The Iliad

by Homer

Of men, the best by far was Telamonian Ajax, while Achilles 770 was wrathful. He was far superior, as were his horses. But he lay beside his fleet of steady, curving boats and raged at Agamemnon, shepherd of the people. Beside the breaking waves his men enjoyed 920 throwing short spears and discuses and shooting with arrows.

“Pathetic Paris! Womanizer! Cheat! You are the very best at looking pretty.

The gifts of Aphrodite will not help you— your lyre, your hair, and your attractiveness— when you are lying mingled with the dust.

But come now, brother, sit down here with me. You have endured the greatest pain and grief because of us—because of me, a dog, and Paris with his folly and delusion. Zeus set an evil lot upon us all, 480 to make us topics of a singer’s tale for people in the future still unborn.”

Achilles carved the meat. He sliced it 210 with care, then put the pieces on the skewers. Godlike Patroclus made the fire blaze high. Then, when the flame died down, he spread the ashes 270 and set the spits on top, fixed on their props, and sprinkled holy salt upon the food. After he roasted and set out the meat on plates, Patroclus fetched the bread and put it in pretty baskets on a little table.

The Trojans faced the Greeks on higher ground, led by great Hector, fine Polydamas, Aeneas, who was honored by the Trojans as if he were a god among the people,

The fighters went on killing one another. 30 Their armor made of bronze that never wearied clattered around their bodies as the men struck one another with their swords and spears.

There is, I realize, no way to rage with furious anger in one’s heart forever.

“Hector, you make big boasts now. Zeus, son of Cronus, and Apollo gave you 1060 victory, and with ease the gods have crushed me.

And I did not go back to my dear country, nor did I save Patroclus. I provided no light or help to him or anybody. Many were overpowered by glorious Hector, 130 while I sat here beside the ships, so useless, a burden on the earth,

The Greeks have often spoken to me about the things I said and blamed me for them. It was not my fault! The ones to blame are Destiny and Zeus and the avenging night-walker, the Fury, who set a wild delusion in my mind during the council meeting on the day when I removed the trophy from Achilles.

With this, he scowled and said to noble Hector, “Come here at once and feel the ropes of death!”

You are the one who works from far away,