HOMER'S ILIAD COMPLETE

Rhapsody 16

Literally Translated, with Explanatory Notes, by Theodore Alois Buckley

Homer Bilingual Anthology  Studies  Homer in Print

Page 30

"Patroclus, doubtless thou didst think to waste our city, and to carry off in thy ships the Trojan women to thy dear father-land, having taken away their day of freedom,--infatuated one! But in defence of these, the fleet steeds of Hector hasten with their feet to war, and I myself, who avert the day of slavery[545] from them, am conspicuous amongst the war-loving Trojans in [the use of] the spear. But the vultures shall devour thee here. Unhappy man! Nor indeed did Achilles, although being brave, aid thee, who remaining behind, doubtless enjoined many things to thee, going forth: 'Do not return to me, O equestrian Patroclus, to the hollow barks, before thou rendest the blood-stained garment around the breast of man-slaughtering Hector.' Thus, doubtless, he addressed thee, and persuaded the mind of foolish thee."

But him, O knight Patroclus, breathing faintly, thou didst address: "Even now, Hector, vaunt greatly, for Jove, the son of Saturn, and Apollo, have given thee the victory, who subdued me easily; for they stripped the armour from my shoulders. But if even twenty such [as thou] had opposed me, they had all perished here, subdued by my spear. But destructive fate, and the son of Latona, have slain me, and of men, Euphorbus; whilst thou, the third, dost despoil me slain. Another thing will I tell thee, and do thou ponder it in thy soul.[546] Not long, indeed, shalt thou thyself advance in life, but death and violent fate already stand near thee, subdued by the hands of Achilles, the blameless descendant of Aeacus."

[Footnote 545: So [Greek: elytheron emar] in ver. 830. Thus [Greek: ananxe amphiptolis], "slavery caused by the capture of a city," Aesch. Choeph. 75.]

[Footnote 546: This prophecy of the dying Patroclus seems to have attracted the notice of Aristotle, if we may believe Sextus, Empir. adv. Phys. ix. p. 553: [Greek: "Otan gar, phesini, en to upnoun kath' eauten ginetai e psyche, tote ten idion apolabousa physin promanteyetai te kai proagareyei ta mellonta' toiaute de esti kai en to kata ton thanaton chorizesthai ton somaton]." He then refers to the similar example of Hector prophesying the death of Achilles, xxiii. 358, sqq.]

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-16.asp?pg=30