HOMER'S ILIAD COMPLETE

Rhapsody 1

Literally Translated, with Explanatory Notes, by Theodore Alois Buckley

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Page 5

Thus he spoke praying; but to him Phoebus Apollo hearkened. And he descended from the summits of Olympus, enraged in heart, having upon his shoulders his bow and quiver covered on all sides. But as he moved, the shafts rattled forthwith[9] upon the shoulders of him enraged; but he went along like unto the night. Then he sat down apart from the ships, and sent among them an arrow, and terrible arose the clang of the silver bow. First he attacked the mules, and the swift[10] dogs; but afterwards despatching a pointed arrow against [the Greeks] themselves, he smote them, and frequent funeral-piles of the dead were continually burning. Nine days through the army went the arrows of the god; but on the tenth, Achilles called the people to an assembly; for to his mind the white-armed goddess Juno had suggested it; for she was anxious concerning the Greeks, because she saw them perishing. But when they accordingly were assembled, and were met together, swift-footed footed Achilles, rising up amidst them, [thus] spoke:

"O son of Atreus! now do I think that we would consent to return, having been defeated in our purpose, if we should but escape death, since at the same time[11] war and pestilence subdue the Greeks. But come now, let us consult some prophet, or priest, or even one who is informed by dreams (for dream also is from Jove),[12] who would tell us on what account Phoebus Apollo is so much enraged with us: whether he blames us on account of a vow [unperformed], or a hecatomb [unoffered]; and whether haply he may be willing, having partaken of the savour of lambs and unblemished goats, to avert from us the pestilence."

[Footnote 9: The force of [Greek: ara] is noticed by Naegelsbach.]

[Footnote 10: Or "white." Hesych. [Greek: tacheis, leykous].]

[Footnote 11: Ammonius, p. 14, foolishly supposes that [Greek: amou] here denotes place, [Greek: in Troia]. Valcknaer justly supports the ordinary interpretation.]

[Footnote 12: Cf. Plin. Ep. i. 18, and Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 3, sq.]

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