Homer, Odysey 8.272-288
Evren /
- Created on 2024-03-31 21:01:12
- Modified on 2024-03-31 21:03:04
- Aligned by Evren
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
Ἥφαιστος δ᾽ ὡς οὖν θυμαλγέα μῦθον ἄκουσε ,
βῆ ῥ᾽ ἴμεν ἐς χαλκεῶνα κακὰ φρεσὶ βυσσοδομεύων ,
ἐν δ᾽ ἔθετ᾽ ἀκμοθέτῳ μέγαν ἄκμονα , κόπτε δὲ δεσμοὺς
ἀρρήκτους ἀλύτους , ὄφρ᾽ ἔμπεδον αὖθι μένοιεν .
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῦξε δόλον κεχολωμένος Ἄρει ,
βῆ ῥ᾽ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον , ὅθι οἱ φίλα δέμνι᾽ ἔκειτο ,
ἀμφὶ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἑρμῖσιν χέε δέσματα κύκλῳ ἁπάντῃ :
πολλὰ δὲ καὶ καθύπερθε μελαθρόφιν ἐξεκέχυντο ,
ἠύτ᾽ ἀράχνια λεπτά , τά γ᾽ οὔ κέ τις οὐδὲ ἴδοιτο ,
οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων : πέρι γὰρ δολόεντα τέτυκτο .
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα δόλον περὶ δέμνια χεῦεν ,
εἴσατ᾽ ἴμεν ἐς Λῆμνον , ἐυκτίμενον πτολίεθρον ,
ἥ οἱ γαιάων πολὺ φιλτάτη ἐστὶν ἁπασέων .
οὐδ᾽ ἀλαοσκοπιὴν εἶχε χρυσήνιος Ἄρης ,
ὡς ἴδεν Ἥφαιστον κλυτοτέχνην νόσφι κιόντα :
βῆ δ᾽ ἰέναι πρὸς δῶμα περικλυτοῦ Ἡφαίστοιο
ἰσχανόων φιλότητος ἐυστεφάνου Κυθερείης .
βῆ ῥ᾽ ἴμεν ἐς χαλκεῶνα κακὰ φρεσὶ βυσσοδομεύων ,
ἐν δ᾽ ἔθετ᾽ ἀκμοθέτῳ μέγαν ἄκμονα , κόπτε δὲ δεσμοὺς
ἀρρήκτους ἀλύτους , ὄφρ᾽ ἔμπεδον αὖθι μένοιεν .
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῦξε δόλον κεχολωμένος Ἄρει ,
βῆ ῥ᾽ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον , ὅθι οἱ φίλα δέμνι᾽ ἔκειτο ,
ἀμφὶ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἑρμῖσιν χέε δέσματα κύκλῳ ἁπάντῃ :
πολλὰ δὲ καὶ καθύπερθε μελαθρόφιν ἐξεκέχυντο ,
ἠύτ᾽ ἀράχνια λεπτά , τά γ᾽ οὔ κέ τις οὐδὲ ἴδοιτο ,
οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων : πέρι γὰρ δολόεντα τέτυκτο .
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα δόλον περὶ δέμνια χεῦεν ,
εἴσατ᾽ ἴμεν ἐς Λῆμνον , ἐυκτίμενον πτολίεθρον ,
ἥ οἱ γαιάων πολὺ φιλτάτη ἐστὶν ἁπασέων .
οὐδ᾽ ἀλαοσκοπιὴν εἶχε χρυσήνιος Ἄρης ,
ὡς ἴδεν Ἥφαιστον κλυτοτέχνην νόσφι κιόντα :
βῆ δ᾽ ἰέναι πρὸς δῶμα περικλυτοῦ Ἡφαίστοιο
ἰσχανόων φιλότητος ἐυστεφάνου Κυθερείης .
And
when
Hephaestus
heard
the
heartbreaking
tale
,
he
went
to
go
to
his
smithy
,
plotting
evil
deeds
in
his
heart
,
and
set
on
the
anvil
block
the
great
anvil
and
forged
bonds
unbreakable
and
impossible
to
loosen
,
so
that
they
remain
securely
there
.
But
when
he
had
fashioned
the
trap
,
feeling
wrath
against
Ares
,
he
went
to
go
to
his
chamber
where
the
dear
bed
to
him
lies
,
and
in
everyplace
around
the
bedpost
in
a
circle
he
scattered
the
bonds
,
and
many
were
hung
from
the
roof-beams
,
fine
as
spiders
'
webs
,
so
that
no
one
even
of
the
blessed
gods
would
see
them
,
so
sneakily
it
was
constructed
.
But
when
he
had
spread
his
trap
all
around
the
bed
,
he
made
it
seem
that
he
went
to
Lemnos
,
the
well-built
citadel
,
which
to
him
by
far
is
the
most
beloved
of
all
lands
.
And
no
careless
watch
did
Ares
of
the
golden
rein
have
,
when
he
saw
Hephaestus
,
famed
for
his
handicraft
,
departing
,
and
so
he
went
to
go
to
the
house
of
famous
Hephaestus
,
pining
for
the
love
of
Cytherea
of
the
fair
crown
.
HomerOdyssey 8.487-534
Evren /
- Created on 2024-05-11 03:23:07
- Aligned by Evren
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
Δημόδοκʼ , ἔξοχα δή σε βροτῶν αἰνίζομʼ ἁπάντων .
ἢ σέ γε μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε , Διὸς πάϊς , ἢ σέ γʼ Ἀπόλλων ·
λίην γὰρ κατὰ κόσμον Ἀχαιῶν οἶτον ἀείδεις ,
ὅσσʼ ἔρξαν τʼ ἔπαθόν τε καὶ ὅσσʼ ἐμόγησαν Ἀχαιοί ,
ὥς τέ που ἢ αὐτὸς παρεὼν ἢ ἄλλου ἀκούσας .
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ μετάβηθι καὶ ἵππου κόσμον ἄεισον
δουρατέου , τὸν Ἐπειὸς ἐποίησεν σὺν Ἀθήνῃ ,
ὅν ποτʼ ἐς ἀκρόπολιν δόλον ἤγαγε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἀνδρῶν ἐμπλήσας οἵ ῥʼ Ἴλιον ἐξαλάπαξαν .
αἴ κεν δή μοι ταῦτα κατὰ μοῖραν καταλέξῃς ,
αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼ πᾶσιν μυθήσομαι ἀνθρώποισιν ,
ὡς ἄρα τοι πρόφρων θεὸς ὤπασε θέσπιν ἀοιδήν .
ὣς φάθʼ , ὁ δʼ ὁρμηθεὶς θεοῦ ἤρχετο , φαῖνε δʼ ἀοιδήν ,
ἔνθεν ἑλὼν ὡς οἱ μὲν ἐυσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν
βάντες ἀπέπλειον , πῦρ ἐν κλισίῃσι βαλόντες ,
Ἀργεῖοι , τοὶ δʼ ἤδη ἀγακλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα
ἥατʼ ἐνὶ Τρώων ἀγορῇ κεκαλυμμένοι ἵππῳ ·
αὐτοὶ γάρ μιν Τρῶες ἐς ἀκρόπολιν ἐρύσαντο .
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἑστήκει , τοὶ δʼ ἄκριτα πόλλʼ ἀγόρευον
ἥμενοι ἀμφʼ αὐτόν · τρίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή ,
ἠὲ διαπλῆξαι κοῖλον δόρυ νηλέι χαλκῷ ,
ἢ κατὰ πετράων βαλέειν ἐρύσαντας ἐπʼ ἄκρης ,
ἢ ἐάαν μέγʼ ἄγαλμα θεῶν θελκτήριον εἶναι ,
τῇ περ δὴ καὶ ἔπειτα τελευτήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν ·
αἶσα γὰρ ἦν ἀπολέσθαι , ἐπὴν πόλις ἀμφικαλύψῃ
δουράτεον μέγαν ἵππον , ὅθʼ ἥατο πάντες ἄριστοι
Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες .
ἤειδεν δʼ ὡς ἄστυ διέπραθον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
ἱππόθεν ἐκχύμενοι , κοῖλον λόχον ἐκπρολιπόντες .
ἄλλον δʼ ἄλλῃ ἄειδε πόλιν κεραϊζέμεν αἰπήν ,
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆα προτὶ δώματα Δηιφόβοιο
βήμεναι , ἠύτʼ Ἄρηα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ .
κεῖθι δὴ αἰνότατον πόλεμον φάτο τολμήσαντα
νικῆσαι καὶ ἔπειτα διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην .
ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός · αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
τήκετο , δάκρυ δʼ ἔδευεν ὑπὸ βλεφάροισι παρειάς .
ὡς δὲ γυνὴ κλαίῃσι φίλον πόσιν ἀμφιπεσοῦσα ,
ὅς τε ἑῆς πρόσθεν πόλιος λαῶν τε πέσῃσιν ,
ἄστεϊ καὶ τεκέεσσιν ἀμύνων νηλεὲς ἦμαρ ·
ἡ μὲν τὸν θνήσκοντα καὶ ἀσπαίροντα ἰδοῦσα
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγα κωκύει · οἱ δέ τʼ ὄπισθε
κόπτοντες δούρεσσι μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμους
εἴρερον εἰσανάγουσι , πόνον τʼ ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀιζύν ·
τῆς δʼ ἐλεεινοτάτῳ ἄχεϊ φθινύθουσι παρειαί ·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς ἐλεεινὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβεν .
ἔνθʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ἐλάνθανε δάκρυα λείβων ,
Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἐπεφράσατʼ ἠδʼ ἐνόησεν ,
ἥμενος ἄγχʼ αὐτοῦ , βαρὺ δὲ στενάχοντος ἄκουσεν .
ἢ σέ γε μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε , Διὸς πάϊς , ἢ σέ γʼ Ἀπόλλων ·
λίην γὰρ κατὰ κόσμον Ἀχαιῶν οἶτον ἀείδεις ,
ὅσσʼ ἔρξαν τʼ ἔπαθόν τε καὶ ὅσσʼ ἐμόγησαν Ἀχαιοί ,
ὥς τέ που ἢ αὐτὸς παρεὼν ἢ ἄλλου ἀκούσας .
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ μετάβηθι καὶ ἵππου κόσμον ἄεισον
δουρατέου , τὸν Ἐπειὸς ἐποίησεν σὺν Ἀθήνῃ ,
ὅν ποτʼ ἐς ἀκρόπολιν δόλον ἤγαγε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἀνδρῶν ἐμπλήσας οἵ ῥʼ Ἴλιον ἐξαλάπαξαν .
αἴ κεν δή μοι ταῦτα κατὰ μοῖραν καταλέξῃς ,
αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼ πᾶσιν μυθήσομαι ἀνθρώποισιν ,
ὡς ἄρα τοι πρόφρων θεὸς ὤπασε θέσπιν ἀοιδήν .
ὣς φάθʼ , ὁ δʼ ὁρμηθεὶς θεοῦ ἤρχετο , φαῖνε δʼ ἀοιδήν ,
ἔνθεν ἑλὼν ὡς οἱ μὲν ἐυσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν
βάντες ἀπέπλειον , πῦρ ἐν κλισίῃσι βαλόντες ,
Ἀργεῖοι , τοὶ δʼ ἤδη ἀγακλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα
ἥατʼ ἐνὶ Τρώων ἀγορῇ κεκαλυμμένοι ἵππῳ ·
αὐτοὶ γάρ μιν Τρῶες ἐς ἀκρόπολιν ἐρύσαντο .
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἑστήκει , τοὶ δʼ ἄκριτα πόλλʼ ἀγόρευον
ἥμενοι ἀμφʼ αὐτόν · τρίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή ,
ἠὲ διαπλῆξαι κοῖλον δόρυ νηλέι χαλκῷ ,
ἢ κατὰ πετράων βαλέειν ἐρύσαντας ἐπʼ ἄκρης ,
ἢ ἐάαν μέγʼ ἄγαλμα θεῶν θελκτήριον εἶναι ,
τῇ περ δὴ καὶ ἔπειτα τελευτήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν ·
αἶσα γὰρ ἦν ἀπολέσθαι , ἐπὴν πόλις ἀμφικαλύψῃ
δουράτεον μέγαν ἵππον , ὅθʼ ἥατο πάντες ἄριστοι
Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες .
ἤειδεν δʼ ὡς ἄστυ διέπραθον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
ἱππόθεν ἐκχύμενοι , κοῖλον λόχον ἐκπρολιπόντες .
ἄλλον δʼ ἄλλῃ ἄειδε πόλιν κεραϊζέμεν αἰπήν ,
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆα προτὶ δώματα Δηιφόβοιο
βήμεναι , ἠύτʼ Ἄρηα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ .
κεῖθι δὴ αἰνότατον πόλεμον φάτο τολμήσαντα
νικῆσαι καὶ ἔπειτα διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην .
ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός · αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
τήκετο , δάκρυ δʼ ἔδευεν ὑπὸ βλεφάροισι παρειάς .
ὡς δὲ γυνὴ κλαίῃσι φίλον πόσιν ἀμφιπεσοῦσα ,
ὅς τε ἑῆς πρόσθεν πόλιος λαῶν τε πέσῃσιν ,
ἄστεϊ καὶ τεκέεσσιν ἀμύνων νηλεὲς ἦμαρ ·
ἡ μὲν τὸν θνήσκοντα καὶ ἀσπαίροντα ἰδοῦσα
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγα κωκύει · οἱ δέ τʼ ὄπισθε
κόπτοντες δούρεσσι μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμους
εἴρερον εἰσανάγουσι , πόνον τʼ ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀιζύν ·
τῆς δʼ ἐλεεινοτάτῳ ἄχεϊ φθινύθουσι παρειαί ·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς ἐλεεινὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβεν .
ἔνθʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ἐλάνθανε δάκρυα λείβων ,
Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἐπεφράσατʼ ἠδʼ ἐνόησεν ,
ἥμενος ἄγχʼ αὐτοῦ , βαρὺ δὲ στενάχοντος ἄκουσεν .
" Demodocus , truly above all mortal men do I praise you , whether it was the Muse , the daughter of Zeus , that taught you , or Apollo ; for truly according to rules of composition do you sing of the fate of the Achaeans , how much the Achaeans wrought and suffered , and also endured , like somehow I was present , or heard from another . But come now , change your theme , and sing about the construction of the wooden horse , which Epeius made with Athena , which at one point radiant Odysseus led up the trick into the citadel , which he had filled with the men who sacked Ilios . If you indeed tell me this according to fate , I will declare to all men immediately that a god gladly granted you divine song . "
So he spoke , and the bard , moved by his god , began , and he revealed his song , then taking it up when the Argives , going upon their benched ships , were sailing away , after casting fire on their huts , already they sat in the assembly of the Trojans , hidden in the horse with glorious Odysseus ; for the Trojans had themselves dragged it into the citadel . So it stood , and they discussed many unresolved words , while sitting around it . And in three ways did counsel find favor : either to cleave the hollow wood with pitiless bronze , or to throw it from the cliffs after dragging it to the top , or to let it stand to be an enthralling offering for the gods , even so in the end it was destined to be brought to pass ; for it was their fate to perish when their city should enclose the great wooden horse , where all the best of the Argives were sitting , carrying to the Trojans death and fate .
And he sang how the sons of the Achaeans , pouring forth from the horse and emerging from their hollow ambush , sacked the city . He sang about the others that each way they ravaged the high city , but about Odysseus , that he first went like Ares to the house of Deiphobus together with god-like Menelaus . There it was , he said , that , braving the most terrible fight , he won even then by the aid of great-hearted Athena .
The famed bard sang this . But Odysseus dissolved and he shed tears beneath his eyelids . And as a woman wails falling around her dear husband , who has fallen in front of his city and people , protecting his city and his children from the pitiless day ; and looking at him dying and convulsing , she clings around him and yells , and from behind , striking her back and shoulders with their spears , they lead her away to captivity to bear hardship and grief , and her cheeks rot away with pitiful grief : even so Odysseus shed pitiful tears from beneath his brows . Thenhe hid from the rest , while shedding tears , but Alcinous alone marked him and took heed , sitting next to him and heard him groaning heavily .
HomerOdyssey 8.487-534
Evren /
- Created on 2024-05-11 03:23:10
- Modified on 2024-05-11 03:24:29
- Aligned by Evren
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
Δημόδοκʼ , ἔξοχα δή σε βροτῶν αἰνίζομʼ ἁπάντων .
ἢ σέ γε μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε , Διὸς πάϊς , ἢ σέ γʼ Ἀπόλλων ·
λίην γὰρ κατὰ κόσμον Ἀχαιῶν οἶτον ἀείδεις ,
ὅσσʼ ἔρξαν τʼ ἔπαθόν τε καὶ ὅσσʼ ἐμόγησαν Ἀχαιοί ,
ὥς τέ που ἢ αὐτὸς παρεὼν ἢ ἄλλου ἀκούσας .
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ μετάβηθι καὶ ἵππου κόσμον ἄεισον
δουρατέου , τὸν Ἐπειὸς ἐποίησεν σὺν Ἀθήνῃ ,
ὅν ποτʼ ἐς ἀκρόπολιν δόλον ἤγαγε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἀνδρῶν ἐμπλήσας οἵ ῥʼ Ἴλιον ἐξαλάπαξαν .
αἴ κεν δή μοι ταῦτα κατὰ μοῖραν καταλέξῃς ,
αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼ πᾶσιν μυθήσομαι ἀνθρώποισιν ,
ὡς ἄρα τοι πρόφρων θεὸς ὤπασε θέσπιν ἀοιδήν .
ὣς φάθʼ , ὁ δʼ ὁρμηθεὶς θεοῦ ἤρχετο , φαῖνε δʼ ἀοιδήν ,
ἔνθεν ἑλὼν ὡς οἱ μὲν ἐυσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν
βάντες ἀπέπλειον , πῦρ ἐν κλισίῃσι βαλόντες ,
Ἀργεῖοι , τοὶ δʼ ἤδη ἀγακλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα
ἥατʼ ἐνὶ Τρώων ἀγορῇ κεκαλυμμένοι ἵππῳ ·
αὐτοὶ γάρ μιν Τρῶες ἐς ἀκρόπολιν ἐρύσαντο .
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἑστήκει , τοὶ δʼ ἄκριτα πόλλʼ ἀγόρευον
ἥμενοι ἀμφʼ αὐτόν · τρίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή ,
ἠὲ διαπλῆξαι κοῖλον δόρυ νηλέι χαλκῷ ,
ἢ κατὰ πετράων βαλέειν ἐρύσαντας ἐπʼ ἄκρης ,
ἢ ἐάαν μέγʼ ἄγαλμα θεῶν θελκτήριον εἶναι ,
τῇ περ δὴ καὶ ἔπειτα τελευτήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν ·
αἶσα γὰρ ἦν ἀπολέσθαι , ἐπὴν πόλις ἀμφικαλύψῃ
δουράτεον μέγαν ἵππον , ὅθʼ ἥατο πάντες ἄριστοι
Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες .
ἤειδεν δʼ ὡς ἄστυ διέπραθον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
ἱππόθεν ἐκχύμενοι , κοῖλον λόχον ἐκπρολιπόντες .
ἄλλον δʼ ἄλλῃ ἄειδε πόλιν κεραϊζέμεν αἰπήν ,
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆα προτὶ δώματα Δηιφόβοιο
βήμεναι , ἠύτʼ Ἄρηα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ .
κεῖθι δὴ αἰνότατον πόλεμον φάτο τολμήσαντα
νικῆσαι καὶ ἔπειτα διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην .
ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός · αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
τήκετο , δάκρυ δʼ ἔδευεν ὑπὸ βλεφάροισι παρειάς .
ὡς δὲ γυνὴ κλαίῃσι φίλον πόσιν ἀμφιπεσοῦσα ,
ὅς τε ἑῆς πρόσθεν πόλιος λαῶν τε πέσῃσιν ,
ἄστεϊ καὶ τεκέεσσιν ἀμύνων νηλεὲς ἦμαρ ·
ἡ μὲν τὸν θνήσκοντα καὶ ἀσπαίροντα ἰδοῦσα
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγα κωκύει · οἱ δέ τʼ ὄπισθε
κόπτοντες δούρεσσι μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμους
εἴρερον εἰσανάγουσι , πόνον τʼ ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀιζύν ·
τῆς δʼ ἐλεεινοτάτῳ ἄχεϊ φθινύθουσι παρειαί ·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς ἐλεεινὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβεν .
ἔνθʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ἐλάνθανε δάκρυα λείβων ,
Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἐπεφράσατʼ ἠδʼ ἐνόησεν ,
ἥμενος ἄγχʼ αὐτοῦ , βαρὺ δὲ στενάχοντος ἄκουσεν .
ἢ σέ γε μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε , Διὸς πάϊς , ἢ σέ γʼ Ἀπόλλων ·
λίην γὰρ κατὰ κόσμον Ἀχαιῶν οἶτον ἀείδεις ,
ὅσσʼ ἔρξαν τʼ ἔπαθόν τε καὶ ὅσσʼ ἐμόγησαν Ἀχαιοί ,
ὥς τέ που ἢ αὐτὸς παρεὼν ἢ ἄλλου ἀκούσας .
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ μετάβηθι καὶ ἵππου κόσμον ἄεισον
δουρατέου , τὸν Ἐπειὸς ἐποίησεν σὺν Ἀθήνῃ ,
ὅν ποτʼ ἐς ἀκρόπολιν δόλον ἤγαγε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἀνδρῶν ἐμπλήσας οἵ ῥʼ Ἴλιον ἐξαλάπαξαν .
αἴ κεν δή μοι ταῦτα κατὰ μοῖραν καταλέξῃς ,
αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼ πᾶσιν μυθήσομαι ἀνθρώποισιν ,
ὡς ἄρα τοι πρόφρων θεὸς ὤπασε θέσπιν ἀοιδήν .
ὣς φάθʼ , ὁ δʼ ὁρμηθεὶς θεοῦ ἤρχετο , φαῖνε δʼ ἀοιδήν ,
ἔνθεν ἑλὼν ὡς οἱ μὲν ἐυσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν
βάντες ἀπέπλειον , πῦρ ἐν κλισίῃσι βαλόντες ,
Ἀργεῖοι , τοὶ δʼ ἤδη ἀγακλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα
ἥατʼ ἐνὶ Τρώων ἀγορῇ κεκαλυμμένοι ἵππῳ ·
αὐτοὶ γάρ μιν Τρῶες ἐς ἀκρόπολιν ἐρύσαντο .
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἑστήκει , τοὶ δʼ ἄκριτα πόλλʼ ἀγόρευον
ἥμενοι ἀμφʼ αὐτόν · τρίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή ,
ἠὲ διαπλῆξαι κοῖλον δόρυ νηλέι χαλκῷ ,
ἢ κατὰ πετράων βαλέειν ἐρύσαντας ἐπʼ ἄκρης ,
ἢ ἐάαν μέγʼ ἄγαλμα θεῶν θελκτήριον εἶναι ,
τῇ περ δὴ καὶ ἔπειτα τελευτήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν ·
αἶσα γὰρ ἦν ἀπολέσθαι , ἐπὴν πόλις ἀμφικαλύψῃ
δουράτεον μέγαν ἵππον , ὅθʼ ἥατο πάντες ἄριστοι
Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες .
ἤειδεν δʼ ὡς ἄστυ διέπραθον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
ἱππόθεν ἐκχύμενοι , κοῖλον λόχον ἐκπρολιπόντες .
ἄλλον δʼ ἄλλῃ ἄειδε πόλιν κεραϊζέμεν αἰπήν ,
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆα προτὶ δώματα Δηιφόβοιο
βήμεναι , ἠύτʼ Ἄρηα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ .
κεῖθι δὴ αἰνότατον πόλεμον φάτο τολμήσαντα
νικῆσαι καὶ ἔπειτα διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην .
ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός · αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
τήκετο , δάκρυ δʼ ἔδευεν ὑπὸ βλεφάροισι παρειάς .
ὡς δὲ γυνὴ κλαίῃσι φίλον πόσιν ἀμφιπεσοῦσα ,
ὅς τε ἑῆς πρόσθεν πόλιος λαῶν τε πέσῃσιν ,
ἄστεϊ καὶ τεκέεσσιν ἀμύνων νηλεὲς ἦμαρ ·
ἡ μὲν τὸν θνήσκοντα καὶ ἀσπαίροντα ἰδοῦσα
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγα κωκύει · οἱ δέ τʼ ὄπισθε
κόπτοντες δούρεσσι μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμους
εἴρερον εἰσανάγουσι , πόνον τʼ ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀιζύν ·
τῆς δʼ ἐλεεινοτάτῳ ἄχεϊ φθινύθουσι παρειαί ·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς ἐλεεινὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβεν .
ἔνθʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ἐλάνθανε δάκρυα λείβων ,
Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἐπεφράσατʼ ἠδʼ ἐνόησεν ,
ἥμενος ἄγχʼ αὐτοῦ , βαρὺ δὲ στενάχοντος ἄκουσεν .
" Demodocus , truly above all mortal men do I praise you , whether it was the Muse , the daughter of Zeus , that taught you , or Apollo ; for truly according to rules of composition do you sing of the fate of the Achaeans , how much the Achaeans wrought and suffered , and also endured , like somehow I was present , or heard from another . But come now , change your theme , and sing about the construction of the wooden horse , which Epeius made with Athena , which at one point radiant Odysseus led up the trick into the citadel , which he had filled with the men who sacked Ilios . If you indeed tell me this according to fate , I will declare to all men immediately that a god gladly granted you divine song . "
So he spoke , and the bard , moved by his god , began , and he revealed his song , then taking it up when the Argives , going upon their benched ships , were sailing away , after casting fire on their huts , already they sat in the assembly of the Trojans , hidden in the horse with glorious Odysseus ; for the Trojans had themselves dragged it into the citadel . So it stood , and they discussed many unresolved words , while sitting around it . And in three ways did counsel find favor : either to cleave the hollow wood with pitiless bronze , or to throw it from the cliffs after dragging it to the top , or to let it stand to be an enthralling offering for the gods , even so in the end it was destined to be brought to pass ; for it was their fate to perish when their city should enclose the great wooden horse , where all the best of the Argives were sitting , carrying to the Trojans death and fate .
And he sang how the sons of the Achaeans , pouring forth from the horse and emerging from their hollow ambush , sacked the city . He sang about the others that each way they ravaged the high city , but about Odysseus , that he first went like Ares to the house of Deiphobus together with god-like Menelaus . There it was , he said , that , braving the most terrible fight , he won even then by the aid of great-hearted Athena .
The famed bard sang this . But Odysseus dissolved and he shed tears beneath his eyelids . And as a woman wails falling around her dear husband , who has fallen in front of his city and people , protecting his city and his children from the pitiless day ; and looking at him dying and convulsing , she clings around him and yells , and from behind , striking her back and shoulders with their spears , they lead her away to captivity to bear hardship and grief , and her cheeks rot away with pitiful grief : even so Odysseus shed pitiful tears from beneath his brows . Thenhe hid from the rest , while shedding tears , but Alcinous alone marked him and took heed , sitting next to him and heard him groaning heavily .