HOMER'S ILIAD COMPLETE

Rhapsody 3

Literally Translated, with Explanatory Notes, by Theodore Alois Buckley

Homer Bilingual Anthology  Studies  Homer in Print

Page 8

Then in the third place, having beheld Ajax, the old man asked: "Who is that other Achaean hero, valiant and great, out-topping the Argives by his head and broad shoulders?"

But him long-robed Helen answered, divine of women: "This indeed is mighty Ajax, the bulwark of the Achaeans: on the other side, amongst the Cretans, stands Idomeneus like unto a god: but around him the leaders of the Cretans are collected. Often did Mars-beloved Menelaus entertain him in our palace, when he would come from Crete. But now I behold all the other rolling-eyed Greeks, whom I could easily recognize, and pronounce their names; but two leaders of the people I cannot see: horse-taming Castor, and Pollux skilled in boxing, twin brothers, whom the same mother brought forth with me. Either they have not followed from pleasant Lacedaemon, or they indeed have followed hither in the sea-traversing ships, but now are reluctant to enter the fight of the heroes, fearing the disgrace, and the many reproaches which are mine."

Thus she spoke; but them the life-bestowing earth already possessed: there in Lacedaemon, in their dear native land.[160]

[Footnote 160: They had fallen in combat with Lynceus and Idas, whilst besieging Sparta.—Hygin. Poet. Ast. ii. 22. According, however, to other mythologists, they shared immortality in turns. See Od. xi. 302. Virg. AEu. vi. 121; with Servius, and Apollodor. iii. ll. 2.]

Previous / First / Next Page of this Rhapsody

Homer's Complete ILIAD & ODYSSEY Contents

Homer Bilingual Anthology ||| Elpenor's Free Greek Lessons
A Commentary on the ODYSSEY ||| Interlinear ILIAD

Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-Greece/homer/iliad-3.asp?pg=8