فَقالَ لَهُ نَسطُورُ يا سَيِّدَ الوَرَى

فَقالَ لَهُ نَسطُورُ يا سَيِّدَ الوَرَى

أَجَل جُدتَ فيما لا يُهانُ ويُستَقَل

أَجَل جُدتَ فيما لا يُهانُ ويُستَقَل

Then Nestor said to him: O lord of humankind,

So Nestor said to him, O lord of men

Yes, you have given generously what none can scorn or belittle.

Indeed you have acted with honor and valor

فَهيِّ بِنا نَدعُ الدُّعاةَ لِيَذهَبُوا

فَهيِّ بِنا نَدعُ الدُّعاةَ لِيَذهَبُوا

لِخَيمَةِ آخِيلِ بنش فِيلا بِلاَ مَهَل

لِخَيمَةِ آخِيلِ بنش فِيلا بِلاَ مَهَل

Come, then; let us summon the heralds to go

Come let us call the heralds to go

To the tent of Achilles, son of Peleus, without delay.

To the tent of Achilles at once without delay

أَنا أَتنَقَّاهُم فَفِينِكسُ قائِدٌ

أَنا أَتنَقَّاهُم فَفِينِكسُ قائِدٌ

لَهُم مَعَهُ يَمضي أياسُ الفَتى البَطَل

لَهُم مَعَهُ يَمضي أياسُ الفَتى البَطَل

I shall choose them: Phoenix shall lead

I shall lead them and Phoenix, a leader

Them; with him shall go Ajax, the heroic youth.

Will go with them, and Ajax the noble warrior

كَذا المُجتَبَى أُوذِس وفَيجَانِ هُذيُسٌ

كَذا المُجتَبَى أُوذِس وفَيجَانِ هُذيُسٌ

وأَورِيبَطٌ ولنَغسِلَنَّ على عَجَل

وأَورِيبَطٌ ولنَغسِلَنَّ على عَجَل

Likewise chosen Odysseus, and the two heralds, Odius

Chosen Odysseus and Phoinix, vexed Odysseus

And Eurybates; let us wash at once.

And Eurybates, let us hasten with no obstacle

وبالصَّمتِ فاأمُر نَستَغِث زَفسَ عَلَّهُ

وبالصَّمتِ فاأمُر نَستَغِث زَفسَ عَلَّهُ

يَرقُّ فَضَجَّ الجَمعُ وَأستَصوَبَ العَمل

يَرقُّ فَضَجَّ الجَمعُ وَأستَصوَبَ العَمل

And command silence: let us implore Zeus, that he may

And silently, I command, let us call Zephyros so that

Relent. The assembly clamored and approved the deed.

He may be kind, and the crowd was excited and approved the deed

فَصَبَّ على الأَيدِي الفُيُوجُ قَراحَهُم

فَصَبَّ على الأَيدِي الفُيُوجُ قَراحَهُم

وفِتيَانُهُم بالخَمرِ في أَكؤُسٍ تُقَل

وفِتيَانُهُم بالخَمرِ في أَكؤُسٍ تُقَل

The heralds poured their clear water over the hands,

They poured onto their hands the dark wine

And their young men, with wine in cups they carried,

And their youths in cups were inebriated

يَمُزُّونَ مِنها طافِحَاتٍ وبضعدَ ذا

يَمُزُّونَ مِنها طافِحَاتٍ وبضعدَ ذا

يُدِيرُونَها دَوراً بِكُلِّهِمِ اتَّصَل

يُدِيرُونَها دَوراً بِكُلِّهِمِ اتَّصَل

Filled them to overflowing; and after that

They sipped from brimming cups as Dudon

Passed them round in a circuit that reached them all.

Poured them rounds continuously without separation

ولَمَّا أَراقُوها عَلى الأَرضِ قُربَةً

ولَمَّا أَراقُوها عَلى الأَرضِ قُربَةً

وفَوقَ مَرامِ النَّفسِ رَشفُهُمُ اكتَمَل

وفَوقَ مَرامِ النَّفسِ رَشفُهُمُ اكتَمَل

And when they had poured it upon the earth as an offering,

And when they spilled them on the ground as an offering

And their sipping had more than satisfied their hearts' desire,

And their souls' contentment was fulfilled

عَدا رُسلُهُم مِن خَيمَةش المَلكِ عاجِلاً

عَدا رُسلُهُم مِن خَيمَةش المَلكِ عاجِلاً

فَقَلَّبَ نَسطُورٌ بِهِم مُحدِقَ المُقَل

فَقَلَّبَ نَسطُورٌ بِهِم مُحدِقَ المُقَل

Their envoys hurried swiftly from the king's tent.

His messengers left the tent of the king hastily

Then Nestor turned his watchful eyes upon them,

So Nestor turned them with attentive care

وحَثَّهُمُ فَرداً فَفَرداً وسِيمَّا

وحَثَّهُمُ فَرداً فَفَرداً وسِيمَّا

أُذِيسَ لِيَستَرضُوا أَخِيلَ الذي اعتَزَل

أُذِيسَ لِيَستَرضُوا أَخِيلَ الذي اعتَزَل

And urged them, one by one, and especially

And urged them one by one and especially

Odysseus, to appease Achilles, who had withdrawn.

Odysseus to mollify Achilles who had withdrawn

فَسارَ رَسُولا القَومِ فِيمَن تَلاهُما

فَسارَ رَسُولا القَومِ فِيمَن تَلاهُما

عَلى جِدِّ بَحرٍ عَجُّ أَموَاجِهِ اقتَتَل

عَلى جِدِّ بَحرٍ عَجُّ أَموَاجِهِ اقتَتَل

So the people's two envoys went with those who followed them

The messengers of the people went after them

Along the shore of a sea whose roaring waves clashed.

On the turbulent sea whose waves collided

مُحِيطَ البَرايا يَستَغِيثانِ عَلَّهُ

مُحِيطَ البَرايا يَستَغِيثانِ عَلَّهُ

يُبَدِّدُ حِقداً بِابنش آياكَ قد نَزَل

يُبَدِّدُ حِقداً بِابنش آياكَ قد نَزَل

They both implored the Encompasser of creation, that he might

Surrounding the land they called upon Zephyros hoping

Dispel the rancor that had settled in the son of Aeacus.

He would scatter the hatred for his son Achilles who had descended

ولَمَّا إِلى خَيمِ المَرامِدِ بُلِغا

ولَمَّا إِلى خَيمِ المَرامِدِ بُلِغا

إِذا بأَخِيلٍ يُطرَبُ النَّفسَ عَن مَلَل

إِذا بأَخِيلٍ يُطرَبُ النَّفسَ عَن مَلَل

And when they reached the Myrmidons' tents,

And when they reached the tent of the desired

There was Achilles, delighting his spirit to banish boredom,

There was Achilles entertaining his weary soul

بِقيثارَةٍ غَنَّاءَ قد شَاقَ صُنعُها

بِقيثارَةٍ غَنَّاءَ قد شَاقَ صُنعُها

يُنَغِّمُ في ذِكرِ الجَبابِرَةِ الأُوَل

يُنَغِّمُ في ذِكرِ الجَبابِرَةِ الأُوَل

With a sweet-toned lyre of enchanting workmanship,

With a melodious lyre whose artistry

Singing of the mighty heroes of old.

He sang of the ancient heroes

بِقوسِ لُجَينٍ طُوِّقَت وأُنِيلَها

بِقوسِ لُجَينٍ طُوِّقَت وأُنِيلَها

مِنَ الكَسبِ مُذ في دَكِّ إِيت

مِنَ الكَسبِ مُذ في دَكِّ إِيت

It was girded with a silver arch, and had been granted him

With the bow of Lugene adorned

From the spoils, when Eet was razed.

From the loot since he wrecked Eëtion’s realm

يُقَابِلُهُ فَطرُقلُ بِالصَّمتِ رَيثَما

يُقَابِلُهُ فَطرُقلُ بِالصَّمتِ رَيثَما

مَلِيًّا تَطِيبُ النَّفسُ مِن ذلِكَ الزَّجَل

مَلِيًّا تَطِيبُ النَّفسُ مِن ذلِكَ الزَّجَل

Patroclus faced him in silence, while

Opposite him was Patroclus in silence for a while

For a long while the spirit delighted in that singing.

Delighting his soul with that singing

إِذا بأُذِيسٍ يَرئِسُ الوَفدُ دَاخِلٌ

إِذا بأُذِيسٍ يَرئِسُ الوَفدُ دَاخِلٌ

فَفَي دَهَشٍ مِن فَوقِ مَجلِسِهِ انتَقَل

فَفَي دَهَشٍ مِن فَوقِ مَجلِسِهِ انتَقَل

Then Odysseus entered, leading the delegation.

Then Odysseus leading the delegation entered

In astonishment he moved from his seat,

And in astonishment from his seat Achilles departed

وفي يَدِهِ القِيثارَةُ انسابَ ناهِضاً

وفي يَدِهِ القِيثارَةُ انسابَ ناهِضاً

كَذلكَ فَطرُقلٌ عَلى القَدَمِ امتَثَل

كَذلكَ فَطرُقلٌ عَلى القَدَمِ امتَثَل

And, the lyre in his hand, glided to his feet.

With the lyre in his hand he stood up

Likewise Patroclus stood up on his feet.

So did Patroclus rising to his feet

فَصَافَحَهُم قال السَّلامُ ومَرحَباً

فَصَافَحَهُم قال السَّلامُ ومَرحَباً

فَلا شَكَّ وافَيتُم لأَمرٍ لَكُم جَلَل

فَلا شَكَّ وافَيتُم لأَمرٍ لَكُم جَلَل

He shook their hands, saying: Peace and welcome!

He greeted them saying peace and welcome

No doubt you have come on a matter of grave concern to you.

Surely you have come for a grave matter

ومَهما يَكُن مِن نَفرَثي فَلأَنتُمُ

ومَهما يَكُن مِن نَفرَثي فَلأَنتُمُ

لآخِيلَ أَدنى مَن يُوَدُّ ومَن يَجَل

لآخِيلَ أَدنى مَن يُوَدُّ ومَن يَجَل

Whatever my resentment, you are surely

Whatever it may be for the two of us

The closest to Achilles of those he loves and honors.

You are the closest of those I love and respect

وأَجلسَهُم مِن فَوقِ فُرشٍ تَدَبَّجَت

وأَجلسَهُم مِن فَوقِ فُرشٍ تَدَبَّجَت

بِبُسطٍ من البِرفيرِ نَادِرَةِ المَثَل

بِبُسطٍ من البِرفيرِ نَادِرَةِ المَثَل

And he seated them upon couches adorned

He seated them on ornate carpets

With purple rugs of a kind seldom matched.

With fabrics of rare purple

وقالَ لِفَطرُقلٍ عَلَيكَ إِذَا لنا

وقالَ لِفَطرُقلٍ عَلَيكَ إِذَا لنا

بِأَكبَردَنٍ وَلتَفِض قِسمَةُ الجُعَل

بِأَكبَردَنٍ وَلتَفِض قِسمَةُ الجُعَل

And said to Patroclus: Bring us, then,

And said to Patroclus, it is up to you

A larger wine jar, and let the allotted servings flow freely,

To bring the largest cup and divide the reward

بِكَأسٍ لِكُلٍّ من قَرَاحٍ مَلِيَّةٍ

بِكَأسٍ لِكُلٍّ من قَرَاحٍ مَلِيَّةٍ

فمِن تَحتِ سَقفِي خَيرُ رَهطٍ وَدِدتُ حَل

فمِن تَحتِ سَقفِي خَيرُ رَهطٍ وَدِدتُ حَل

With a full cup of unmixed wine for each;

A cup for each from the jug of dark wine

For the best of the men I love have come beneath my roof.

For under my roof is the best company I desire

فَبادَرَ فَطرُقلٌ وآخيلُ عامدٌ

فَبادَرَ فَطرُقلٌ وآخيلُ عامدٌ

إِلى وَضَمٍ قُربَ اللَّهِيبِ الَّذي اشتَعَل

إِلى وَضَمٍ قُربَ اللَّهِيبِ الَّذي اشتَعَل

Patroclus hurried to it, while Achilles headed

So Patroclus and Achilles set out

To a meat-block beside the blazing flame.

To the glowing embers that blazed

ومَدَّ عَلَيهِ صُلبَ كَبشٍ وسَخلَةٍ

ومَدَّ عَلَيهِ صُلبَ كَبشٍ وسَخلَةٍ

كَذا صُلبَ خِرنَوصٍ سَمِينٍ لَهُم قَتَل

كَذا صُلبَ خِرنَوصٍ سَمِينٍ لَهُم قَتَل

And laid upon it a ram's chine and a kid's,

And placed on it the chine of a ram and a fat goat

Likewise the chine of a fat piglet he had killed for them.

As well as the chine of a fattened pork and slaughtered it for them

وأَفطُومِذُونٌ مُمسِكٌ وَهوَ خازِلٌ

وأَفطُومِذُونٌ مُمسِكٌ وَهوَ خازِلٌ

وَيَنظِمُ في تِلكً السَّفافِيدِ ما خَزَل

وَيَنظِمُ في تِلكً السَّفافِيدِ ما خَزَل

And Automedon held it while Achilles cut it up,

Automedon held it while piercing

And threaded what he had cut onto those spits.

And threading those spits with what was carved

وفَطرُقلُ ذُو الهِمَّاتِ يُضرِمُ وَقدَهُ

وفَطرُقلُ ذُو الهِمَّاتِ يُضرِمُ وَقدَهُ

إِلى أَن لَهِيبُ النَّارِ بُدِّدَ واضمَحَل

إِلى أَن لَهِيبُ النَّارِ بُدِّدَ واضمَحَل

And zealous Patroclus stoked his fire,

And Patroclus, determined, kindled its firewood

Until the fire's flame had dispersed and died away.

Until the flame of fire dissipated and weakened

فَاَلقَى عَلى الجَمرِ السَّفافِيدَ تَحتَها

فَاَلقَى عَلى الجَمرِ السَّفافِيدَ تَحتَها

قَوائِمُ والمِلحَ الذَّكِيَّ بها جَبَل

قَوائِمُ والمِلحَ الذَّكِيَّ بها جَبَل

Then he laid the spits over the embers; beneath them

He threw on the embers the spits underneath them

Were supports; and he worked pungent salt into the meat.

The legs and the savory salt on them he heaped

ولَمَّا استتُمَّ النُّضجُ مَدَّ سِماطَهُ

ولَمَّا استتُمَّ النُّضجُ مَدَّ سِماطَهُ

وَثمَّ قِفَاعَ الخُبزِ فَطرُقلُ قد حَمَل

وَثمَّ قِفَاعَ الخُبزِ فَطرُقلُ قد حَمَل

And when the cooking was complete, he spread his table.

And when the roasting was complete he extended

And then Patroclus brought the bread-baskets.

His bread boards and Patroclus carried them

لِكُلٍّ مِنَ الأَضيافِ قَدَّمَ قَفعَةً

لِكُلٍّ مِنَ الأَضيافِ قَدَّمَ قَفعَةً

وآخِيلُ تَوزِيعُ اللُّحُومِ بِهِ اشتَغَل

وآخِيلُ تَوزِيعُ اللُّحُومِ بِهِ اشتَغَل

He offered a basket to each of the guests,

To each guest he presented a loaf

And Achilles busied himself with distributing the meat.

And Achilles busied himself distributing the meats

تُجَاهَ أُذِيسٍ جالِساً لِرَفِيقِهِ

تُجَاهَ أُذِيسٍ جالِساً لِرَفِيقِهِ

أَشارَ فَباستِرضاءِ آلِ العُلَى استَهَل

أَشارَ فَباستِرضاءِ آلِ العُلَى استَهَل

Sitting opposite Odysseus, to his companion

Facing Odysseus seated by his companion

He signaled; his companion began by propitiating the dwellers on high.

He gestured to appease the heavenly gods and commenced

فَلِلنَّارِ أَلقَى خَيرَ لَحمٍ ضَحِيَّةً

فَلِلنَّارِ أَلقَى خَيرَ لَحمٍ ضَحِيَّةً

ومُدَّت أَيَادِيهم وكُلُّهمُ أَكَل

ومُدَّت أَيَادِيهم وكُلُّهمُ أَكَل

Then he cast the choicest meat into the fire as an offering.

He threw the best meat into the fire as an offering

Their hands reached out, and all of them ate.

And they extended their hands and all ate

ولما انتَهوا آياسُ أَومَأَ دَاعِياً

ولما انتَهوا آياسُ أَومَأَ دَاعِياً

فِنِكسَ فأُوذِيسٌ أَحاطَ بِما سأَل

فِنِكسَ فأُوذِيسٌ أَحاطَ بِما سأَل

And when they had finished, Ajax nodded, calling upon

And when they finished, Ajax nodded calling

Phoenix; then Odysseus understood what he asked.

Phoenix, so Odysseus embraced what he had asked

فَفي كَأسِهِ صَبَّ المُدَامَ مُرَدِّدَا

فَفي كَأسِهِ صَبَّ المُدَامَ مُرَدِّدَا

بِها نَخب آخِيلٍ ومِن ثَمَّة ارتَجَل

بِها نَخب آخِيلٍ ومِن ثَمَّة ارتَجَل

Then he poured wine into his cup, reciting

In his cup he poured the wine repeatedly

A toast to Achilles over it; then he spoke extempore.

With it the finest of Achilles’ wine he presented