THE ILIAD OF HOMER, OR THE ARGUMENT OF THE COMPOSITION.

THE ILIAD OF HOMER, BOOK I, THE ARGUMENT.

Chryses, priest of Apollo, is rejected by Agamemnon when asking for his daughter.

Chryses, priest of Apollo, approaches the naval camp of the Greeks, wishing to ransom his daughter Chryseis. Not receiving her, and indeed driven away with insult by Agamemnon, he prayed to Apollo against the Greeks. A plague having arisen, and many, as is reasonable to assume, having perished, Achilles called an assembly. Calchas having explained the true cause and having commanded Achilles to appease the god, Agamemnon became angry, quarreled with Achilles, and took from him his prize, Briseis. He then became angry at the Greeks. Thetis, at her son's prayer, ascending into heaven, asked of Jupiter that he make the Trojans superior to the Greeks. Juno, knowing this, quarreled with Jupiter, until Vulcan reconciled them, pouring wine into a golden cup. They, feasting for the remainder of the day, turn to sleep.

The following Greek text is a mirror of the preceding Latin summary.

THE FIRST COMPOSITION OF HOMER'S ILIAD.

HOMER'S ILIAD, BOOK I.

Invocation with argument.

A decorative initial "I" with floral motifs.Sing, Goddess, of the ruinous wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus, which brought countless pains upon the Achaeans, and sent many strong souls of heroes to the Underworld, and made them prey for dogs and all birds, and the will of Jupiter was accomplished. From the time that they were first divided in strife, the son of Atreus, king of men, and the divine Achilles. Who of the gods joined them in strife to fight? The son of Latona and Jupiter. For he, angered at the King, stirred up a wicked disease throughout the army, and the people were dying; because the son of Atreus dishonored the priest Chryses. For he came to the swift ships of the Achaeans, wishing to ransom his daughter, bringing countless ransoms, having in his hands the garlands of the far-shooting Apollo, upon a golden staff, and he besought all the Achaeans, but especially the two sons of Atreus, the commanders of the people: Sons of Atreus, and other well-greaved Achaeans, may the gods who dwell in Olympian homes grant you to capture Priam's city, and to return safely home. But ransom my beloved daughter for me, and accept these gifts, revering the son of Jupiter, the far-shooting Apollo. Then all the other Achaeans shouted in approval to respect the priest and accept the splendid gifts. But it did not please the mind of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, but he sent him away evilly, and ordered a harsh command: Do not let me catch you, old man, at the hollow ships, neither lingering now, nor coming back later, for the staff and the garlands of the god will not help you. But I will not ransom her before old age comes upon her, in our house in Argos, far from her native land, weaving at the loom and attending to my bed. But go, do not irritate me, so that you may return more safely. So he spoke, and the old man feared and obeyed the word, and he went in silence along the shore of the loud-sounding sea.

A decorative initial "M" with floral motifs.The following Greek text is a mirror of the preceding English translation of the Iliad.

Pēlēiadeō of Peleus, [poetic form for] Pēlēiadou. Achilēos is admitted for the sake of the meter by a second lambda. Olomenēn, Ionic for olomenēn. Iphthimous for iphthimas. Aïdi poetically for Hadē. Proïapsen from iaptō, I send before the time. Helōria from helō, I drag. Kūnessi for kūnesi, Attically. Basilēï for basilei. Nouson for noson, Ionic. Arse [is] Ionic for arā. Thugatra for thugatera. Euknēmides: knēmis, idos is the greave of the legs, whence euknēmides are called well-greaved and strong. Doien Ionic for doiēsan. Ekpersai from perthō, I ravage. Epi muthon etelle, Tmesis for epestelle. Dechthai for dechesthai. Ionta is a word in use. Bē for ebē by apheresis, from bēmi, I go.