Homer, Iliad, ed. David B. Monro, ed. Thomas W. Allen, 24.596

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Card

← Previous Next →

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐς κλισίην πάλιν ἤϊε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

ἕζετο δʼ ἐν κλισμῷ πολυδαιδάλῳ ἔνθεν ἀνέστη

τοίχου τοῦ ἑτέρου, ποτὶ δὲ Πρίαμον φάτο μῦθον·

υἱὸς μὲν δή τοι λέλυται γέρον ὡς ἐκέλευες,

κεῖται δʼ ἐν λεχέεσσʼ· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν

600

ὄψεαι αὐτὸς ἄγων· νῦν δὲ μνησώμεθα δόρπου.

καὶ γάρ τʼ ἠΰκομος Νιόβη ἐμνήσατο σίτου,

τῇ περ δώδεκα παῖδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὄλοντο

ἓξ μὲν θυγατέρες, ἓξ δʼ υἱέες ἡβώοντες.

τοὺς μὲν Ἀπόλλων πέφνεν ἀπʼ ἀργυρέοιο βιοῖο

605

χωόμενος Νιόβῃ, τὰς δʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,

οὕνεκʼ ἄρα Λητοῖ ἰσάσκετο καλλιπαρῄῳ·

φῆ δοιὼ τεκέειν, ἣ δʼ αὐτὴ γείνατο πολλούς·

τὼ δʼ ἄρα καὶ δοιώ περ ἐόντʼ ἀπὸ πάντας ὄλεσσαν.

οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐννῆμαρ κέατʼ ἐν φόνῳ, οὐδέ τις ἦεν

610

κατθάψαι, λαοὺς δὲ λίθους ποίησε Κρονίων·

τοὺς δʼ ἄρα τῇ δεκάτῃ θάψαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες.

ἣ δʼ ἄρα σίτου μνήσατʼ, ἐπεὶ κάμε δάκρυ χέουσα.

νῦν δέ που ἐν πέτρῃσιν ἐν οὔρεσιν οἰοπόλοισιν

ἐν Σιπύλῳ, ὅθι φασὶ θεάων ἔμμεναι εὐνὰς

615

νυμφάων, αἵ τʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀχελώϊον ἐρρώσαντο,

ἔνθα λίθος περ ἐοῦσα θεῶν ἐκ κήδεα πέσσει.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ καὶ νῶϊ μεδώμεθα δῖε γεραιὲ

σίτου· ἔπειτά κεν αὖτε φίλον παῖδα κλαίοισθα

Ἴλιον εἰσαγαγών· πολυδάκρυτος δέ τοι ἔσται.

620

ἦ καὶ ἀναΐξας ὄϊν ἄργυφον ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς

σφάξʼ· ἕταροι δʼ ἔδερόν τε καὶ ἄμφεπον εὖ κατὰ κόσμον,

μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,

ὄπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.

Αὐτομέδων δʼ ἄρα σῖτον ἑλὼν ἐπένειμε τραπέζῃ

625

καλοῖς ἐν κανέοισιν· ἀτὰρ κρέα νεῖμεν Ἀχιλλεύς.

οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

ἤτοι Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος θαύμαζʼ Ἀχιλῆα

ὅσσος ἔην οἷός τε· θεοῖσι γὰρ ἄντα ἐῴκει·

630

αὐτὰρ ὃ Δαρδανίδην Πρίαμον θαύμαζεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

εἰσορόων ὄψίν τʼ ἀγαθὴν καὶ μῦθον ἀκούων.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐς ἀλλήλους ὁρόωντες,

τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·

λέξον νῦν με τάχιστα διοτρεφές, ὄφρα καὶ ἤδη

635

ὕπνῳ ὕπο γλυκερῷ ταρπώμεθα κοιμηθέντες·

οὐ γάρ πω μύσαν ὄσσε ὑπὸ βλεφάροισιν ἐμοῖσιν

ἐξ οὗ σῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἐμὸς πάϊς ὤλεσε θυμόν,

ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ στενάχω καὶ κήδεα μυρία πέσσω

αὐλῆς ἐν χόρτοισι κυλινδόμενος κατὰ κόπρον.

640

νῦν δὴ καὶ σίτου πασάμην καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνον

λαυκανίης καθέηκα· πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι πεπάσμην.

Iliad. Homer. ed. David B. Monro, ed. Thomas W. Allen. Oxford. 1908-1920.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

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

Translations (8)

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.) — 24.596 focus

So spake goodly Achilles, and went back within the hut and on the richly-wrought chair wherefrom he had risen sate him down by the opposite wall, and he spake unto Priam, saying:

Thy son, old sire, is given back according to thy wish, 600 and lieth upon a bier; and at break of day thou shalt thyself behold him, as thou bearest him hence; but for this present let us bethink us of supper. For even the fair-haired Niobe bethought her of meat, albeit twelve children perished in her halls, six daughters and six lusty sons. 605 The sons Apollo slew with shafts from his silver bow, being wroth against Niobe, and the daughters the archer Artemis, for that Niobe had matched her with fair-cheeked Leto, saying that the goddess had borne but twain, while herself was mother to many; wherefore they, for all they were but twain, destroyed them all. 610 For nine days' space they lay in their blood, nor was there any to bury them, for the son of Cronos turned the folk to stones; howbeit on the tenth day the gods of heaven buried them; and Niobe bethought her of meat, for she was wearied with the shedding of tears. And now somewhere amid the rocks, on the lonely mountains, 615 on Sipylus, where, men say, are the couching-places of goddesses, even of the nymphs that range swiftly in the dance about Achelous, there, albeit a stone, she broodeth over her woes sent by the gods. But come, let us twain likewise, noble old sire, bethink us of meat; and thereafter shalt thou make lament over thy dear son, 620 when thou hast borne him into Ilios; mourned shall he be of thee many tears.

Therewith swift Achilles sprang up, and slew a white-fleeced sheep, and his comrades flayed it and made it ready well and duly, and sliced it cunningly and spitted the morsels, and roasted them carefully and drew all off the spits. 625 And Automedon took bread and dealt it forth on the table in fair baskets, while Achilles dealt the meat. So they put forth their hands to the good cheer lying ready before them. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, then verily Priam, son of Dardanus, marvelled at Achilles, how tall he was and how comely; 630 for he was like the gods to look upon. And a son of Dardanus, did Achilles marvel, beholding his goodly aspect and hearkening to his words. But when they had had their fill of gazing one upon the other, then the old man, godlike Priam, was first to speak, saying: 635

Show me now my bed with speed, O thou nurtured of Zeus, that lulled at length by sweet sleep we may rest and take our joy; for never yet have mine eyes closed beneath mine eyelids since at thy hands my son lost his life, but ever do I wail and brood over my countless sorrows, 640 grovelling in the filth in the closed spaces of the court. But now have I tasted of meat, and have let flaming wine pass down my throat; whereas till now had I tasted naught.

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.) — 24.571 focus

571 The old man feared him and obeyed. Then the son of Peleus sprang like a lion through the door of his house, not alone, but with him went his two squires [ therapontes] Automedon and Alkimos who were closer to him than any others of his comrades now that Patroklos was no more. These unyoked the horses and mules, and bade Priam's herald and attendant be seated within the house. They lifted the ransom for Hektor's body from the wagon. but they left two mantles and a goodly shirt, that Achilles might wrap the body in them when he gave it to be taken home. Then he called to his servants and ordered them to wash the body and anoint it, but he first took it to a place where Priam should not see it, lest if he did so, he should break out in the bitterness of his grief, and enrage Achilles, who might then kill him and err against the word of Zeus. When the servants had washed the body and anointed it, and had wrapped it in a fair shirt and mantle, Achilles himself lifted it on to a bier, and he and his men then laid it on the wagon. He cried aloud as he did so and called on the name of his dear comrade, "Be not angry with me, Patroklos," he said, "if you hear even in the house of Hades that I have given Hektor to his father for a ransom. It has been no unworthy one, and I will share it equitably with you."

596 Achilles then went back into the tent and took his place on the richly inlaid seat from which he had risen, by the wall that was at right angles to the one against which Priam was sitting. "Sir," he said, "your son is now laid upon his bier and is ransomed according to desire; you shall look upon him when you him away at daybreak; for the present let us prepare our supper. Even lovely Niobe had to think about eating, though her twelve children - six daughters and six lusty sons - had been all slain in her house. Apollo killed the sons with arrows from his silver bow, to punish Niobe, and Artemis slew the daughters, because Niobe had vaunted herself against Leto; she said Leto had borne two children only, whereas she had herself borne many - whereon the two killed the many. Nine days did they lie weltering, and there was none to bury them, for the son of Kronos turned the people into stone; but on the tenth day the gods in heaven themselves buried them, and Niobe then took food, being worn out with weeping. They say that somewhere among the rocks on the mountain pastures of Sipylos, where the nymphs live that haunt the river Akheloos, there, they say, she lives in stone and still nurses the sorrows sent upon her by the hand of heaven. Therefore, noble sir, let us two now take food; you can weep for your dear son hereafter as you are bearing him back to Ilion - and many a tear will he cost you."

621 With this Achilles sprang from his seat and killed a sheep of silvery whiteness, which his followers skinned and made ready all in due order [ kosmos]. They cut the meat carefully up into smaller pieces, spitted them, and drew them off again when they were well roasted. Automedon brought bread in fair baskets and served it round the table, while Achilles dealt out the meat, and they laid their hands on the good things that were before them. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Priam, descendant of Dardanos , marveled at the strength and beauty of Achilles for he was as a god to see, and Achilles marveled at Priam as he listened to him and looked upon his noble presence. When they had gazed their fill Priam spoke first. "And now, O king," he said, "take me to my couch that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed boon of sleep. Never once have my eyes been closed from the day your hands took the life of my son; I have groveled without ceasing in the mire of my stable-yard, making moan and brooding over my countless sorrows. Now, moreover, I have eaten bread and drunk wine; hitherto I have tasted nothing."

642 As he spoke Achilles told his men and the women-servants to set beds in the room that was in the gatehouse, and make them with good red rugs, and spread coverlets on the top of them with woolen cloaks for Priam and Idaios to wear. So the maids went out carrying a torch and got the two beds ready in all haste. Then Achilles said laughingly to Priam, "Dear sir, you shall lie outside, lest some counselor of those who, as is right [ themis], keep coming to advise with me should see you here in the darkness of the fleeing night, and tell it to Agamemnon. This might cause delay in the delivery of the body. And now tell me and tell me true, for how many days would you celebrate the funeral rites of noble Hektor? Tell me, that I may hold aloof from war and restrain the host."

659 And Priam answered, "Since, then, you suffer me to bury my noble son with all due rites, do thus, Achilles, and I shall be grateful. You know how we are pent up within our city;

662 it is far for us to fetch wood from the mountain, and the people live in fear. Nine days, therefore, will we mourn Hektor in my house; on the tenth day we will bury him and there shall be a public feast in his honor; on the eleventh we will build a mound over his ashes, and on the twelfth, if there be need, we will fight." And Achilles answered, "All, King Priam, shall be as you have said. I will stay our fighting for as long a time as you have named."

671 As he spoke he laid his hand on the old man's right wrist, in token that he should have no fear; thus then did Priam and his attendant sleep there in the forecourt, full of thought, while Achilles lay in an inner room of the house, with fair Briseis by his side.

677 And now both gods and mortals were fast asleep through the livelong night, but upon Hermes alone, the bringer of good luck, sleep could take no hold for he was thinking all the time how to get King Priam away from the ships without his being seen by the strong force of sentinels. He hovered therefore over Priam's head and said, "Sir, now that Achilles has spared your life, you seem to have no fear about sleeping in the thick of your foes. You have paid a great ransom, and have received the body of your son; were you still alive and a prisoner the sons whom you have left at home would have to give three times as much to free you; and so it would be if Agamemnon and the other Achaeans were to know of your being here."

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020)) — 24.596 focus

Great Achilles then went back into the tent and took his place on the richly inlaid seat from which he had risen, by the wall that was at right angles to the one against which Priam was sitting. “Sir,” he said, [600] “your son is now laid upon his bier and is ransomed according to desire; you shall look upon him when you take him away at daybreak. 601 But now the two of us must think of eating. 602 Even Niobe, the one with the beautiful hair, thought of eating grain, 603 the one who had twelve children, and all of them were killed in the palace, 604 six daughters and six sons in the bloom of youth. [605] Apollo killed the sons, shooting from his silver bow. 606 He was angry at Niobe—and the daughters were killed by Artemis, shooter of arrows— 607 angry because she [= Niobe] tried to make herself equal to Leto, the one with the beautiful cheeks. 608 She [= Niobe] said that she [= Leto] gave birth to two, while she herself produced many. 609 So the two of them [= Apollo and Artemis], only two though they were, destroyed the many. [610] They [= the children of Niobe] lay there in their gore for nine days, and there was no one 611 to bury them. The people had been turned into stone by the son of Kronos. 612. Then on the tenth day they [= the children of Niobe] were given a burial by the sky-dwelling gods themselves. 613 And she [= Niobe] thought of eating, since she was exhausted by her shedding of tears, 614 and now, somewhere amidst the rocks, on the desolate heights, [615] in Sipylos, where they say the goddesses have places to sleep 616 —the goddess nymphs, the ones who dance on the banks of the Akhelōios— 617 there does she [= Niobe], though she has been turned into stone, digest her sorrows inflicted by the gods. 618 So too now the two of us must think, radiant old man, 619 of eating grain. And then, after that, for your dear child you may weep again, [620] after you have brought him to Troy. And there will be many tears shed for him.”

With this fleet Achilles sprang from his seat and killed a sheep of silvery whiteness, which his followers skinned and made ready all in due order [ kosmos]. They cut the meat carefully up into smaller pieces, spitted them, and drew them off again when they were well roasted. [625] Automedon brought bread in fair baskets and served it round the table, 626 and Achilles distributed the meat, and they laid their hands on the good things that were before them. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Priam, descendant of Dardanos, [630] marveled at the strength and beauty of Achilles for he was as a god to see, and Achilles marveled at Priam as he listened to him and looked upon his noble presence. When they had gazed their fill Priam the godlike spoke first. “And now, O king,” he said, [635] “take me to my couch that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed boon of sleep. Never once have my eyes been closed from the day your hands took the life of my son; I have groveled without ceasing [640] in the mire of my stable-yard, making moan and brooding over my countless sorrows. Now, moreover, I have eaten bread and drunk wine; hitherto I have tasted nothing.”

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870)) — 24.596 focus

So spake the godlike warrior, and withdrew

Into his tent, and took the princely seat

755

From which he had arisen, opposite

To that of Priam, whom he thus bespake:-

"Behold thy son is ransomed, aged man,

As thou hast asked, and lies upon his bier.

Thou shalt behold him with the early dawn,

760

And bear him hence. Now let us break our fast,

For even Niobe, the golden-haired,

Refrained not from her food, though children twelve

Perished within her palace, - six young sons

And six fair daughters. Phœbus slew the sons

765

With arrows from his silver bow, incensed

At Niobe, while Dian, archer-queen,

Struck down the daughters; for the mother dared

To make herself the peer of rosy-cheeked

Latona, who, she boastfully proclaimed,

770

Had borne two children only, while herself

Had brought forth many. Yet, though only two,

The children of Latona took the lives

Of all her own. Nine days the corses lay

In blood, and there was none to bury them,

775

For Jove had changed the dwellers of the place

To stone; but on the tenth the gods of heaven

Gave burial to the dead. Yet Niobe,

Though spent with weeping long, did not refrain

From food. And now forever mid the rocks

780

And desert hills of Sipylus, where lie,

Fame says, the couches of the goddess-nymphs,

Who lead the dance where Acheloüs flows,

Although she be transformed to stone, she broods

Over the woes inflicted by the gods.

785

But now, O noble Ancient, let us sit

At our repast, and thou mayst afterward

Mourn thy beloved son, while bearing him

Homeward, to be bewailed with many tears.”

Achilles, the swift-footed, spake, and left

790

His seat, and, slaying a white sheep, he bade

His comrades flay and dress it. Then they carved

The flesh in portions which they fixed on spits,

And roasted carefully, and drew them back.

And then Automedon distributed

795

The bread in shapely canisters around

The table, while Achilles served the flesh,

And all put forth their hands and shared the feast.

But when their thirst and hunger were appeased,

Dardanian Priam fixed a wondering look

800

Upon Achilles, who in nobleness

Of form was like the gods. Achilles fixed

A look of equal wonder on his guest,

Dardanian Priam, for he much admired

His gracious aspect and his pleasant speech.

805

And when at length they both withdrew their gaze,

Priam, the godlike Ancient, spake, and said: -

"Nursling of Jove, dismiss me speedily

To rest, that we may lie, and be refreshed

With gentle slumbers. Never have these eyes

810

Been closed beneath their lids, since by thy hand

My Hector lost his life; and evermore

I mourn and cherish all my griefs, and writhe

Upon the ground within my palace courts;

But I have taken food at last, and drunk

815

Draughts of red wine, untasted till this hour."

English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857)) — 24.596 focus

He said, and, entering, took his seat of state,

Where full before him reverend Priam sat:

To whom, compos'd, the godlike chief begun:

‘Lo! to thy prayer restor'd, thy breathless son;

‘Extended on the funeral couch he lies;

750

‘And, soon as morning paints the eastern skies,

‘The sight is granted to thy longing eyes.

‘But now the peaceful hours of sacred night

‘Demand refection, and to rest invite:

‘Nor thou, O father! thus consum'd with woe,

755

‘The common cares that nourish life forego.

‘Not thus did Niobe, of form divine,

‘A parent once, whose sorrows equall'd thine:

‘Six youthful sons, as many blooming maids,

‘In one sad day beheld the Stygian shades:

760

‘Those by Apollo's silver bow were slain,

‘These, Cynthia's arrows stretch'd upon the plain.

‘So was her pride chastis'd by wrath divine,

‘Who match'd her own with bright Latona's line;

‘But two the goddess, twelve the queen enjoy'd;

765

‘Those boasted twelve th' avenging two destroy'd.

‘Steep'd in their blood, and in the dust outspread,

‘Nine days, neglected, lay expos'd the dead;

‘None by to weep them, to inhume them none;

‘(For Jove had turn'd the nation all to stone;)

770

‘The gods themselves, at length, relenting, gave

‘Th' unhappy race the honours of a grave.

‘Herself a rock (for such was heaven's high will)

‘Through deserts wild now pours a weeping rill;

‘Where round the bed whence Acheloüs springs,

775

‘The watery fairies dance in mazy rings:

‘There, high on Sipylus's shady brow,

‘She stands, her own sad monument of woe;

‘The rock for ever lasts, the tears for ever flow.

‘Such griefs, O king! have other parents known:

780

‘Remember theirs, and mitigate thy own.

‘The care of heaven thy Hector has appear'd;

‘Nor shall he lie unwept, and uninterr'd;

‘Soon may thy aged cheeks in tears be drown'd,

‘And all the eyes of Ilion stream around.’

785

He said, and, rising, chose the victim ewe

With silver fleece, which his attendants slew.

The limbs they sever from the reeking hide,

With skill prepare them, and in parts divide:

Each on the coals the separate morsels lays,

790

And hasty snatches from the rising blaze.

With bread the glittering canisters they load,

Which round the board Automedon bestow'd:

The chief himself to each his portion plac'd,

And each indulging shar'd in sweet repast.

795

When now the rage of hunger was repress'd,

The wondering hero eyes his royal guest;

No less the royal guest the hero eyes,

His godlike aspect, and majestic size;

Here, youthful grace and noble fire engage,

800

And there, the mild benevolence of age.

Thus gazing long, the silence neither broke;

(A solemn scene!) at length the father spoke:

‘Permit me now, belov'd of Jove, to steep

‘My careful temples in the dew of sleep:

805

‘For since the day that number'd with the dead

‘My hapless son, the dust has been my bed;

‘Soft sleep a stranger to my weeping eyes,

‘My only food, my sorrows and my sighs!

‘Till now, encourag'd by the grace you give,

810

‘I share thy banquet, and consent to live.’

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 24.596 focus

This said, Achilles to his tent retired,

And sat upon the seat from whence he rise

570

Your son, said he, is freed as you desired,

And on a bed laid in your waggon is.

Tomorrow with him go, by break of day.

But let us not our supper now forget ;

For Niobe twelve children lost, they say ;

575

Yet did she not for that refuse to eat.

Six lusty sons, six daughters fair they were,

And killed all, only for saying this,

[Leto but two, and she did many bear.]

By Phcebus they, and these by Artemis,

580

The Goddess Leto's daughter and her son.

Nine days and nights they lay unburied ;

For Jove had chang'd the people into stone,

And then the Gods with earth them covered.

Yet Niobe, when she had weeping done,

585

Received food ; and now doth somewhere lie

I' th' wolds of Sepylus, and turn'd to stone,

The hurt done by the Gods takes patiently.

Come then, old man, and lay your grief away,

And for the present think upon your meat,

590

And weep for Hector when you come to Troy,

For true it is your loss of him is great.

This said, forth goes Achilles, and appoints

A sheep for supper to be kill'd and flay'd ;

Which straight was done, and cut out into joints,

595

And pierc'd with spits unto the fire was laid.

And when it was well roasted, taken up.

Automedon o' th' table laid the bread.

Achilles made the messes. Then they sup,

And on the meat they laid their hands and fed.

600

But when of food they had no more desire,

Priam admir'd Achilles' form and face.

Achilles Priam did no less admire,

In his aspect and speech there was such grace.

When on each other they had look'd enough,

605

Priam began, and to Achilles spake.

Dismiss me, if you please, Achilles, now,

That I a little sleep at last may take.

For since my son was slain, I never slept,

But rolling on the soiled grass have lain

610

Perpetually, and for him sigh'd and wept,

Nor until now touch'd either meat or wine.

English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 24.596 focus

This said, he went, and what was done

Told Priam, saying: "Father, now thy will's fit rites are paid,

Thy son is given up; in the morn thine eyes shall see him laid

Deck'd in thy chariot on his bed; in mean space let us eat.

The rich-hair'd Niobe found thoughts that made her take her meat,

535

Though twelve dear children she saw slain, six daughters, six young sons.

The sons incens'd Apollo slew; the maids' confusions

Diana wrought, since Niobe her merits durst compare

With great Latona's, arguing that she did only bear

Two children and herself had twelve, for which those only two

540

Slew all her twelve. Nine days they lay steep'd in their blood, her woe

Found no friend to afford them fire, Saturnius had turn'd

Humans to stones. The tenth day yet the good Celestials burn'd

The trunks themselves, and Niobe, when she was tir'd with tears,

Fell to her food, and now with rocks and wild hills mix'd she bears

545

In Sipylus the Gods' wraths still, in that place where 'tis said

The Goddess Fairies use to dance about the funeral bed

Of Achelous, where, though turn'd with cold grief to a stone,

Heaven gives her heat enough to feel what plague comparison

With his pow'rs made by earth deserves. Affect not then too far

550

Without grief, like a God, being a man, but for a man's life care,

And take fit food; thou shalt have time beside to mourn thy son;

He shall be tearful, thou being full, not here, but Ilion

Shall find thee weeping-rooms enow." He said, and so arose,

And caus'd a silver-fleec'd sheep kill'd; his friends' skills did dispose

555

The flaying, cutting of it up, and cookly spitted it,

Roasted, and drew it artfully. Automedon, as fit,

Was for the reverend sewer's place, and all the brown joints serv'd

On wicker vessel to the board; Achilles' own hands kerv'd,

And close they fell to. Hunger stanch'd, talk, and observing time,

560

Was us'd of all hands. Priam sat amaz'd to see the prime

Of Thetis' son, accomplish'd so with stature, looks, and grace,

In which the fashion of a God he thought had chang'd his place.

Achilles fell to him as fast, admir'd as much his years

Told in his grave and good aspect, his speech even charm'd his ears,

565

So order'd, so material. With this food feasted too,

Old Priam spake thus: "Now, Jove's seed, command that I may go,

And add to this feast grace of rest. These lids ne'er clos'd mine eyes

Since under thy hands fled the soul of my dear son; sighs, cries,

And woes, all use from food and sleep have taken; the base courts

570

Of my sad palace made my beds, where all the abject sorts

Of sorrow I have varied, tumbled in dust, and hid;

No bit, no drop, of sustenance touch'd."

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 24.596 focus

So saying, Achilles to his tent return'd,

And on the splendid couch whence he had risen

Again reclined, opposite to the seat

Of Priam, whom the Hero thus bespake.

Priam! at thy request thy son is loosed,

750

And lying on his bier; at dawn of day

Thou shalt both see him and convey him hence

Thyself to Troy. But take we now repast;

For even bright-hair'd Niobe her food

Forgat not, though of children twelve bereft,

755

Of daughters six, and of six blooming sons.

Apollo these struck from his silver bow,

And those shaft-arm'd Diana, both incensed

That oft Latona's children and her own

Numbering, she scorn'd the Goddess who had borne

760

Two only, while herself had twelve to boast.

Vain boast! those two sufficed to slay them all.

Nine days they welter'd in their blood, no man

Was found to bury them, for Jove had changed

To stone the people; but themselves, at last,

765

The Powers of Heaven entomb'd them on the tenth.

Yet even she, once satisfied with tears,

Remember'd food; and now, the rocks among

And pathless solitudes of Sipylus,

The rumour'd cradle of the nymphs who dance

770

On Acheloüs' banks, although to stone

Transform'd, she broods her heaven-inflicted woes.

Come, then, my venerable guest! take we

Refreshment also; once arrived in Troy

With thy dear son, thou shalt have time to weep

775

Sufficient, nor without most weighty cause.

So spake Achilles, and, upstarting, slew

A sheep white-fleeced, which his attendants flay'd,

And busily and with much skill their task

Administring, first scored the viands well,

780

Then pierced them with the spits, and when the roast

Was finish'd, drew them from the spits again.

And now, Automedon dispensed around

The polish'd board bread in neat baskets piled,

Which done, Achilles portion'd out to each

785

His share, and all assail'd the ready feast.

But when nor hunger more nor thirst they felt,

Dardanian Priam, wond'ring at his bulk

And beauty, (for he seem'd some God from heaven)

Gazed on Achilles, while Achilles held

790

Not less in admiration of his looks

Benign, and of his gentle converse wise,

Gazed on Dardanian Priam, and, at length,

(The eyes of each gratified to the full)

The ancient King thus to Achilles spake.

795

Hero! dismiss us now each to our bed,

That there at ease reclined, we may enjoy

Sweet sleep; for never have these eyelids closed

Since Hector fell and died, but without cease

I mourn, and nourishing unnumber'd woes,

800

Have roll'd me in the ashes of my courts.

But I have now both tasted food, and given

Wine to my lips, untasted till with thee.

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.

source

analysis of petrified characters, here in Niobe’s story, and Aristarchus’ analysis of 611 in the passage as Homeric but 614-617 as non-Homeric

source

analysis and comparison of the different traditions about the children of Niobe, here the Iliadic one according to which they all were killed (contra an Argive one, according to which two were saved by Leto), in the context of analyzing Pausanias

source

analysis of locating the realm of Tantalos in Pausanias and comparison with the Iliad

source

reference to the fact that númphē can mean not only “goddess,” as here, but also “bride.” See Il. XVIII.492

source

Leonard Muellner

analysis of the teleology of Achilles’ mēnis and enacting his humanness in Achilles’ partaking of food (here), sleeping with a woman, and sharing in kēdea (Hektor’s funeral)

source

Homer Iliad 24.596

ed. David B. Monro, ed. Thomas W. Allen

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers