Hi there, I was wondering if anyone could help me with where I could find a greek version of the text - "be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen sights worse than this" - which is from the 11th book of the Iliad. Many thanks

Check the www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/homer/iliad-11.asp" target="_blank">11th book of the Iliad.

Hi, thanks for letting me know! It is actually from a fictional book so I guess they made it up, it says its when Odysseus is alone on enemy territory but I guess it all could have been made up. many thanks.

Is it in the Odyssey?

I don't know if anyone will see this but I spent a long time searching for the origin of this quote, so I thought I'd put it here so that if anyone else is looking I can save them the time. Donna Tartt is in fact quoting a line from Homer, but it is from the Odyssey, not the Iliad. It is from www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/homer/odyssey-20.asp">book 20, when Odysseus has returned home and is pondering what to do about the suitors in his home. He says to himself (line 18):
τέτλαθι δή, κραδίη: καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο ποτ᾽ ἔτλης. Literally: "Take courage, my heart: you have been through worse than this." So basically, the quote is from Odyssey 20:18, slightly altered, and with a totally different description. But it's real Homer.

Thanks, Noam. Yes, your diligence is appreciated (and your post seen- smile).
I kind of suspected it to be in that work but it has been over forty years since I spent serious time in the Odyssey.