Homer, Iliad, Samuel Butler (Translator), 24.228

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So saying he lifted the lids of his chests, and took out twelve goodly vestments. He took also twelve cloaks of single fold, twelve rugs, [230] twelve fair mantles, and an equal number of khitons. He weighed out ten talents of gold, and brought moreover two burnished tripods, four cauldrons, and a very beautiful cup which the Thracians had given him when he had gone to them on an embassy; it was very precious, [235] but he grudged not even this, so eager was he to ransom the body of his son. Then he chased all the Trojans from the court and rebuked them with words of anger. “Out,” he cried, “shame and disgrace to me that you are. Have you no grief in your own homes that you are come to plague me here? [240] Is it a small thing, think you, that the son of Kronos has sent this sorrow upon me, to lose the bravest of my sons? I tell you, you shall prove it in person, for now that he is gone the Achaeans will have easier work in killing you. As for me, let me go down within the house of Hādēs, [245] before my eyes behold the ransacking and wasting of the city.”

He drove the men away with his staff, and they went forth as the old man sped them. Then he called to his sons, upbraiding Helenos, Paris, noble Agathon, [250] Pammon, Antiphonos, Polites of the loud battle-cry, Deiphobos, Hippothoös, and proud Dios. These nine did the old man call near him. “Come to me at once,” he cried, “worthless sons who do me shame; would that you had all been killed at the ships rather than Hector. [255] Miserable man that I am, I have had the bravest sons in all Troy—noble godlike Mestor, Troilus, the dauntless charioteer, and 258 Hector, who was a god among men; and he seemed 259 to be the child not of a mortal but of a god —yet there is not one of them left. [260] Arēs has slain them and those of whom I am ashamed are alone left me. Liars, and light of foot, heroes of the dance, robbers of lambs and kids from your own people, why do you not get a wagon ready for me at once, and put all these things upon it that I may set out on my way?”

[265]

Iliad. Homer. Samuel Butler (Translator). London. 1898.

Current edition Experimental

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ἰλιάς Perseus (Homer. Homeri Opera, Volumes 1-2. Monro, D. B. (David Binning), editor; Allen, Thomas W. (Thomas William), editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908-1920.) — 24.228 focus

ἦ καὶ φωριαμῶν ἐπιθήματα κάλʼ ἀνέῳγεν·

ἔνθεν δώδεκα μὲν περικαλλέας ἔξελε πέπλους,

δώδεκα δʼ ἁπλοΐδας χλαίνας, τόσσους δὲ τάπητας,

230

τόσσα δὲ φάρεα λευκά, τόσους δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσι χιτῶνας.

χρυσοῦ δὲ στήσας ἔφερεν δέκα πάντα τάλαντα,

ἐκ δὲ δύʼ αἴθωνας τρίποδας, πίσυρας δὲ λέβητας,

ἐκ δὲ δέπας περικαλλές, ὅ οἱ Θρῇκες πόρον ἄνδρες

ἐξεσίην ἐλθόντι μέγα κτέρας· οὐδέ νυ τοῦ περ

235

φείσατʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ὃ γέρων, περὶ δʼ ἤθελε θυμῷ

λύσασθαι φίλον υἱόν. ὃ δὲ Τρῶας μὲν ἅπαντας

αἰθούσης ἀπέεργεν ἔπεσσʼ αἰσχροῖσιν ἐνίσσων·

ἔρρετε λωβητῆρες ἐλεγχέες· οὔ νυ καὶ ὑμῖν

οἴκοι ἔνεστι γόος, ὅτι μʼ ἤλθετε κηδήσοντες;

240

ἦ ὀνόσασθʼ ὅτι μοι Κρονίδης Ζεὺς ἄλγεʼ ἔδωκε

παῖδʼ ὀλέσαι τὸν ἄριστον; ἀτὰρ γνώσεσθε καὶ ὔμμες·

ῥηΐτεροι γὰρ μᾶλλον Ἀχαιοῖσιν δὴ ἔσεσθε

κείνου τεθνηῶτος ἐναιρέμεν. αὐτὰρ ἔγωγε

πρὶν ἀλαπαζομένην τε πόλιν κεραϊζομένην τε

245

ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδεῖν βαίην δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω.

ἦ καὶ σκηπανίῳ δίεπʼ ἀνέρας· οἳ δʼ ἴσαν ἔξω

σπερχομένοιο γέροντος· ὃ δʼ υἱάσιν οἷσιν ὁμόκλα

νεικείων Ἕλενόν τε Πάριν τʼ Ἀγάθωνά τε δῖον

Πάμμονά τʼ Ἀντίφονόν τε βοὴν ἀγαθόν τε Πολίτην

250

Δηΐφοβόν τε καὶ Ἱππόθοον καὶ δῖον Ἀγαυόν·

ἐννέα τοῖς ὃ γεραιὸς ὁμοκλήσας ἐκέλευε·

σπεύσατέ μοι κακὰ τέκνα κατηφόνες· αἴθʼ ἅμα πάντες

Ἕκτορος ὠφέλετʼ ἀντὶ θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ πεφάσθαι.

ὤ μοι ἐγὼ πανάποτμος, ἐπεὶ τέκον υἷας ἀρίστους

255

Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ, τῶν δʼ οὔ τινά φημι λελεῖφθαι,

Μήστορά τʼ ἀντίθεον καὶ Τρωΐλον ἱππιοχάρμην

Ἕκτορά θʼ, ὃς θεὸς ἔσκε μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, οὐδὲ ἐῴκει

ἀνδρός γε θνητοῦ πάϊς ἔμμεναι ἀλλὰ θεοῖο.

τοὺς μὲν ἀπώλεσʼ Ἄρης, τὰ δʼ ἐλέγχεα πάντα λέλειπται

260

ψεῦσταί τʼ ὀρχησταί τε χοροιτυπίῃσιν ἄριστοι

ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων ἐπιδήμιοι ἁρπακτῆρες.

οὐκ ἂν δή μοι ἄμαξαν ἐφοπλίσσαιτε τάχιστα,

ταῦτά τε πάντʼ ἐπιθεῖτε, ἵνα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο;

Translations (7)

Iliad Perseus (Homer. The Iliad, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), translator. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1924-1925.) — 24.228 focus

He spake, and opened the goodly lids of chests, wherefrom he took twelve beauteous robes 230 and twelve cloaks of single fold, and as many coverlets, and as many white mantles, and therewithal as many tunics. And of gold he weighed out and bare forth talents, ten in all, and two gleaming tripods, and four cauldrons, and a cup exceeding fair, that the men of Thrace had given him 235 when he went thither on an embassage, a great treasure; not even this did the old man spare in his halls, for he was exceeding fain to ransom his dear son. Then drave he all the Trojans from out the portico, and chid them with words of reviling:

Get ye hence, wretches, ye that work me shame! 240 Have ye not also lamentation at home, that ye come hither to vex me? Count ye it not enough that Zeus, son of Cronos, hath brought this sorrow upon me, that I should lose my son the best of all? Nay, but yourselves too shall know it, for easier shall ye be, now he is dead, for the Achaeans to slay. 245 But for me, or ever mine eyes behold the city sacked and laid waste, may I go down into the house of Hades.

He spake, and plying his staff went among the men, and they went forth from before the old man in his haste. Then called he aloud to his sons, chiding Helenus and Paris and goodly Agathon 250 and Pammon and Antiphonus and Polites, good at the war-cry, and Deiphobus and Hippothous and lordly Dius. To these nine the old man called aloud, and gave command:

Haste ye, base children that are my shame; would that ye all together in Hector's stead had been slain at the swift ships! 255 Woe is me, that am all unblest, seeing that I begat sons the best in the broad land of Troy, yet of them I avow that not one is left, not godlike Mestor, not Troilus the warrior charioteer, not Hector that was a god among men, neither seemed he as the son of a mortal man, but of a god: 260 all them hath Ares slain, yet these things of shame are all left me, false of tongue, nimble of foot, peerless at beating the floor in the dance, robbers of lambs and kids from your own folk. Will ye not make me ready a waggon, and that with speed, and lay all these things therein, that we may get forward on our way?

Iliad Perseus (Homer. The Iliad of Homer, rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902, translator. London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1898.) — 24.217 focus

217 Then Priam said, "I would go, do not therefore stay me nor be as a bird of ill omen in my house, for you will not move me. Had it been some mortal man who had sent me some seer [ mantis] or priest who divines from sacrifice - I should have deemed him false and have given him no heed; but now I have heard the goddess and seen her face to face, therefore I will go and her saying shall not be in vain. If it be my fate to die at the ships of the Achaeans even so would I have it; let Achilles slay me, if I may but first have taken my son in my arms and mourned him to my heart's comforting."

228 So saying he lifted the lids of his chests, and took out twelve goodly vestments. He took also twelve cloaks of single fold, twelve rugs, twelve fair mantles, and an equal number of shirts. He weighed out ten talents of gold, and brought moreover two burnished tripods, four cauldrons, and a very beautiful cup which the Thracians had given him when he had gone to them on an embassy; it was very precious, but he grudged not even this, so eager was he to ransom the body of his son. Then he chased all the Trojans from the court and rebuked them with words of anger. "Out," he cried, "shame and disgrace to me that you are. Have you no grief in your own homes that you are come to plague me here? Is it a small thing, think you, that the son of Kronos has sent this sorrow upon me, to lose the bravest of my sons? Nay, you shall prove it in person, for now he is gone the Achaeans will have easier work in killing you. As for me, let me go down within the house of Hades, ere mine eyes behold the sacking and wasting of the city."

247 He drove the men away with his staff, and they went forth as the old man sped them. Then he called to his sons, upbraiding Helenos, Paris , noble Agathon, Pammon, Antiphonos, Polites of the loud battle-cry, Deiphobos, Hippothoos, and Dios. These nine did the old man call near him. "Come to me at once," he cried, "worthless sons who do me shame;

254 would that you had all been killed at the ships rather than Hektor. Miserable man that I am, I have had the bravest sons in all Troy - noble Nestor, Troilus the dauntless charioteer, and Hektor who was a god among men, so that one would have thought he was son to an immortal - yet there is not one of them left. Ares has slain them and those of whom I am ashamed are alone left me. Liars, and light of foot, heroes of the dance, robbers of lambs and kids from your own people, why do you not get a wagon ready for me at once, and put all these things upon it that I may set out on my way?"

265 Thus did he speak, and they feared the rebuke of their father. They brought out a strong mule-wagon, newly made, and set the body of the wagon fast on its bed. They took the mule-yoke from the peg on which it hung, a yoke of boxwood with a knob on the top of it and rings for the reins to go through. Then they brought a yoke-band eleven cubits long, to bind the yoke to the pole; they bound it on at the far end of the pole, and put the ring over the upright pin making it fast with three turns of the band on either side the knob, and bending the thong of the yoke beneath it. This done, they brought from the store-chamber the rich ransom that was to purchase the body of Hektor, and they set it all orderly on the wagon; then they yoked the strong harness-mules which the Mysians had on a time given as a goodly present to Priam; but for Priam himself they yoked horses which the old king had bred, and kept for own use.

281 Thus heedfully did Priam and his servant see to the yoking of their cars at the palace. Then Hecuba came to them all sorrowful, with a golden goblet of wine in her right hand, that they might make a drink-offering before they set out. She stood in front of the horses and said, "Take this, make a drink-offering to father Zeus, and since you are minded to go to the ships in spite of me, pray that you may come safely back from the hands of your enemies. Pray to the son of Kronos lord of the whirlwind, who sits on Ida and looks down over all Troy ,

292 pray him to send his swift messenger on your right hand, the bird of omen which is strongest and most dear to him of all birds, that you may see it with your own eyes and trust it as you go forth to the ships of the Danaans. If all-seeing Zeus will not send you this messenger, however set upon it you may be, I would not have you go to the ships of the Argives."

299 And Priam answered, "Wife, I will do as you desire me; it is well to lift hands in prayer to Zeus, if so be he may have mercy upon me." With this the old man bade the serving-woman pour pure water over his hands, and the woman came, bearing the water in a bowl. He washed his hands and took the cup from his wife; then he made the drink-offering and prayed, standing in the middle of the courtyard and turning his eyes to heaven. "Father Zeus," he said, "you who rule from Ida, most glorious and most great, grant that I may be received kindly and compassionately in the tents of Achilles; and send your swift messenger upon my right hand, the bird of omen which is strongest and most dear to you of all birds, that I may see it with my own eyes and trust it as I go forth to the ships of the Danaans."

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870)) — 24.228 focus

And thus the aged, godlike king rejoined:

"Keep me not back from going, nor be thou

A bird of evil omen in these halls,

For thou shalt not persuade me. This I say:

If any of the dwellers of the earth,

280

Soothsayer, seer, or priest, had said to me

What I have heard, I well might deem the words

A lie, and heed them not. But since I heard

Myself the mandate from a deity,

And saw her face to face, I certainly

285

Will go, nor shall the message be in vain.

And should it be my fate to perish there

Beside the galleys of the mail-clad Greeks,

So be it; for Achilles will forthwith

Put me to death embracing my poor son,

290

And satisfying my desire to weep."

He spake, and, raising the fair coffer-lids,

Took out twelve robes of state most beautiful,

Twelve single cloaks, as many tapestried mats,

And tunics next and mantles twelve of each,

295

And ten whole talents of pure gold, which first

He weighed. Two burnished tripods from his store

He added, and four goblets and a cup

Of eminent beauty, which the men of Thrace

Gave him when, as an envoy to their coast,

300

He came from Troy, -a sumptuous gift, and yet

The aged king reserved not even this

To deck his palace, such was his desire

To ransom his dear son. And then he drave

Away the Trojans hovering round his porch,

305

Rebuking them with sharp and bitter words: -

"Hence with you, worthless wretches! have ye not

Sorrow enough at home, that ye are come

To vex me thus? Or doth it seem to you

Of little moment, that Saturnian Jove

310

Hath sent such grief upon me in the loss

Of my most valiant son? Ye yet will know

How great that loss has been; for it will be

A lighter task for the beleaguering Greeks

To work our ruin, now that he is dead.

315

But I shall sink to Hades ere mine eyes

Behold the city sacked and made a spoil."

He spake, and with his staff he chased away

The loiterers; forth before the aged man

They went. With like harsh words he chid his sons.

320

Helenus, Paris, noble Agathon,

Pammon, Antiphonus, Deiphobus,

Polites, great in war, Hippothoüs,

And gallant Dios, nine in all he called,

And thus bespake them with reproachful words:-

325

"Make haste, ye idle fellows, my disgrace!

Would ye had all been slain beside the fleet

Instead of Hector! Woe is me! the most

Unhappy of mankind am I, who had

The bravest sons in all the town of Troy,

330

And none of them, I think, are left to me.

Mestor, divine in presence, Troïlus,

The gallant knight, and Hector, he who looked

A god among his countrymen, - no son

Of man he seemed, but of immortal birth, —

335

Those Mars has slain, but these who are my shame

Remain, - these liars, dancers, excellent

In choirs, whose trade is public robbery

Of lambs and kids. Why haste ye not to get

My chariot ready, and bestow these things

340

Within it, that my journey may begin?"

English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857)) — 24.228 focus

Forth from his open'd stores, this said, he drew

Twelve costly carpets of refulgent hue;

As many vests, as many mantles told,

And twelve fair veils, and garments stiff with gold;

Two tripods next, and twice two chargers shine,

285

With ten pure talents from the richest mine;

And last a large, well-labour'd bowl had place,

(The pledge of treaties once with friendly Thrace;)

Seem'd all too mean the stores he could employ,

For one last look to buy him back to Troy!

290

Lo! the sad father, frantic with his pain,

Around him furious drives his menial train:

In vain each slave with duteous care attends,

Each office hurts him, and each face offends.

‘What make ye here, officious crowds!’ (he cries)

295

‘Hence, nor obtrude your anguish on my eyes.

‘Have ye no griefs at home, to fix ye there?

‘Am I the only object of despair?

‘Am I become my people's common show,

‘Set up by Jove your spectacle of woe?

300

‘No, you must feel him too: yourselves must fall;

‘The same stern god to ruin gives you all:

‘Nor is great Hector lost by me alone:

‘Your sole defence, your guardian power, is gone!

‘I see your blood the fields of Phrygia drown;

305

‘I see the ruins of your smoking town!

‘Oh send me, gods, ere that sad day shall come,

‘A willing ghost to Pluto's dreary dome!’

He said, and feebly drives his friends away:

The sorrowing friends his frantic rage obey.

310

Next on his sons his erring fury falls,

Polites, Paris, Agathon, he calls;

His threats Deïphobus and Dius hear,

Hippothoüs, Pammon, Helenus the seer,

And generous Antiphon; for yet these nine

315

Surviv'd, sad relics of his numerous line:

‘Inglorious sons of an unhappy sire!

‘Why did not all in Hector's cause expire?

‘Wretch that I am! my bravest offspring slain,

‘You, the disgrace of Priam's house, remain!

320

‘Mestor the brave, renown'd in ranks of war,

‘With Troilus, dreadful on his rushing car,

‘And last great Hector, more than man divine,

‘For sure he seem'd not of terrestrial line!

‘All those relentless Mars untimely slew,

325

‘And left me these, a soft and servile crew,

‘Whose days the feast and wanton dance employ,

‘Gluttons and flatterers, the contempt of Troy!

‘Why teach ye not my rapid wheels to run,

‘And speed my journey to redeem my son?’

330

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 24.228 focus

This said, the chests he presently unlocks,

And out he lays twelve robes for womankind,

As many coats, as many single cloaks,

215

And unto those as many that were lin'd;

And further twelve rich carpets out he laid,

And when he that had done, he gold brought forth,

Whereof he layed by ten talents weigh'd,

And two great black three-footed pots, much worth;

220

And unto those he set bright cauldrons four,

And the fine cup which giv'n him was when he

From Troy to Thrace was sent ambassador,

So long'd he to set Hector's body free.

I* th' porch then standing many Trojans were,

225

That sorry for his grief, were thither come;

To whom he said, Rascals, what make you here ?

Find you not cause of grief enough at home,

That you must hither come to trouble me,

As if too little 'twere to lose my son ?

230

Hereafter you will easlier killed be,

Since Hector, who defended you, is gone.

As for myself, before I see that day,

I hope to be within th' infernal gates.

Then with his staff he drave them all away;

235

And turning in again his sons he rates,

Paris and Agathon and Helenus,

Pammon, Polites, and Antiphobus,

Argavus, Deiphobus, Hippothous.

These nine he rated, saying to them thus,

240

Make haste, unworthy sons. I had been glad

If you in Hector's stead had all been slain.

O how unfortunate am I, that had

So many and so valiant sons in vain !

Mestor and Troïlus both valiant men,

245

And godlike Hector. Sure I am accurs'd.

Since Mars of these depriv'd me has again,

And now I none have left me but the worst,

Domestic wolves, the bane of lamb and kid,

And good for nothing but to dance and lie.

250

Why stand you still ? Were you not by me bid

The waggon to prepare ? Then out they fly,

English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 24.228 focus

This resolv'd, the works most fair and dear

225

Of his rich screens he brought abroad; twelve veils wrought curiously;

Twelve plain gowns; and as many suits of wealthy tapestry;

As many mantles; horsemen's coats; ten talents of fine gold;

Two tripods; caldrons four; a bowl whose value he did hold

Beyond all price, presented by th' ambassadors of Thrace.

230

The old king nothing held too dear to rescue from disgrace

His gracious Hector. Forth he came. At entry of his court

The Trojan citizens so press'd, that this opprobrious sort

Of check he us'd: "Hence, cast-aways! Away, ye impious crew!

Are not your griefs enough at home? What come ye here to view?

235

Care ye for my griefs? Would ye see how miserable I am?

Is't not enough, imagine ye? Ye might know, ere ye came,

What such a son's loss weigh'd with me. But know this for your pains,

Your houses have the weaker doors, the Greeks will find their gains

The easier for his loss, be sure. But O Troy! ere I see

240

Thy ruin, let the doors of hell receive and ruin me !"

Thus with his sceptre set he on the crowding citizens,

Who gave back, seeing him so urge. And now he entertains

His sons as roughly, Helenus, Paris, Hippothous,

Pammon, divine Agathones, renown'd Deiphobus,

245

Agavus, and Antiphonus, and last, not least in arms,

The strong Polites; these nine sons the violence of his harms

Help'd him to vent in these sharp terms : "Haste, you infamous brood,

And get my chariot. Would to heaven that all the abject blood

In all your veins had Hector 'scus'd! O me, accursed man,

250

All my good sons are gone, my light the shades Cimmerian

Have swallow'd from me. I have lost Mestor, surnam'd the fair,

Troilus, that ready knight at arms, that made his field repair

Ever so prompt and joyfully, and Hector, amongst men

Esteem'd a God, not from a mortal's seed, but of th' Eternal strain,

255

He seem'd to all eyes. These are gone, you that survive are base,

Liars and common freebooters, all faulty, not a grace,

But in your heels, in all your parts, dancing companions

Ye all are excellent. Hence, ye brats! Love ye to hear my moans ?

Will ye not get my chariot? Command it quickly, fly,

260

That I may perfect this dear work." This all did terrify,

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 24.228 focus

So saying, he open'd wide the elegant lids

Of numerous chests, whence mantles twelve he took

Of texture beautiful; twelve single cloaks;

As many carpets, with as many robes,

To which he added vests, an equal store.

295

He also took ten talents forth of gold,

All weigh'd, two splendid tripods, cauldrons four,

And after these a cup of matchless worth

Given to him when ambassador in Thrace;

A noble gift, which yet the hoary King

300

Spared not, such fervour of desire he felt

To loose his son. Then from his portico,

With angry taunts he drove the gather'd crowds.

Away! away! ye dregs of earth, away!

Ye shame of human kind! Have ye no griefs

305

At home, that ye come hither troubling me?

Deem ye it little that Saturnian Jove

Afflicts me thus, and of my very best,

Best boy deprives me? Ah! ye shall be taught

Yourselves that loss, far easier to be slain

310

By the Achaians now, since he is dead.

But I, ere yet the city I behold

Taken and pillaged, with these aged eyes,

Shall find safe hiding in the shades below.

He said, and chased them with his staff; they left

315

In haste the doors, by the old King expell'd.

Then, chiding them aloud, his sons he call'd,

Helenus, Paris, noble Agathon,

Pammon, Antiphonus, and bold in fight

Polites, Dios of illustrious fame,

320

Hippothoüs and Deiphobus—all nine

He call'd, thus issuing, angry, his commands,

Quick! quick! ye slothful in your father's cause,

Ye worthless brood! would that in Hector's stead

Ye all had perish'd in the fleet of Greece!

325

Oh altogether wretched! in all Troy

No man had sons to boast valiant as mine,

And I have lost them all. Mestor is gone

The godlike, Troilus the steed-renown'd,

And Hector, who with other men compared

330

Seem'd a Divinity, whom none had deem'd

From mortal man derived, but from a God.

These Mars hath taken, and hath left me none

But scandals of my house, void of all truth,

Dancers, exact step-measurers, a band

335

Of public robbers, thieves of kids and lambs.

Will ye not bring my litter to the gate

This moment, and with all this package quick

Charge it, that we may hence without delay?

New Alexandria Commentaries

Gregory Nagy

The Iliad ends with the funeral of Hector, not of Achilles. And it is Hector, not Achilles, who is lamented at the end. But it is Achilles who makes it all happen, since he has transcended his rage and has shown mercy to an old father. The tears of Priam had made Achilles think of his own old father, of his own ancestors—and of Patroklos, who embodied the glories of the ancestors. Achilles was looking bad at the beginning of Iliad 23 and even at the beginning of Iliad 24, but he looks very good by the time Iliad 24 comes to a close.

draft js image error Mourners lament as Hector’s corpse is laid out in preparation for the funeral that closes Iliad Rhapsody 24. Copperplate etching (1795) by Tommaso Piroli, after a drawing (1793) by John Flaxman. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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The gods pity Hector and are on the verge of sending Hermes to hide the corpse of Hector, but this plan is vetoed by Hērā and Poseidon, in that order. They bear a grudge against Troy and Priam because of an atē ‘aberration’ of Paris=Alexandros. But the narrative concentrates only on Hērā, since the atē ‘aberration’ that the Master Narrator has in mind involves a direct insult to that goddess. On the story of that insult, see the comment on the verses that immediately follow.

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Homer Iliad 24.228

Samuel Butler (Translator)

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