them—
the man owned many flocks and was a young blood brother
to Protesilaus. But that great-hearted warlike soldier
was an older, better man. So these troops had a leader,
though they missed the noble one they'd lost.
Podarces brought forty black ships along with him. [710]
Troops from Pherae by Lake Boebea, from Boebe,
Glaphyrae, well-built Iolcus—these came
in eleven ships, commanded by Eumelus,
Admetus' well-loved son, born to him by Alcestis, 790
loveliest of Pelias' daughters.
Troops from Methone, Thaumacia, Meliboea,
and rugged Olizon, were led by Philoctetes,
the skilled archer, in seven ships, each with fifty men,
expert archers. But Philoctetes stayed behind on Lemnos, [720]
the sacred island, in horrific pain, abandoned.
Achaea's sons had left him there in agony,
wounded by a snake bite. He lay there in torment.
But soon the Argives by their ships would have reason
to remember him. These soldiers missed their chief, 800
but were now led by Medon, Oïleus' bastard son,
whom Rhene bore to Oïleus, destroyer of cities.
So Medon was the one who set their ranks in order.
Men from Tricca, rocky Ithome, Oechalia,
city of Eurytus, the Oechalian, [730]
were commanded by two sons of Asclepius,
skilled healers, Machaon and Podaleirus.
They brought thirty hollow ships with them.
Troops from Ormenius, from the fount of Hyperea,
from Asterius, from Titanus with its white hilltops— 810
these men were commanded by Eurypylus,
fine son of Euaemon, in forty black ships.
Men from Argissa, Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone,
the white city Oloösson—these troops were led
by Polypoetes, a steadfast soldier, [740]
son of Perithoös, himself son to immortal Zeus.
That famous lady Hippodameia bore
Polypoetes to Perithoös on that very day
he took his revenge out on those hairy monsters—
he beat them from Mount Pelion towards the Aithices. 820
But Polypoetes was not the sole commander.
With him was Leonteus, a warlike man,
son of proud-hearted Coronus, Caeneus' son.
With them they brought forty black ships.
Guneus brought twenty-two ships from Cyphus.
With him sailed the Enienes and Peraebians,
reliable fighting men from cold Dodona, [750]
who work by the lovely river Titaresius,
which empties its beautifully flowing waters
into the Peneus. These do not intermingle 830
with the silver stream of the Peneus,
but flow along on top of them, like oil.
For the Titaressos is a branch of the river Styx,
dread waters by which the most solemn oaths are sealed
Prothous, son of Teuthredon, led the Magnetes,
from the region round Peneus and Mount Pelion,
where leaves are always trembling in the wind.
With him swift Prothous brought forty black ships.
These men were leaders, rulers of the Danaans. [760]
Muse, tell me this—Which of them were the very best 840
of those who came over with the sons of Atreus?
The best horses were those Admetus, son of Pheres.
Eumelus drove them. As fast as birds, they matched
each other in colour, age, and height along the back.
Bred by Apollo of the silver bow in Perea,
both mares, they carried terror with them.
Of the men, by far the best was Ajax, son of Telamon,
but only while Achilles did not join in battle.
For Achilles was the better man by far.
The horses carrying Peleus' son, man without equal, 850 [770]
were much better, too. But he stayed behind,
by his curved seaworthy ships, still angry
at Agamemnon, Atreus' son, the people's shepherd.
His soldiers amused themselves beside the breaking sea
by throwing spears and discus or with archery.
Their horses stood close by their chariots, browsing on lotus
and parsley from the marsh. Their masters' chariots,
fully covered, remained stationed in the huts.
Missing their warlike leader, these troops strolled
here and there throughout the camp and did not fight. 860
The soldiers, like a fire consuming all the land, [780]
moved on out. Earth groaned under them, just as it does
when Zeus, who loves thunder, in his anger lashes
the land around Typhoeus, among the Arimi,
where people say Typhoeus has his lair.
That's how the earth groaned loudly under marching feet.
Then wind-swift Iris came to Troy as messenger
from aegis-bearing Zeus carrying grim news.
Trojans had summoned an assembly by Priam's palace gates.
There all had gathered, young and old. Standing by Priam, 870
swift-footed Iris spoke, sounding like Polites, Priam's son. [790]
He'd been stationed as a scout—fully confident
of his skill at running—at old Aesyetes' tomb,
right at the top, waiting for the moment
Achaeans moved out from their ships.
Looking just like Polites, swift-footed Iris said:
"Priam, old man, you always love to talk
about irrelevant things, as you did earlier
in peacetime. But now this war continues
relentlessly. I've gone to battle many times. 880
I've never seen an army like this one, so many men,
as numerous as leaves or grains of sand, [800]
coming across the plain to assault our city.
Hector, I call on you, on you above all, to follow
my instructions—the numerous allies here
in Priam's great city all speak different languages
from far-scattered regions. So let each man
issue orders to the ones he leads,
let him now organize his countrymen,
then lead them out to battle." 890
Iris spoke. Hector understood her words.
Immediately he ended the assembly.
Men rushed to arm themselves. They opened up the gates.
Troops streamed out, infantry and horses. A huge din arose. [810]
In the plain, some distance off, a high hill stood by itself,
right before the city. People call it Batieia,
but the gods know it as the tomb of agile Myrine.
Here the Trojans and their allies marshaled forces.
Hector of the flashing helmet, Priam's son,
led out the Trojans. With him marched in arms 900
the largest contingent, the finest men by far,
eager to get working with their spears.
Aeneas, Anchises' worthy son, led the Dardanians.
Goddess Aphrodite had borne him to Anchises. [820]
She had lain with him on the slopes of Ida.
But Aeneas was not their sole commander.
With him were Antenor's two sons, Archelochus
and Acamas, extremely skilled in every form of war.
Men from Zeleia, on Mount Ida's lowest slope,
wealthy Trojans, men who drink dark waters 910
of the river Aesepus were led by Pandarus,
Lycaon's worthy son, whom Apollo had taught archery.
Soldiers from Adresteia, Apaesus, Pityeia,
steep Mount Tereia were commanded by Adrestus [830]
and Amphius in cloth armour, Merops' sons from Percote,
who knew more of prophecy than anyone.
He gave his children orders stay out of war,
which eats men up. They did not obey him.
Deadly black fates had called them on to battle.
Troops from Percote, Practius, Sestos, Abydos, 920
holy Arisbe—these troops were led by Asius,
son of Hyrtacus, an important ruler.
Arius's huge, tawny horses brought him
from Arisbe, from the River Selleis.
Hippothous led tribes of spearmen from Pelasgia, [840]
fertile Larissa, along with Pylaeus, offshoots of Ares,
sons of Pelasgian Lethus, Teutamus's son.
Acamas and warlike Perious led the Thracians,
those men bounded by the Hellespont's strong flow.
Euphemus, son of god-nurtured Troezenus, 930
son of Ceos, led Ciconian spearmen.
Pyraechmes led archers from Paeonia,
from far off Amydon, by the Axius,
a broad flowing river, whose moving waters [850]
are the loveliest on earth.
Pylaemenes,
a brave soldier, commanded Paphlagonians
from Enetae, where herds of mules run wild,
men from Cytorus, from around Sesamus,
those with fine homes by the stream Parthenius,
from Cromna, Aegialus, and high Erithini. 940
Odius and Epistrophus led the Halizoni
from distant Alybe, where men mine silver.
Chromis and prophet Ennomus led the Mysians.
But Ennomus' great skill in prophecy
did not allow him to evade his deadly fate.
Swift Achilles, descendant of Aeacus, killed him [860]
in the river where he slaughtered other Trojans.
Phorcys and noble Ascanius led up Phrygians
from far-off Ascania, men keen for war.
Mesthles and Antiphus commanded the Maeonians 950
Sons of Talaemenes, born to Gygaea,
a water nymph, they led Maeonians
from around the foot of Mount Tmolus.
Nastes led the Carians, men with a strange language,
from Miletus, Phthires, with its wooded mountain,
Maeander's waters and high peaks of Mount Mycale.
Nastes and Amphimachus, noble sons of Nomion [870]
were their leaders. Nastes went to war carrying gold,
like a girl. What a fool! His gold did not spare him
a wretched death. He died in the river, 960
at the hand of swift Achilles, descended from Aeacus.
Fiery Achilles carried off his gold.
Sarpedon and noble Glaucus commanded Lycians,
from distant Lycia, by the swirling river Xanthus.
Translation by Ian Johnston, Malaspina University-College, Nanaimo, BC. This document is in the public domain and may be used by anyone without permission and without charge, provided the source is acknowledged.
[Last modified on December 28, 2003]
[Note that the line numbers in square brackets refer to the Greek text]
