قالت لآثينا أَيا ذَاتَ القُوَى
أَسَفا ايا ابنَة زَفسَ رَبِّ الجُنَّةِ
Athena said to mighty Zeus' daughter:
Alas, daughter of cloud-gatherer, lord of paradise!
أَيُغَادِرُ الإِغرِيقُ مُنهزَمينَ فَو
قَ البَحرِ للأَوطانِ شَرَّ هَزِيمةِ
Will the Greeks leave defeated towards the sea
After their feet were destroyed at sacred Ilios
يدَعُونَ فِرياماً يُفَاخِرُ مُعجِباً
بِذَوِيهِ في هِيلانةَ المَسبِيَّةِ
And homes wrecked? Priam boasts exultantly
About his kin in enslaved Hellas!
من بعدِ أَن هَلَكت أَرَاجلُهُم لَدَى
إِليُونَ هَدراً وَالمَنَازِلُ شَطتِ
After their feet were wrecked at sacred Ilios
And homes destroyed, tell them to stay
عَجَلاً إِلَيهم أَمسِكِي كُلاًّ بِلي
ن القَولِ لا يُمضَي لَهُم بِسَفَينَة
And not to let them embark on ships.
At once she darted from high Olympus
فَبِحينها اندَفَعَت منَ الأُولمِبِ لل
سُّفُنِ السِّرَاعِ فَبُلِّغَت في لَحظَةِ
To the swift ships, and in a moment
She found moody Odysseus who told of
وَجَدَت عَبُوساً أُوذِساً من قد حكى
زَفساً بِنُور حِجاهُ لم يُستَلفَتِ
Zeus' majesty, undistracted.
His heart was immersed in the fog of gloom
لم يَعتَمِد مُسوَدَّ مَركَبِهِ ومِن
هُ النَّفسُ غاصَت في عُبَاب الكَأبةِ
And his black ship he did not board.
She stood and called him: "Son of Laertes
وَقَفَت وَنادَتهُ أَيا ابنَ لِيرتِسٍ
أَكَذَا تَؤُمُّونَ الدِّيارَ بِذِلَّةِ
Will you leave the land disgraced like this?
Priam boasts exultantly about his kin
تَدَغُونَ فريَاماً يُفاخِرُ مُعجِباً
بِذَوِيهِ في هِيلانَةَ الأَرغِيَّةِ
In enslaved Hellas!
After your feet were wrecked at sacred Ilios
من بَعدِ أن هَلَكَت أَراجِلُكُم لَدَى
إِليُونَ هَدراً والمَنازِلُ شَطَّت
And homes destroyed, tell the troops to stay
And not to let them embark on ships."
عَجَلاً إلى الأَجنادِ أَمسِكهُم بِلي
نِ القَولِ لا يُمضَى لَهُم بِكتيبَةِ
At once he grasped her words, threw off his cloak,
Ran to Agamemnon, proud leader,
في الحالِ أَدرَكَ صَوتَها طَرحَ العَبا
ءَ لأُورِباتَ الفَيجِ عالي الهِمَّةِ
And drew from him the scepter of rule.
Then he stood between ships and troops
وإِلى أَغا مَمنُونَ أَسرَعَ جارِياً
واجتَرَّ مِنهُ صَولَجانَ السَّطوَةِ
And kings and rulers.
He called on the masses as they passed
ثُمَّ انبَرى بَينَ السفائِنِ وَالِجاً
بَينَ المُلُوكِ وبَينَ أَهلِ الإِمرَةِ
Stopping them, gently urging them:
"How can you scream like cowards and flee in fear?
وَيُبادِرُ الأَقيَالَ إِن مَرُّوا بِهِ
مُستَوقِفاً وَمُحَرّضاً بِالرّقَّةِ
Hear my advice! Turn back your troops.
For Atrides has ways to test us all
أَو كَيفَ صَاحِ يَليقُ كالأَنذَالِ تَر
تَعِدُونَ خَوفاً فارتَدِع لِنَصيحَتي
And you don't know his mind, but soon you will
When he punishes us with the worst punishment!"
أَرجِع جُنُودَكَ إِنَّ أَترِيذَاً لَهُ
أَرَبٌ ليَبلُوَنا بِكُلِّ طَرِيقةِ
Beware and curb his rage, for we're not
Dear to him among the peoples!"
وَلَقَد جَهِلتَ مَرَامَهُ وَلَسَوفَ تل
قَاهُ يُعَاقِبُنَا بِشِرِّ عُقُوبة
"Whoever is Zeus' ally is not disgraced
But honored with kindness and affection.
فَتَرَوَّ واحذَر غَيظَهُ إِذ لم نَكُن
طُرّاً لَدَيهِ بَينَ أَهلِ النَّدوَةِ
And if he sees a commoner shouting
With a scepter, he knocks him down with a blow
مَن كَانَ مَولى زَفسَ لَيسَ يُذِلُّهُ
بَل صَانَهُ بكَرَامَةٍ ومَوَدَّةِ
And says: 'Sit down! Don't move, you coward
Empty of valor!'
وإِذا رأًى أحَدَ الرَّعاعِ مُصَوّتاً
بِالصَّولَجانِ عَلَيهِ مالَ بِضَربَةِ
Were you not one who loved strife and war? Stand firm!
Or are the Greeks all cowards, so no fate
ولهُ يَقُول اجلِس ولا تُبدِ الحَرَاك
أَيا جَباناً قد خَلا مِن نَخوَة
More wretched than mob rule?"
"Things go right only when one man
أَفَكُنتَ من أهلِ الوَغى وَالرَّأيِ فاس
تَمثِل بِمَن يَعلُو وِعندَكَ فاثبُتِ
Wields the scepter of rule!
So let us yield to whom Zeus favors
أَوَ جُملَةُ الإِغرِيقِ أَقيالٌ فلا
أَشقى مآلاً مِن تَسَلُّطِ جُملَةِ
For kingship over the nation."
Thus he addressed them with wise speech, and the army
لا يَستَقِِيمُ الأَمرُ إِلاَّ إِن يَكُن
فَردٌ يُخَوَّلُ صَولَجَانَ الصَّولَةِ
Returned to council shouting loudly,
Left their ships and tents hurrying
فَلنَرضخنَّ إِذاً لِمَن زَفسُ ارتَضى
للمُلكِ وَالأَحكامِ بَينَ الأُمَّةِ
United, without scattering,
Like waves in sea coves surging, with their
فَكَذَا بِفَصلِ القَولِ خَاطَبَهُم وَعا
دَ الجيشُ للشُّورَى بأَعلى ضَجَّةِ
Loud roar and thunderous crashing.
Then they settled in their councils, except
ترَكُوا السَّفَائنَ وَالخِيامَ مُهروِلي
نَ بِكلِّ جَمعِهِمِ وَلَم يَتَشّتَّتِ
Thersites who would not yield and be silent,
A fool whose habit is to throw insults
كالمَوجِ في جُرُفِ البِحارِ يَعَجُّ وال
لُّجُّ الدَّوِيُّ بهِ بقاصِفِ عَجَّة
And dispute rulers - the ugliest scheme!
Rude, exceeding all bounds, laughing
ثُم استَكَنُّوا في مَجَالِسهِم سِوَى
ثرسِيتَ لم يَذعَن لِذَاكَ ويَسكُتِ
To mock people, prolonging his vulgar joy.
Never heeding his place, among them still
سَفِهٌ لَهُ قَذفُ الشَّتَائِمِ دَيدَنٌ
وخُصُومَةً الحُكَّامِ أَقبَحُ خِطَّةِ
The worst rogue there could ever be.
He was lame and hunchbacked, bandylegged,
وَقِحٌ تَجَاوَزَ كُلَّ حَدٍّ وَهوَ إِن
يَستَضحكِ القَومَ استَطالَ بِبَهجةِ
His hair so sparse it could be counted.
His shoulders, curved inwards to his narrow chest
لم يَرعَ قَطُّ مَقَامَهُ وغدَا بِهِم
خُلقاً وخَلقاً شَرَّ أَهلِ الحَملَةِ
That contained nothing but malice.
His hatred focused forever on Odysseus
قد كانَ أَكبَسَ وهوَ أَحوَلُ أَعرَجٌ
وشُعُورُهُ كادَت تُعَدُّ بِشَعرَةِ
And Atrides' son, with total bile and spite.
Now he turned on Agamemnon, harshly
كَتِفَاهُ قُوِّستَا لِضَيِّقِ صَدرِهِ
وبِصَدرِهِ لم يَحو غَيرَ ضَغِينَةِ
Assaulting him with the ugliest diction:
"What do you want, Agamemnon, when
يَختَصُّ أُوذِسَ وابنَ فِيلا حِقدُهُ
أَبَداً بِكُلِّ تَحَامُلٍ وَشَنِيمةِ
You've gathered the richest treasure here,
And the loveliest ladies from the captives, with whom
والآنَ مالَ على أَغامَمنُونَ بال
قَذفِ الشَّدِيدِ مُعَنِّفاً بتَعَنُّتِ
We love you, whichever land they're from?
Do you crave gold that will come to you
فَنُفُوسُهُم مِنهُ اشمَأَزَّت وَهوَ لم
يَعبأ وخاطَبَهُ بأَهجَنِ لَهجَةِ
From sacred Ilios, seeking ransom?
I did not come to bring it, nor anyone
قُل يا أَغا ممنونُ ما تشكو إِذَا
ولقد جمعتَ لدَيكَ أَجزَلَ ثَروَة
Whose son is shackled in harsh chains.
Or do you want another captive, to seduce
وبدَائِعَ الغادَاتِ من سَبيٍ بها
نَحبُوكَ إِن نَفتُك بأَيَّةِ بَلدَةِ
If you are alone in secret?"
"No, no! It doesn't suit the whole army's need
أَطَمِعتَ في ذَهَبٍ بهِ يَأتِيكَ مِن
إِليُونَ مُلتَمِسٌ قَبُولَ الفِديةِ
To be destroyed following the leader's whim!
Let's sail home in disgrace, women! I say:
إِن ما أَتَيتُكَ أو أَتى غيرِي لهُ
بابنٍ يُكَبَّلُ بالقيُودِ الجَمَّةِ
No more men, so let's sail back in shame!
Let the arrogant king keep his treasure and pride
أَم هَل تَرُومُ أَسِيرَةً أُخرَى لهَا
تُبدِي غَرامَكَ إِن خَلَوتَ بِعُزلَةِ
To see what power we have!
He has attacked beyond limit, someone stronger
لا لا فَلَيسَ يَلَيقُ كُلُّ الجَيشِ لِل
بلوَى يُسَاقُ بمَيلِ رَأسِ الأُسرَةِ
Than him, while skulking here a coward!
If he had a heart, you'd have found
واعارَكُنَّ أَيا نِساءُ ولا أَقو
لُ أَرَاجلاً فَلنَقفِلَنَّ بِخِزِيَةِ
Retribution for your assault, you wretch!"
At this the fool Thersites provoked
وليَبقَ ذَا المَلِكُ الغَرورٌ وذُخرُهُ
فَيَرى بذَلكَ ما لنا مِن عِزوَةِ
Agamemnon, inciting with gossip.
Then Odysseus leapt up, chest flaming
فَقَدِ اعِتَدَى تَواًّ على مَن فاقَهُ
بأساً وآخِيلٌ تَقَاعَدَ بالتي
With rage, and chided him with weeping words:
"Shut up, scum! Who are you to seek
لو كانَ ذَا قَلبٍ لَكُنتَ لَقيتَ في
أَثرِ اعتِدَائِكَ منهُ آخِرَ حِطَّةً
To chide kings with your vile gossip?
I think you are the lowest soldier in Atrides' army.
فعلى أَغامَمنُونَ رَاعي الشَّعبِ ثِر
سِيتٌ أَثارَ كَذَا أُوارَ نَمِيَمةِ
Hush and be quiet!
Did you think yourself equal to speak, lamenting
فَلهُ انبَرَى أُوذِيسُ يَلهَبُ صَدرُهُ
غَيظاً وَخَاطبَهُ بِقَولِ مُبَكِّتِ
The hunt, and begging all to return?
Who of us knows the outcome of that return?"
صَه يا رَعَاعَةُ مَن تَكُونُ لِتَبتَغي
لَدَدَ المُلُوكِ بِنُطقِ أَخبَثِ صَيِّتِ
"As for you, Agamemnon, the fool gaped.
Danaus' sons honored you with a gift!"
فَلأَنتض أَوضَعُ قادِمٍ في جُندِ أَت
رِيذٍ لَدَى إِليُونض فاخسأ واصمُتِ
"Take my report believing it! If I see such
Nonsense from you, as I see with my eyes,
أَفَكُنتَ كُفأً لِلخِطابِ مُنَدِّداً
بالصِّيدِ تَنتَدِبُ المَلا لِلَعَودَةِ
May my head not remain above my neck,
May I not be Telemachus' father,
أَوَمَن تُرى مِنَّا بِقسمَتِهِ دَرَى
أو ما يَكُونُ مآلَ تِلك الرّجعِةِ
If I don't strip your clothes and tatters
Down to the last rag!"
وعلى أَغَامَمنُونض فاكَ فَغَرتَ إِذ
أَبنَاءُ دَانَوُسٍ حَنَبتهُ بِتُحفَةِ
"You'll be dragged atop the ship, bleeding, from the
Council, crying and screaming.
نبإِي فَخُذهُ مُصَدَّقاً فَلَئِن أَرَا ال
تَّهذَارَ مِنكَ كما رَأَيتُ بِمُقلَتي
Then he punched and weakened his back
With the scepter, a bloody blow.
لا ظَلَّ رَأسِي فَوقَ عالِفاً
لا كُنتُ والدَ تيلماخَ يَتيمتي
His back spilled blood from the swollen wounds.
He crouched, screaming in terror.
إن لَم أُجرّدكَ العَبَاءَةَ والدِّثا
رَ إِلى بَقايا كُلِّ آخِرِ سُترَةِ
With a fool's simplicity he looked around
Wiping tears of anguish mockingly.
فتُسَاقَ فَوقَ الفُلكِ مُختَضباً مِنَ ال
شُّورَى تُرَدِّدُ أَنَّةً في أَنَّة
The Greeks could not control their excessive
Laughter at his misfortune.
مِن ثَمَّ بادَرَهُ وأَوهنَ ظَهرَهُ
بالصَّولَجانِ بضَربَةٍ دَمَوِيَّةِ
They said: "By god, how much honor
Odysseus gained for his great worth!
بَرَزَت بِمَنكِبشه دماءُ بثُورِها
فأَكَبَّ يَبكِي واستَكَنَّ بِرِعدَةِ
With wisdom of opinion and scheming when roused
For action, whenever he rose for the task!
بسَذَاجَةِ البُلدَاءِ يَنظُرُ حَولَهُ
ويُكَفكِفُ الدَّمعَ السَّخِي بِتَشَمُّتِ
But he did not act most wisely
By deterring a fool raging with sedition.
وَجماعَةُ الإِغرِيقِ لم يَتَمالَكوا
عن فَرطِ قَهقَهَةٍ لِتِلكَ الخَيبةِ
Clearly he restrained himself from any
King's rebuke with a word."
يَتَداوَلُونَ بِقَولِهِم لِلّهِ كَم
قد حازَ أُوذِسُ من جَلِيلِ مَزِية
But destroyer of cities, Odysseus,
Stood with the scepter of rule, determined.
بالحَزم في الآراءِ والتَّدبير في ال
هَيجاءِ أَيَّانَ انبَرى لمُهمَّةِ
Behind him Athena shouted, calling
Their masses with utmost calm.
لَكِنَّهُ لم يأتِ اجمَلَ حِكمةً
مِن رَدعِهِ سَفِهاً يَصُولُ بِفِتنَةِ
Until their ranks, united, rallied
Around his plan, he made the clearest speech.
لا شَكَّ أَخمَدَ نَفسَهُ بِنَكالِها
عن أَيِّ تَثريبِ المُلوكِ بِكِلمةِ
وأُامَ هَدَّامُ المَدائنِ أُوذِسٌ
بِعَصا السِّيادَةِ واقِفاً بِعَزيمةِ
وتليهِ آثينا بهَيئَةِ صَارِخٍ
يَدعُو جُمُوعَهُمُ بِكُلِّ سَكِينةِ
حَتَّى جَمِيعُ صُفُوفِهِم عِلماً تُحِي
طُ برَأيِهِ فأتى بأَفصَحِ خُطبَة
