the Delphiad, book III
(NAUSIKAA and HOMER on the beach, at sunrise.)
NAUSIKAA: you call me cute in a way we cannot fight,
HOMER: had not Achilles himself risen-up(indeed)and said
the(muthos)story-word;
καί νύ κε δὴ προτέρω ἔτ᾽ ἔρις γένετ᾽ ἀμφοτέροισιν,
εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ φάτο μῦθον:
N: so we call surrender;
(Rise, Achilles.)
ACHILLES: now no longer exchange-in-turn, (you-two)
(them-two), o Ajax and o Idomeneos, mean(cowardly)
(cruel)(shameful)(abusive)(harmful)word-
song(evil)uglies,
(neither)when(following the dyad-word-
song), nor has it(been)seemly,
μηκέτι νῦν χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείβεσθον ἐπέεσσιν
Αἶαν Ἰδομενεῦ τε κακοῖς,
ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε.
N: ever;
ACHILLES: but(indeed)by the other(they-dyad,
you-dyad)would be resentful(angry-wroth),
at whoever would do this kind of thing.
καὶ δ᾽ ἄλλῳ νεμεσᾶτον ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.
N: surrounded by cool August breeze,
he still knows anger;
ACHILLES: but still, you(all)seated in the agon(contest-
gathering-struggle-battle), look upon the horses;
ἀλλ᾽ ὑμεῖς ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσοράασθε
ἵππους:
N: safe in a warm nest of pillows and sheets,
we look upon the horses;
ACHILLES: but they(by whom)quickly(perhaps)themselves hurrying
(hastening, eagerly-with-speed, blowing-blustering, propelling,
assailing-attacking)around victory, hither(thither)will(go)come;
οἳ δὲ τάχ᾽ αὐτοὶ ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης
ἐνθάδ᾽ ἐλεύσονται:
N: we wait;
(enter, Autos.)
ACHILLES: but then you will recognize each
of the Argives horses, by whom(they are)second
and by whom(being)presently-in-front.
τότε δὲ γνώσεσθε ἕκαστος
ἵππους Ἀργείων, οἳ δεύτεροι οἵ τε πάροιθεν.
N: our eyes are yours.
AUTOS: but you stood on the(forgotten-hidden-spoils-plundering-
pirates)Lelantine plain; it(this-she)didnt(o satiety, o loathing,
o weariness)delight(delight, you)(in)your thumos(hrrr),
to(make)build a temple-dwelling and sacred-wooded(with tree-
like markings)groves.
στῆς δ᾽ ἐπὶ Ληλάντῳ πεδίῳ: τό τοι οὐχ ἅδε θυμῷ
τεύξασθαι νηόν τε καὶ ἄλσεα δενδρήεντα.
H: as he said; but Tudeides(pursuing)went(and came)very(pit-
under-handed-dyad)close-by(seeking-chasing-pressing-
driving-urging-prosecuting)and drawing-near;
ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἦλθε διώκων,
N: he lives far from where prosecutors are,
A: but thence(whence)striding across the Euripos, o Apollo throws-
from-afar, you stepped up to the sacred mountains,
greenish-yellow(bilious-looking)(fresh-blooming);
ἔνθεν δ᾽ Εὔριπον διαβάς, ἑκατηβόλ᾽ Ἄπολλον,
βῆς ἄν᾽ ὄρος ζάθεον, χλωρόν:
N: and prefers flowers;
H: but by whip-scourge-lash he was always driving(drive,
you)arm-strokes-through from the shoulder;
μάστι δ᾽ αἰὲν ἔλαυνε κατωμαδόν:
N: our lord has shoulders, we dont whip;
A: but swiftly(perhaps, you)came from him(self)
to(she)Mukalessos(mooing-bellowing-nose-turning-mousy)
and(indeed)going(coming)to(he)Teumessos(happening-accomplishing-
vessel of a canny-fortune-device-workshop)(which cares)with-
grass-fit-to-make-a-bed.
τάχα δ᾽ ἷξες ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ
ἐς Μυκαλησσὸν ἰὼν καὶ Τευμησσὸν λεχεποίην.
N: swiftly by chariot, come for a ride,
H: but(the dyad)horses(o horses)by him(by him)
were lifting-lofty(raising-up)swiftly(quickly-nimbly)
passing-through(accomplishing)
(their)course.
οἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι
ὑψόσ᾽ ἀειρέσθην ῥίμφα πρήσσοντε κέλευθον.
N: the loftier-the-lift, the less we try;
A: but you were arriving in the seat of Thebes(treasure-chest-store-
house-container, put-in-place to step-n-go)having-swooped-
down(covered and clothed)by hule(forest-wood-
land, firewood-fuel, brushwood-twigs,
stuff-material-matter, sediment-
mud, ooze, phlegm-
catarrh);
Θήβης δ᾽ εἰσαφίκανες ἕδος καταειμένον ὕλῃ:
N: digging in the earth of our own heart;
H: but the plume of dust was always hurling(throwing,
flying, striking)the charioteer,
αἰεὶ δ᾽ ἡνίοχον κονίης ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον,
N: so we cant always see just where we are;
A: for not yet(was)anyone(of)mortal-man dwelling in sacred Thebes,
nor then-and-there, yet-then-at-least, were there(k)not-twisting-paths,
nor drive-command-paths, throughout(the)grain-
bearing plain(of)Thebes,
οὐ γάρ πώ τις ἔναιε βροτῶν ἱερῇ ἐνὶ Θήβῃ,
οὐδ᾽ ἄρα πω τότε γ᾽ ἦσαν ἀταρπιτοὶ οὐδὲ κέλευθοι
Θήβης ἂμ πεδίον πυρηφόρον,
N: so we relied on our horses;
they too enjoy grain.
H: but the chariot having-been(dyad)covered(closely-surrounded,
shielded)by gold and tin, by swift-footed horses was
(as we were approaching)running-close-after;
N: we had to trust we would be safe;
ἅρματα δὲ χρυσῷ πεπυκασμένα κασσιτέρῳ τε
ἵπποις ὠκυπόδεσσιν ἐπέτρεχον:
A: but still, the hule(forest-woodland-cut-wood-
down-firewood-fuel-brushwood-twigs-
stuff-matter–material-sediment-
mud-slime-phlegm-catarrh)
was having(and)held —
aouuuuuuuu!
ἀλλ᾽ ἔχεν ὕλη.
N: we were the howling;
H: nor were many tracks coming-through-after from the iron-rim
around the wheel, in the fine(thin-delicate-subtle-small-
impotent-slight-slender)cloud of dust
(he would cover)(youre covered
with clouds of dust);
οὐδέ τι πολλὴ
γίγνετ᾽ ἐπισσώτρων ἁρματροχιὴ κατόπισθεν
ἐν λεπτῇ κονίῃ:
N: were twinkling(flickering);
A: but(o earlier-dyad)whence(thence)(it came)
(it went)dyad-earlier-was going,
o Apollo throws-from-afar,
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω ἔκιες, ἑκατηβόλ᾽ Ἄπολλον,
N: there was a beacon,
guiding us through the night;
H: but(both)seeking-eagerly(urging-pressing-on, hastening,
exerting, anxious, harassed)they were flying.
τὼ δὲ σπεύδοντε πετέσθην.
N: they were just being girls;
A: but to Onchestos(swollen-pompous-bellowing-pear-
tree-place, projecting-hook-pour, set-standing-
straight)you went, to Poseidons sacred grove;
N: we have some warm memories;
A: where(a)newly-tamed(filly)foal recovers(draws breath)
(you-drawing-breath)being-roundly-over-loaded
(vexed-grieved-annoyed)dragging
(the)beautiful chariot;
Ὀγχηστὸν δ᾽ ἷξες, Ποσιδήιον ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος:
ἔνθα νεοδμὴς πῶλος ἀναπνέει ἀχθόμενός περ
( ἕλκων ἅρματα καλά ):
N: we have some hard ones too;
H: but(he)made a stand(set-placed)(stayed-checked)(established-
instituted-fixed)(weighed-)into the mid(dle-intermediate, imp-
partial, middling, moderate, mediocre, mean)into the agon
(gathering-assembly-contest-struggle-place),
στῆ δὲ μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι,
πολὺς δ᾽ ἀνεκήκιεν ἱδρὼς
ἵππων ἔκ τε λόφων καὶ ἀπὸ στέρνοιο χαμᾶζε.
N: o(he)repudiates established-institution;
A: but onto the ground(the)roundly-good driver
from(the)seat-board(o springing)leaps —
goes(comes-to)(the)road;
χαμαὶ δ᾽ ἐλατὴρ ἀγαθός περ
( ἐκ δίφροιο θορὼν ) ὁδὸν ἔρχεται:
N: hes made of earth but swift of feet;
H: but much sweat was spouting(and gushing forth)
out of(the)horses necks and(indeed)
from(his)chest onto the ground.
N: our names are rivers;
A: but it(by this)meanwhile indeed
empty(-handed-fruitless-void-)carriage(shelter)rattles
(knocking-strikes-claps)(by rattling-applause)along
(is)letting-go(leaving-neglecting)(what-belongs-
to)a lord.
οἳ δὲ τέως μὲν
κείν᾽ ὄχεα κροτέουσι ἀνακτορίην ἀφιέντες.
N: we dance(an)empty-handed-fruitless-void,
H: but seeing(him), swift(to ward-off, defend, assist, avail, hold-
out)footed-god-like Achilles was feeling pity(for him),
τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτειρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
N: but we bring and carry some-great-soul;
A: but if the dyad-chariot break(shiver)s in the sacred-wooded(with
tree-like markings)gro(o)ve, (they)attend(caring for)(letting their hair
grow long)to the horses,
εἰ δέ κεν ἅρματ᾽ ἀγῇσιν ἐν ἄλσεϊ δενδρήεντι,
ἵππους μὲν κομέουσι,
N: and we drag-along a pretty-great-friend;
H: but making a stand, then and there, into the Argives, winged-
word-songs(he)was speaking(speak, you)-agora-(into
the assembly, the marketplace);
στὰς δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐν Ἀργείοις ἔπεα πτερόεντ᾽ ἀγόρευε:
N: there is a voice, it tells me no,
guiding me through the night;
A: but leaning(sloping-lying-down)(on something)
(they)allow(by letting-go)the(chariot);
τὰ δὲ κλίναντες ἐῶσιν:
N: there are dreams,
there are pillars,
there is a beacon;
ACHILLES: the last(left-behind)man(and)the best(bravest,
most excellent, finest)drives(youre driven)(set in motion)
(struck)(beat-out)(forged)with one
(un-cloven)hoof;
‘λοῖσθος ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐλαύνει μώνυχας ἵππους:
N: may your words remain a constant echo
A: for so(the)earliest(hallowed-pious-pure-divine-natural)law
(begetter-ancestor-author-)(himself)became;
ὣς γὰρ τὰ πρώτισθ᾽ ὁσίη γένεθ᾽:
N: get a good nights rest,
in my mind even half asleep;
H: but(him)self(autos)from the all-shining seat-board
leapt(leap, you)onto the ground
(all-shining),
αὐτὸς δ᾽ ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντος,
N: we are made of earth, swift-footed;
A: but(to)(for)by the lord
(they)(boast-exult-
triumphant)pray,
οἳ δὲ ἄνακτι
εὔχονται,
N: o we ever arent him;
H: but(he)leaned there-and-then the whip-scourge-lash
against the yoke; nor did(he)idly(waste time doing it),
sturdy(strong)Sthenelos(strength-might-force-vigor);
κλῖνε δ᾽ ἄρα μάστιγα ποτὶ ζυγόν: οὐδὲ μάτησεν
ἴφθιμος Σθένελος,
N: neither does he whip, nor does he run your race;
A: but then destiny(fate)guards(you-on-your-
own-guard)the seat-board of the god.
δίφρον δὲ θεοῦ τότε μοῖρα φυλάσσει.
N: all(being)guarded(we)by(the)guardian(of)guardians(being)all;
H: but still-self-speedily(he)took hold of(grasped-
seized)the(contest)prize;
ἀλλ᾽ ἐσσυμένως λάβ᾽ ἄεθλον,
N: well he had come in first place;
A: but whence(thence)dyad-previously(you)were going,
o Apollo throws-from-afar;
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω ἔκιες, ἑκατηβόλ᾽ Ἄπολλον:
N: previously burning in Achilles funeral pyre;
H: but(he)gave for(his)high-spirited(thumos)companions
the woman to lead,
N: our name is Nausikaa; we are the first
to whom he(stranger)owes his life.
H: and(indeed)to carry(the dyad-)tripod
with(o ears!)(oars?)handles;
δῶκε δ᾽ ἄγειν ἑτάροισιν ὑπερθύμοισι γυναῖκα
καὶ τρίποδ᾽ ὠτώεντα φέρειν:
N: a giants never been in safer hands;
A: but then and thereupon, you reach the beautifully(flow!)ing
Kephissos(dull-sluggish-torpid-droning-buzzing-garden-
guardian-growing-natural-rest),
Κηφισσὸν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔπειτα κιχήσαο καλλιρέεθρον,
N: where we step with bare feet,
when were not taking a seaside nap;
H: but he was(unbinding, unfastening, letting-loose
and releasing)(the dyad-spider-webs)
(and)setting free the horses;
ὃ δ᾽ ἔλυεν ὑφ᾽ ἵππους.
N: which is how they learned to fly;
A: and who-he(would pour)pours from(gracious-desiring-
clarity, musical-guardian-yearning, libations-of-oblivion)
Lilaietha, of the beautifully-flowing water;
ὅς τε Λιλαίηθεν προχέει καλλίρροον ὕδωρ:
N: nobody(he)at all.
(All set.)
from hymn to Apollo
Il.23.488-508, 532-538
cf Od. 8.462