لما بدت غزالة الصباح — Suleyman Al Boustani

لَمّا بَدَت غَزالَةُ الصَباحِ

تَنهَضُ من مَرقَدِها الفَيّاحِ

When dawn's gazelle appeared,

rising from her fragrant bed,

وَغادَرَت طيثونَ ذا الوَجهِ الوَضي

حَتّى على الجِنَّةِ وَالناسِ تُضي

and left bright-faced Tithonus

to shine on spirits and mortals,

سَيَّرَ زَفسُ فِتنَةَ الوَبالِ

بِيَدِها مَعالِمُ القِتالِ

Zeus dispatched ruinous Strife,

bearing the emblems of battle.

فَاِنتَصَبَت مُنتَصَفَ الأُسطولِ في

مَركَبِ أوذيسَ الكبيرِ المُشرِفِ

She stood midway along the fleet, upon

Odysseus's great, commanding ship,

لِتَبلُغَ الفَزعَةُ كُلَّ العَسكَرِ

حَتّى أَخيلَ وأَياسَ الأَكبَرِ

so her alarm reached every soldier,

even Achilles and Ajax the Greater,

إِذا خَيَّما وَرَبَطا القِلاسا

في الجانِبَينِ شِدَّةً وَباسا

who had pitched camp and moored their cables

at either flank, for strength and valor.

فَدَمدَمَت تَدوي دَوِيَّ الرَعدِ

وَشَدَّدَتهُم لِلِّقا المُشتَدِّ

She thundered with thunder's roar

and strengthened them for fierce encounter.

فَآثَروا الحَربَ وثِقلَ المِحَنِ

عَلى المآبِ لِعَزيزِ الوَطَنِ

They preferred war and grievous trials

to returning to their cherished homeland.

فَقامَ أَتريذُ بِهِم وَصاحا

بالقَومِ كَي يُقَوِّموا السِلاحا

Then Atreides rose among them, shouting

to the men to ready their weapons.

وَشَكَّ في فولاذِهِ الأَغَرِّ

يَلبَسُ خِفَّيهِ بِبادي الأَمرِ

He clad himself in gleaming steel,

first putting on his greaves;

وَحَولَ ساقَيهِ بِقِدَّتَينِ

أَوثَقَ حالاً بِعُرى اللُجَينِ

around his legs, with two leather straps,

he promptly secured their silver fastenings.

وَلَبِسَ الدِرع البَهِيَّةَ الَّتي

أُهديها مِن قَبلِ سَيرِ الحَملَةِ

He donned the splendid breastplate that

had been given him before the expedition

مِن مَلكِ قِبريسَ كَنِبرَ الناءي

تَذكِرَةً لِمُحكَمِ الوَلاءِ

by distant Cyprus's king, Kinyras,

as a token of steadfast allegiance,

مُذ نَبَأُ الإقلاعِ للطُروادِ

عَلى السَفينِ شاعَ في البِلادِ

when news of sailing for Troy

aboard the ships spread through the land.

مِن أَبدَعِ السُطورِ فيها إِثنا عَشَر

مِن النُضارِ شائِقاتٌ للنَظَر

Among its finest bands were twelve

of gold, delightful to behold,

وَمِن نُحاسٍ أَبيَضٍ عِرونَ مَع

عَشَرَةٍ أَسحَمِ فُولاذٍ سَطَع

and twenty of white metal, together with

ten of shining, dark steel.

وفي كِلا الجَنبينِ حَتّى العُنُقِ

ثَلاثُ حَيّاتٍ مِنَ الوَشيِ النَقي

On either side, up to the neck,

were three serpents of exquisite inlay,

حَكَت بِقَلبِ الغَيمِ أَقواسِ قُزَح

بِنَبَأٍ زَفسُ مِنَ السَما طَرَح

resembling rainbows amid the clouds,

which Zeus cast from heaven as a sign.

ثُمَّ عَلى كاهِلِهِ أَتريذُ قَد

أَلقى حُساماً بِشعاعِهِ اِتَّقَد

Then upon his shoulder Atreides

slung a sword ablaze with radiance.

كَلباهُ والحِزامُ مِن أَبهى الذَهَب

وعِمدُهُ مِن فِضَّةٍ فيها العَجَب

Its clasps and belt were splendid gold;

its wondrous scabbard was silver.

وَقَلَّ تُرساً شائِقاً بَهِيَّا

يَستُرُ كُلَّ جِسمِهِ قَوِيّا

He raised a splendid, beautiful shield,

strong enough to cover his whole body.

عضلَيهِ دارَت حَلَقاتٌ لامِعَه

عَشرٌ مِنَ الصُفرِ البَهِيِّ ساطِعَه

Around his arms ran gleaming rings,

ten, shining with splendid brass.

وَفيهِ عِشرونَ مِنَ الحَرابي

مشنَ النُحاسِ الأَبيَضِ اللَهّابِ

It bore twenty bosses

of blazing white metal.

في وَسطِها حِرباءُ فولاذٍ أَغَر

يَبدو بِها الغُرغونُ رَوّاعُ النَظَر

Amid them was a gleaming steel boss,

displaying the Gorgon, terrifying to behold,

وَحَولَهُ الهَولُ وَرَسمُ الرَعدَةِ

وَالدِرعُ شُدَّت بِحِزامِ فِضَّةِ

surrounded by Terror and depicted Trembling.

The armor was fastened with a silver strap,

يَلتَفُّ في ثُعبانِ رَوعٍ أَزرَقِ

مُثَلَّثِ الرَأسِ وَحيدِ العُنُقِ

coiled into a dreadful blue serpent,

three-headed, with a single neck.

مِن ثَمَّ للمِغفَرِ أَتريذُ عَمَد

يَلبَسُهُ مِن بَعدِ هاتيكَ العُدَد

Next Atreides turned to his helmet,

putting it on after that equipment.

مُرَبَّعُ الرَأسِ بِعُرفٍ أَملَسِ

مِن شَعرِ خَيلٍ هاجَ فَوقَ القَونَسِ

It was four-crested, with a smooth plume

of horsehair waving above its crown.

وَقَلَّ رُمحَينِ مُثَقَّفَينِ

حَتّى أَعالي الجَوِّ ساطِعَينِ

He lifted two well-fashioned spears,

gleaming up into the heights of air.

وَالرَعدُ إِجلالا لَهُ وَشَرَفا

بَأَمرِ آثينا وهيرا قَصَفا

Thunder, honoring and glorifying him,

crashed at Athena's and Hera's command.

فَأَمَرَت فُرسانُهُ السُياسا

تَنظِمُ فُربَ الخَندَقِ الأَفراسا

His horsemen ordered their grooms

to arrange the horses beside the trench.

وَاِندَفَعوا ما شينَ بِالسِلاحِ

بَينَ صُياحِ طَرَّةَ الصَباحِ

They advanced on foot, armed,

amid shouting at dawn's first light.

فَاِنتَظَمَ الأَبطالُ قُريبَ الخَندَقِ

تَجري وَراءَهُم عِجالُ الفَيلَقِ

The heroes formed beside the trench,

the army's chariots running behind them.

وَزَفسُ بَينهُم أَثارَ اللَغبا

يُمطِرُ طَلّا بِدَمٍ مُخضَّبا

Zeus stirred turmoil among them,

raining dew stained with blood.

أَمّا بَنو الطُروادِ فَوقَ الهِضَبِ

فَاِنتَظِموا مِن حَولِ هَكطورَ الأَبي

The Trojans, meanwhile, upon the heights,

formed around proud Hector,

وَحَولَ فوليذامَسَ المَعصومِ

وَآنِياسَ المُجتَبى العَظيمِ

and around faultless Polydamas,

and great, distinguished Aeneas,

وَحولَ فُوليبَ وآكاماسِ

فَتىً حَكى الأَربابَ آلَ الباسِ

and around Polybus and Acamas,

a youth resembling the mighty gods,

وَالقَيِّمِ المَحمودِ آغِنورا

ثَلاثَةً مِن وُلدِ اِنطينورا

and worthy, renowned Agenor—

three sons of Antenor.

وَهَكطُرٌ في صَدرِهِم يَدورُ

في يَدِهِ مِجَنُّهُ الكَبيرُ

Hector moved about at their front,

his great shield in his hand.

يَخوضُ في ساقَتِهِم فَيَأمُرُ

فَيَختَفي ثُمَّ بِصَدرٍ يَصدُرُ

He passed through their rear, giving orders,

vanished, then emerged again at the front,

كَكوكَبِ الهَولِ الذي يَستَتَرُ

في الغَيمِ حيناً ثُمَّ حيناً يَظهَرُ

like a dreadful star concealed

in clouds awhile, then visible again.

يَسطَعُ بِالحَديدِ وَالفولاذِ

كَبَرقِ زَفسِ اللامِعِ الجَبّاذِ

He shone in iron and steel,

like Zeus's dazzling, mighty lightning.

فَعِندَ ذاكَ اِتَبَكَ الجَيشانِ

وَثارَ نَقعُ الضَربِ وَالطِعانِ

Then the two armies became entangled,

and dust rose from blows and spear-thrusts.

فَكُلُّهُم مِثلَ الذِئابِ اندَفَعوا

وَلَم يَكُن مِن لِلفِرارِ يَنزِعُ

All rushed forward like wolves,

and none inclined toward flight.

تُبَتَّتُ الرُؤوسُ وَالأَجسادُ

كَسُنبُلِ يَبتَتُّهُ الحُصّادُ

Heads and bodies were cut down

like grain cut by reapers.

وَلَم يَكُن يَشهَدُ تِلكَ المَلحَمَه

بِالبِشرِ إِلّا الفِتنَةُ المُهَدِّمَه

None watched that slaughter

with delight except destructive Strife.

وَفي الأُلِمبِ سائِرُ الأَربابِ

بِشائِقِ القُصورِ بِاِحتِجابِ

On Olympus, all the other gods

remained hidden in lovely palaces.

وَلَومُهُم لِزَفسِ طُرّاً بادِ

لِمَيلِهِ لَنُصرَةِ الطُروادِ

Their reproaches against Zeus were manifest,

for his inclination to aid the Trojans.

لَكِنَّ زَفسَ لَيسَ بِالمُبالي

يَعتَزُّ في عَلياهُ بِاِعتِزالِ

But Zeus paid no heed,

standing aloof in his lofty isolation.

يُحيطُ بِالطُروادِ وَالأُسطولِ

وَالحَربِ وَالقاتِلِ وَالمَقتولِ

He surveyed the Trojans and the fleet,

the battle, the killers and the slain.

مِنَ البُزوغِ لِاِرتِفاعِ المَشرِقِ

جُندٌ تُرَدّى وَسِهامٌ تَلتَقي

From sunrise until the sun rose high,

soldiers fell and missiles met.

وآنَ ما الحَطّابُ يُضوى تعبا

في غابِهِ وَظَمأً وَسَغَبا

When the woodcutter grows weary

in his forest, thirsty and hungry,

وَيَطلُبُ الراحَةَ بَعدَ الغائِلَة

مُهَيِّئاً طَعامَهُ بِالقائِلَه

and seeks rest after his toil,

preparing his meal at noon,

تَأَلَّبَ الإِغريقُ باِشتدادِ

وَخَرَقوا كَتائِبَ الطُروادِ

the Greeks massed with renewed strength

and broke through the Trojan battalions.

في صَدرِهِم يَجري أَغامَمنونُ

تَسيرُ في يَمينهِ المَنونُ

Agamemnon ran at their head,

Death accompanying his right hand.

جَندَلَ أَبيانورَ راعي الأُمَمِ

فَتِبعَهُ السائِقَ ويلوسَ الكَمي

He felled Abianor, shepherd of peoples,

then his attendant, the brave driver Oileus.

مِن فَوقِ مَن كَبَتهِ وَثباً وَثبَب

يَلقى أغامَمنونَ مُشتَدَّ الغَضَب

He sprang down from his chariot

to face furious Agamemnon.

لَكِنَّما أَتريذُ في الجبينِ

طَعَنَهُ بِرُمحِهِ المَتينِ

But Atreides, in his forehead,

pierced him with his sturdy spear.

فَخَرَقَ المغفِرَ وَالعَظمَ سَحَق

وَبَدَّدَ الدِماغَ والهامَةَ دَق

It penetrated the helmet and crushed bone,

scattered his brains and shattered his skull.

عَرّاهُما فَلَبثا مَيتَينِ

لا سِترَ فَوقَ ناصِعِ الصَدرَينِ

He stripped both, leaving them dead,

nothing covering their shining breasts.

ثُمَّ اِنثَنى يَسطو عَلى إِسوسا

مِن وُلدِ فِريامَ وَأَنطِفوسا

Then he turned to assail Isus

and Antiphus, sons of Priam.

فَذلِكَ اِبنُ غادَةٍ خَليلَهُ

لَكِنَّ ذا مِن زَوجِهِ الحَليلَه

The former was a maiden's illegitimate son;

the latter was born of his lawful wife.

قَد رَكِبا مَركَبَةً فَذاكا

ساقَ وَهَذا وَلِيَ العِراكا

They rode one chariot: the former

drove, while the latter fought.

كِلَيهِما قِدماً أَخيلُ دَهَما

بِطَورِ إيذا يَرعَيانِ الغَنَما

Achilles had once surprised them both

on Mount Ida, tending sheep.

بِيانِعِ الخَيزورِ أَوثَقَهُما

وَنالَ فِديَةً وَأَطلَقَهُما

He bound them with fresh willow,

received ransom and released them.

وَالآنَ أَتريذُ إِسوساً قَتلا

بِطَعنةٍ في ثَديِهِ فَجَندَلا

Now Atreides killed Isus

with a breast-thrust, felling him.

وَأَنطفوسُ بِحُسامِهِ قَطَع

أُذُنَهُ قَطعاً فَلِلأَرضِ وَقَع

With his sword, he cut Antiphus

at the ear, and he fell earthward.

فشائِقَ الشِكَةِ مِنهُما سلب

يَذكُرُ مِن أَمرِهِما ماضي العَجَب

He stripped their splendid armor,

remembering their remarkable earlier story,

إِذ كان قَد رآهُما في السُفُنِ

بَأَمرِ آخيلَ بِذاكَ الزَمَنِ

when he had seen them aboard the ships

under Achilles's charge in those days.

وَصائِلاً مَشى كَلَيثٍ داهِمِ

خِشفَةً واهِنَةَ العَزائِمِ

He attacked like a lion assailing

a helpless little fawn,

يَسحَقُها بِرائِعِ الأَنيابِ في

كِناسِها سَحقاً بِلا تَكَلُّفِ

crushing it with dreadful fangs within

its lair, effortlessly.

وَالأُمُّ تِلكَ الظَبيَةُ المُرتَجِفَه

لا حيلَةٌ لَها بِرَفدِ الخِشَفَه

Its mother, the trembling doe,

has no means to help her fawn.

مُرتاعَةً مُلتاعَةً تَبغي المَفَر

في الغابِ تَجري بَينَ مُلتَفِّ الشَجَر

Terrified and anguished, she seeks escape,

running among tangled forest trees,

تَلهَثُ عَيّاً وَتَسيلُ عَرَقاً

هالِعَةً مِن هَولِ ذاكَ المُلتَقى

panting with exhaustion and streaming sweat,

panic-stricken by that dreadful encounter.

كَذاكَ في الطُروادِ لَم يَكُن أَحَد

لِوَلَدَي فِريامَ يَبذُلُ المَدَد

Likewise, no Trojan was there

to lend aid to Priam's two sons.

وَلَّوا لَدى الأَراغِسِ الفِرارا

وَخَلفَهُم أَتريذُ بَأساً ثارا

They fled before the Argives,

while Atreides surged fiercely behind them.

فيسَندَراً وإيفلوخاً دَهَما

عَلى مَطا مَركَبَةٍ قَد هُزِما

He assailed Peisander and Hippolochus,

routed upon their chariot,

مِن وُلدِ أَنطيما أَنطيماخُسٍ مَن مَنَعا

هيلانَةً لِزَوجِها أَن تُرجَعا

sons of Antima—Antimachus, who refused

to have Helen returned to her husband,

إَذا كانَ فاريسُ رَشاهُ وَوَهَب

مالاً وَفيراً مِن مَتاعٍ وَذَهَب

since Paris had bribed him and bestowed

abundant riches, goods and gold.

فَعِندَما لَدَيهِما مِثلَ الَسَد

لاحَ الجيادُ جَمَحَت تَحتَ العُدَد

When, like a lion, he appeared

before them, their horses bolted under harness.

وَاِرتَجَفَت أَنيديهِما فَوَقَفَت

أعِنَّةٌ بِها سَناءً سَطَعت

Their hands trembled, and down fell

the reins that had shone brightly.

فَسَجَدا مِن فَوقِ ذاكَ المَجلِسِ

وَصَرَخا بِذِلَّةِ المُلتَمِسِ

They bowed from their chariot seat

and cried with a supplicant's abasement:

فَأَنطِماخُ يُجزِلُ الهَدايا

إِن نَبقَ حَيَّينِ عَلى الخَلايا

'Antimachus will give lavish gifts

if we remain alive aboard the ships.'

وَبَكَيا تَذَلُّلاً وَصُغرا

فَلَقِيا مِنهُ الجَوابَ المُرّا

They wept in humiliation and helplessness,

but received his bitter answer:

أَلَيسَ أَنطِماخُ وَالِدُكُما

بِمَجلِسِ الطُروادِ يَوماً حَكَما

'Was not Antimachus your father,

who once ruled in the Trojan council

بِقَتلِ أوذيسَ وَمينيلا وَقَد

جاءا رَسولَينِ وَبالكيدِ أَتَّقَذ

that Odysseus and Menelaus be killed, though

they came as envoys, burning with deceit?

سَتَلقَيانِ الآنَ شَرَّ غَدرِهِ

وَطاعِناً فيسَندَراً بِصَدرِهِ

Now you shall suffer for his treachery.'

He pierced Peisander in the breast,

جَندَلَهُ مِن فَوقِ عَرشِ العَجَلَه

فَإيفُلوخُ بِخَفيفِ العَجَلَه

felling him from the chariot seat.

Hippolochus, with swift haste,

رامَ اِنهِزاماً وإِلى الأضرضِ وَثَب

لَكِن أَغامَمنونُ بالسَيفِ انتَصَب

sought escape and leapt to earth.

But Agamemnon stood with his sword,

بِضَربَةٍ عَلَيهِ بالعَزمِ اندَفَع

وَرَأسَهُ مَعض الذِراعَينِ قَطَع

charging determinedly to strike him.

He severed his head and both arms,

دَفَعَهُ لِلأَرضِ مِثلَ الخَشَبَه

وراحَ يَجري بِعَظيمِ الكَبكَبَه

casting him earthward like a log.

Then he rushed onward amid great tumult,

تَتبَعُهُ كَتائِبُ الأَجنادِ

حَيثُ تَكَثَّفَت سُرى الأَعادي

the soldiers' battalions following him

where enemy ranks were thickest.

فَبَطَشَ الغُلمانُ بالغُلمانِ

وَفَتَكَ الفُرسانُ بالفُرسانِ

Foot soldiers struck foot soldiers,

and horsemen slew horsemen.

وَتَحتَ وَقعِ الخَيلِ نَقعٌ ثارا

في السَهلِ لِلجَوِّ ذَرا الغُبارا

Dust rose beneath the horses' tread,

scattering from the plain into the air.

وَثَمَّ أَتريذُ يَحُضُّ الجُندا

مُقتَضِباً مُقتَفِياً مُشتَدّا

There Atreides urged his soldiers,

striking, pursuing and pressing hard.

هَبَّ عَلى الأَعداءِ مِثلَ النارِ

شَبَّت بِغابٍ غَضَّةِ الأَشجارِ

He swept upon the enemy like fire

kindled in a forest of tender trees,

تُثيرُها الريحُ وَفي كُلِّ مَهَب

تَلهَمُ كُلَّ ما أَمامَها اِنتَصَب

stirred by wind, at every gust

devouring everything standing before it.

أَمامَهُ الطُروادُ وَلَّوا جَزَعا

وَسَيفُهُ الرُؤوسَ قَطعاً قَطَعا

The Trojans fled before him in terror,

and his sword severed their heads.

وجامِحاتُ الخَيلِ بالعِجالِ

تَضرِبُ في السَهلِ بِلا رِجالِ

The bolting horses, with their chariots,

ranged across the plain without riders,

تَندُبُ ما أَلَمَّ بِالفُرسانِ

تَحتَ عَجاجِ الضَربِ وَالطِعانِ

lamenting what befell their horsemen

amid the dust of blows and thrusts.

أَشهى هُمُ الآنَ إِلى العُقبانِ

مِنهُ إِلى حَلائِلِ النِسوانِ

Now they were more desirable to eagles

than to the women who were their wives.

وَزَفسُ هَكطورَ عَنِ النَقعِ حَجَب

وَعَن ضَجيجِ القَومِ في ذاكَ اللَجَب

Zeus sheltered Hector from the dust

and the men's clamor amid that din,

وَعَن مَدى النِبالِ وَالنَجيعِ

وَعَن تَلاحُمٍ بِهِم فَظيعِ

from arrow-range and bloody slaughter,

and from their dreadful close combat.

وَظَلَّ أَتريذُ عَلى أَعقابِهِم

مُشَدٍِّداً يَضرِبُ في رِقابِهِم

Atreides remained upon their heels,

pressing hard and striking their necks.

فَدُفِعوا لِلتينِ ثُمَّ اِجتازوا

في وَسَطِ السَهلِ وَفيهِ اِنحازوا

They were driven to the fig tree, then crossed

the middle plain, retreating through it

لِقَبرِ إيلو ذَلِكَ الدَردَنُسي

يَبغونَ إِليونَ بِحَرِّ النَفسِ

toward the tomb of Dardanian Ilus,

eagerly seeking Ilium.

وَإِثرَهُم أَتريذُ دَوماً جاري

مُلَطَّخاً بِالدَمِ وَالغُبارِ

Atreides constantly pursued them,

smeared with blood and dust,

يَصيحُ حَتّى أَبلَغَ الفُرسانا

أَبوابَ إِسكِيَّةَ ثُمَّ الزانا

shouting until he drove the horsemen

to the Scaean gates and the beech tree.

فَوَقَفوا يَبغونَ جَمعَ الشَملِ

وَصَحبُهُم تَبَعثَروا في السَهلِ

They halted, seeking to regroup,

while their companions scattered across the plain,

مِثلَ العُجولِ ذُعِرَت فِرارا

وَاللَيثُ في اللَيلِ لَقَد أَغارا

like calves fleeing in terror

when a lion attacks at night.

فَأَيَّها أَصابَهُ سَحَقَهُ

مُحَطِّماً بِنابِهِ عُنُقَهُ

Whichever he catches, he crushes,

breaking its neck with his fang,

يَمتَصُّ لا مُكتَفِياً دِماءَهُ

يَزرَدُ لا مُشتَفِياً أَحشاءَهُ

sucking its blood unsatisfied,

gulping its entrails unappeased.

كَذا أَغامَمنونُ أَصمى وَسَفَك

بِساقَةِ العِدى بِمَن لاقى فَتك

Thus Agamemnon killed and shed blood,

slaying those he met in the enemy rear.

وَلَّوا وَمُشتَدّاً عَلَيهِم حَمَلا

بِالرُمحِ يُردي بَطَلاً فَبطلا

They fled; he charged fiercely upon them,

his spear felling hero after hero,

ما بَينَ مَصروعٍ مِنَ العِجالِ

أَهوى وَمُسلَنقٍ على الرِمالِ

some struck down from chariots,

others lying upon the sands.

وَعِندَ ما قارَبَ إِدراكَ البَلَد

وَسورِهِ الشاهِقِ في ذاكَ اللَدَد

As he approached the city

and its lofty wall amid that strife,

مِن قُبَّةِ السَماءِ كَالبَرقِ انحَدَرشش

زَفسُ وَفي إيذا بِعَلياهُ اِستَقَر

from heaven's vault, like lightning, descended

Zeus, settling on Ida's summit.

صاحَ بِذاتِ أَجنُحِ النُضارِ

بِيَدِهِ عَمودُ بَرقٍ وارِ

He called to the golden-winged one,

a burning thunderbolt in his hand.

قالَ فَطيري إيرِسُ الرَشيقَه

وَأبلِغي هَكطوراً الحقيقَه

He said, 'Fly, swift Iris,

and tell Hector the truth:

فَطالَما أَتريذُ في صَدرِ السُرى

يَبطُشُ فيهِم فاتِكاً مُدَمِّرا

while Atreides leads the ranks,

striking them, killing and destroying,

فَليَعتَزِل وَليُلقِ عِبءَ الصَدِّ

عَلى سِواهُ مِن سَراةِ الجُندِ

let him withdraw and place defense's burden

upon the other army chiefs.

لَكِن إِذا بِطَعنَةٍ فاهِقَةِ

أُصيبَ أَو بِرَمية خارِقةِ

But when a deep spear-thrust

or piercing missile wounds him,

وَراحَ يَعلو سُدَّةَ العِجالِ

هَكطورَ أُولي نُصرَةَ القِتالِ

and he mounts his chariot platform,

I grant Hector victory in battle.

لَأُولِيَنَّهُ اِشتِدادَ البَأسِ

يَكسَحُهُم حَتّى غُروبِ الشَمسِ

I shall give him fierce strength

to sweep them back until sunset,

لِمَوقِفِ الأُسطولِ يَسفِكُ الدِما

حَتّى يَرى قُدسَ الدُجى قَد خَيَّما

shedding blood to the fleet's station,

until he sees sacred darkness descend.'

أَلفَتهُ في مَركَبَةٍ مُنتَصِبا

قالت أَيا هكطورُ خُذ مِنّي النَبا

She found him standing in a chariot,

and said, 'Hector, hear my news.

يا عِدَّ زَفسَ زَفسُ بِالرِسالَه

أَنفَذَني فَاِستَمِعِ المَقالَه

Peer of Zeus, Zeus with a message

has sent me; listen to his words.

فَطالَما أَتريذُ في صَدرِ السُرى

يَبطُشُ فيهِم فاتِكاً مُدَمِّرا

While Atreides leads the ranks,

striking them, killing and destroying,

فَاِعتِزِلَن وَأَلقِ عِبءَ الصَدِّ

عَلى سِواكَ مِن سَراةِ الجُندِ

withdraw and place defense's burden

upon the other army chiefs.

لَكِن إِذا بِطَعنَةٍ فاهِقَةِ

أُصيبَ أَو بِرَمية خارِقةِ

But when a deep spear-thrust

or piercing missile wounds him,

وَراحَ يَعلو سُدَّةَ العِجالِ

هَكطورَ أُولي نُصرَةَ القِتالِ

and he mounts his chariot platform,

I grant Hector victory in battle.

لَيُؤتِيَنَّكَ اِشتِدادَ البَأسِ

تَكسَحُهُم حَتّى غُنروبِ الشَمسِ

He shall give you fierce strength

to sweep them back until sunset,

لِمَوقِفِ الأُسطولِ يَسفِكُ الدِما

حَتّى تَرى قُدسَ الدُجى قَد خَيَّما

shedding blood to the fleet's station,

until you see sacred darkness descend.'

غابَت وَهكطورُ إِلى الأَرضِ وَثَب

يَهِزُّ أَطرافَ القَنا بادي الغَضَب

She vanished; Hector leapt to earth,

brandishing spear-points, visibly furious.

يَرمَحُ في كُلِّ السُرى مُستَنهِضا

مُدَجَّجاً مُشَدِّداً مُحَرِّضا

He sped through all the ranks, rousing them,

fully armed, strengthening and urging them.

فَاِنقَلَبوا لِساحَةِ الهَيجاءِ

مُقابِلينَ زُمَرَ الأَعداءِ

They returned to the battlefield,

facing the enemy companies.

وَاِعتَصَبَ الإِغريقُ وَاِصطَفّوا فِرَق

وَاِشتَدَّتِ الحَربُ وَأَتريذ اِنطَلَق

The Greeks gathered and formed in divisions;

battle intensified, and Atreides advanced,

مُبَرِّزاً عَن سائِرِ الشُجعانِ

مُرَوِّعاً في ذلِكَ المَيدانِ

outstripping all the other brave men,

terrifying upon that battlefield.

وَلي فَقُلنَ يا بَناتِ الشِعرِ

مَن جاءَ يَلقاهُ بِبَدءِ الأَمرِ

Tell me, daughters of poetry,

who first came to confront him.

ذاكَ اِبنُ أَنطينورٍ الطَويلُ

أَفيدَماسُ الباسِلُ النَبيلُ

It was Antenor's tall son,

brave, noble Iphidamas,

سِبطُ لِكيسيسَ أَبي ثِيانوا

مَن شاعَ ذِكراً حُسنُها الفَتّانُ

grandson of Cisseus, father of Theano,

whose enchanting beauty was renowned.

لَدَيهِ في إِثراقَةِ الغَيمِ

وَالخِصبِ طِفلاً شَبَّ في النَعيمِ

With him, in cloudy Thrace

and its fertile lands, he grew in luxury.

وَعِندَما تَرَعرَعض اِستَبقاهُ

في حِجرِهِ وَبِنتَهُ أَعطاهُ

When he matured, he kept him

in his household and gave him his daughter.

لَكِنَّهُ غادَرَها في الأَثر

مُذ شاعَ عَن حَربِ الأَراغِسِ الخَبَر

But he left her straight afterward,

when news of war with the Argives spread.

أَتى لِفَرقوتَ بِثِنتَي عَشَرَه

سَفينَةً يُنزِلُ فيها عَسكرَه

He came to Percote with twelve

ships carrying his soldiers.

مِن ثَمَّ إِليونَ أَتاها بَرّا

فَذا الذي أَتىريذَ رامَ كِبرا

From there he came overland to Ilium:

this was the man proudly challenging Atreides.

تَقابَلا حتّى دَنا التَلاقي

فَزَجَّهُ أَتريذُ بِالمزراقِ

They faced each other until meeting closely;

Atreides hurled his javelin at him.

فَصَرَّحَ الزُجُّ وَفي الحالِ اِنثَنى

أَفيدَماسُ وَبِعُنفٍ طَعَنا

The point missed; immediately Iphidamas

turned and thrust violently.

أَصابَ تَحتَ الدِرعِ بِالحِزامِ

فَدَفَعَ العامِلَ بِاِحتِدامِ

He struck the belt beneath the breastplate,

driving his spear-point furiously,

وَظَلَّ لا يُفلِتُهُ مِن يَدِهِ

مُعتَمِداً على قُوى عَضُدِهِ

never letting it leave his hand,

relying on his arm's strength.

في عُروَةِ اللُجينِ بالوَسطِ اِستَوى

وكالرَصاصِ اللَدنِ في الحالِ التَوى

It lodged in the central silver fastening

and instantly bent like pliant lead.

فَعِندَ ذا أَتريذُ كاللَيثِ وَثَب

وَذلِكَ الرامِحَ بالرُمحِ اجتَذَب

Then Atreides leapt like a lion,

seizing that spearman's spear.

وَاِجتَرَّهُ مِنهُ وَبالسَيفِ قَطَع

عُنُقَهُ فَغائِرَ الطَرفِ وَقَع

He wrested it away, and with his sword cut

his neck; he fell with dimming eyes,

يَهجَعُ مَصوعاً هُجوعَ الأَبَدِ

بِذَبِّهِ عَن قَومِهِ والبَلَدِ

lying struck down in eternal sleep,

defending his people and country.

وا وَيحَهُ عَن عِرسِهِ الفَتِيَّةِ

في البُعدِ قَد أُميتَ شَرَّ ميتَةِ

Alas for him, far from his young bride,

killed afar by a dreadful death.

نَأى وَما إِن كادَ وَهوَ ناءي

مُبتَدِئاً بِمئَةٍ مِنَ البَقَر

He departed, scarcely having begun, far away,

starting with a hundred cattle,

وَبِحِماهُ العَنزُ وَالغَنيمُ لَم

يُحصِها عَدٌّ وَلا تَقويمُ

while goats and sheep in his domain

were beyond counting or valuation.

خَيَّرَها مِنها بِأَلفِ رَأسِ

وَالآنَ أَتريذُ الشَديدُ البَأسِ

From these he promised her a thousand head.

Now Atreides, fierce in valor,

جَندَلَهُ مُجَرِّداً مِن شِكَّتِه

يَرجِعُ فيها لِسَرايا حَملَتِه

felled him and stripped his armor,

returning with it to his expedition's ranks.

فَالخَطبُ لاحَ لأَخينَ الأَكبَرِ

قاونٍ الفَتّاكِ وَالهشَمِ السَري

The disaster appeared to his elder brother,

fierce Coon, noble and illustrious.

فَذابَ بَثّاً وَأَساً عَلَيهِ

وَاِسوَدَّ نُورُ الشَمسِ في عَينَيهِ

He melted in anguish and grief for him,

and sunlight darkened in his eyes.

فَاِنسابَ لا يَراهُ أَتريذُ حِذا

صَفحَتِهِ وَالرُمحَ فيهِ أَنفَذا

He slipped unseen by Atreides beside

his flank, driving his spear into him.

فخَرَقَ الزُجُّ الحَديدُ الحَدِّ

مُؤَخَّرَ الساعِدِ تَحتَ الزَندِ

The keen-edged point pierced

the forearm's rear, below the wrist.

وَصاحَ يَدعو صَحبَهُ إِلَيهِ

مُجتَذِباً أَخاهُ مِن رِجلَيهِ

He shouted, calling his companions,

dragging his brother by the feet.

وَفَوقَهُ قَد أَسبَلَ المِجَنّا

يَدفَعث ضَرباً وَيَقيهِ طَعنا

Over him he spread his shield,

warding off blows and protecting against thrusts.

فَاِرتاعَ أَتريذُ وَلَكِن ما اِرتَدَع

ثُمَّ عَلى قاونَ بالعَزمِ اِندَفَع

Atreides was startled, but not deterred;

then he charged resolutely at Coon.

طَعَنَهُ بِالعامِلِ الرَواعِ

طَعنَةَ مِقدامٍ طَويلِ الباعِ

He pierced him with his dreadful spear-point,

a bold warrior's long-reaching thrust.

عَلى أَخيهِ خَرَّ مِيِّتاً فَضَرَب

عُنُقَهُ بِالسَيفِ وَالرَأسِ اِقتَضَب

He fell dead upon his brother; he struck

his neck with the sword, severing his head.

وَهكَذا فَالأَخوانِ اِنحَدَرا

لِدارِ آذِيسَ بِحُكمٍ قُدِّرا

Thus the two brothers descended

to Hades's house, by ordained decree.

وَظَلَّ أَتريذُ الوَغى يُباري

بِاللاسَيفِ وَالعامِلِ وَالحِجارِ

Atreides kept contesting the battle

with sword, spear-point and stones,

يَخوضُ ما بَينَ الأَعادي صائِلا

وَدَمُهُ السَخينُ يَجري سائِلا

charging amid the enemy,

his warm blood flowing freely.

حَتّى إِذا ما ذلِكَ السَيلُ اِنقَطَع

وَيَبِسَ الجُرحُ تَوَلّاهُ الوَجَع

But when that stream ceased

and the wound dried, pain seized him.

وَاِختَرَقَت قُواهُ آلامٌ وَلا

آلامُ سَهمٍ خارِقٍ قَد أُرسِلا

Agonies pierced his strength, fierce as

the pain of a piercing dart sent forth

تَرمي بِهِ بَناتُ هيرا الظُلَّمُ

أَلأَلِثِيّاتُ الَّتي لا تَرحَمُ

by Hera's cruel daughters,

the merciless Eileithyiai,

يَنفَذُ بِالأَعرضِ وَالإِماضِ

وَيَصدَعُ المَرأَةَ بِالمَخاضِ

penetrating the limbs with burning pain

and rending a woman in labor.

بِشِدَّةِ البَثِّ اِعتَلى مُلتاعا

وَقالَ لِلتَبعِ اِبتَغِ الأِشراعا

In fierce anguish he mounted, distraught,

and told his attendant, 'Seek the ships.'

وصاحَ بِالصَوتِ الجَهورِ العالي

يا صَحبُ يا قُيولُ أَبطالي

He shouted in a loud, resounding voice:

'Companions, chiefs, my heroes,

عَلَيكُمُ الآنَ بِإِبعادِ العِدى

عَن مَوقِفِ الأُسطولِ وَالفَوزُ بَدا

now you must keep the enemy

from the fleet's station; victory has appeared.

فَإِنَّ زَفسَ قَد أَبى إِصداري

بِصَدرِكُم لآخِرِ النَهارِ

For Zeus has refused to let me lead

at your front until day's end.'

فَطارَت الخَيلُ بِسَوطِ السائِقِ

تَجري وَأَتريذُ بِقَلبٍ خافِقِ

The horses flew beneath the driver's whip,

running, while Atreides's heart pounded.

صَدورُهُنَّ قَد كُسينَ زَبَدا

وَنَقعُ وَقعِهِنَّ لِلجَوِّ اِغتَدى

Their breasts were covered with foam,

and dust from their tread rose skyward.

وَمُذ رأى هَكطورُ أَتريذَ التَوى

فَصَوتُهُ كَالرَعدِ بِالقَومِ دَوي

When Hector saw Atreides turn away,

his voice thundered among the men:

يا آلَ دَردانوسَ وَالطُروادا

وَيا بَني ليقية الأَمجادا

'Dardanians and Trojans,

and glorious sons of Lycia,

إيهِ فَأَنتُم قادَةُ الهَيجاءِ

وَسادَةُ الإيقاعِ وَالإِبلاءِ

onward! You are leaders of battle,

masters of striking and martial prowess.

أَبسَلُ مَن في القَومِ طُرّاً غَرَبا

وَزَفسُ لي نَصراً مُبيناً وَهَبا

The bravest of all their men has departed,

and Zeus has granted me clear victory.

شُدّوا عَلى الإِغريقِ بِالعِجالِ

وَاِدَّخِروا مَجداً بِلا زَوالِ

Charge the Greeks with your chariots

and win imperishable glory.'

فَهاجَتِ النُفوسُ بِالجَحافِلِ

هِياجَها في أَنفُسِ الخَياطِلِ

The battalions' spirits were aroused

as the spirits of hunting packs

يُثيرُها صاحِبها هِياجاً

في إِثرِ خِرنَوصٍ وَلَيثٍ فاجا

are roused by their master

after a boar or charging lion.

وَهَكَذا هُكطورُ عِدُّ آرِسِ

أَثارَ طُرواداً عَلى الأَراغِسِ

Thus Hector, peer of Ares,

roused the Trojans against the Argives.

وَهوَ بِصَدرِ جَيشِهِ يَثورُ

بِشِدَّةِ البَأسِ بِهِم يَسيرُ

He stormed at his army's head,

leading them with fierce valor,

كَأَنَّهُ الإِعصارُ مِن فَوقُ اِندَفَق

وَفي عُبابِ البَحرِ قَلبَ اليَمِّ شَق

like a whirlwind rushing down

and cleaving the sea's surging heart.

فَياتُرى مَن أَوَّرلاً وَآخِرا

أَبادَ مُذ زَفسُ تَوَلّى ناصِرا

Who, then, first and last,

did he destroy when Zeus aided him?

أَوَّلُهُم كانَ الفَتى آسيُّسُ

فَعَفطَنوسٌ وَكَذا أُوفيتَسُ

First was the youth Asius,

then Autonous, and likewise Opites,

فَاِبنُ قِليطيسَ زُلُفسُ أُورُسُ

وَآغِلاوسٌ وَأُوفِلطِيُّسُ

then Clytius's son Dolops, and Orus,

and Agelaus and Opheltius,

وَهيفُنُوِّيسُ وإِيسِمنُ السَري

وَكُلُّهُم مِن زُعماءِ العَسكَرِ

and Hipponous and noble Aesymnus,

all leaders of the army.

لَكِنَّما قَتلاهُ بَينَ الجُندِ

فَتِلكَ لا تُحصى بِحَصرِ العَدِّ

But those he killed among ordinary soldiers

could not be numbered by any count.

هَبَّ بِهِم وَلا هُبوبَ العاصِفَه

تُثيرُها أَنواءُ ريحٍ قاصِفَه

He swept upon them beyond any tempest

roused by gusts of shattering wind.

فَتَدفَعُ الدَبورُ غَيماً رَكَما

نوطوسُ في السَحابِ لَمّا هَجَما

The west wind drives clouds heaped up

when Notus attacks among the clouds,

فَتَفلِقُ اليَمَّ وَتَنشُرُ الزَبَد

كَما رُؤوسَ القَومِ هَكطورُ حَصَد

cleaving the sea and spreading foam,

as Hector harvested the men's heads.

فَاِتَدَّ وَقعُ الخَطبِ وَالأضمرُ اِنجَلى

وَكادَتِ الإِغريقُ تُضوى فَشَلا

Disaster intensified, and the outcome grew clear;

the Greeks nearly collapsed in defeat.

فَصاحَ أوذيسُ ذيوميذُ عَلا

مَ بَأسُنا وَلّى بِرُزءٍ ثَقُلا

Odysseus shouted, 'Diomedes, why

has our valor vanished beneath crushing loss?

لَئِن يَفُز أَعدائُنا بِالسُفُنِ

وا خَزيَةَ العارِ وَثِقلَ المِحَنِ

If our enemies capture the ships,

oh, shameful disgrace and grievous trials!

هِيِّ فَكُرَّنَّ مَعي قالَ وكَما

يَهولُني العَدُوُّ مَها اِزدَحَما

Come, charge with me!' He said, 'Never

does the enemy frighten me, however dense.

لَكِنَّنا هَيهاتَ أَن نُؤتى الظَفَر

فَإِنَّما الطُروادَ زَفسُ قَد نَصَر

But victory for us is far away,

for Zeus has aided the Trojans.'

كَرَّ وَثَمبريسَ في الثَديِ رَمى

فَخَرَّ لِلأَرضِ وَأوذِس هَجَما

He charged and struck Thymbraeus in the breast;

he fell earthward, and Odysseus attacked,

وَتَبِعَهُ مُليونَ أَيضاً قَتَلا

وَغادَراهُما عَلى تِلكَ الفَلا

also killing his attendant Molion.

They left both upon that wilderness,

لا يَشهدانِ الكَرَّ وَالنِزالا

وَاِنثَنَيا عَلى تِلكَ الفَلا

no longer witnessing charges and combat.

The two turned upon that wilderness,

لا يَشهَدانِ الكَرَّ وَالنِزالا

وَاِنثَنَيا مِن بَعدِ ذا وِصالا

no longer witnessing charges and combat.

Then they turned again and attacked,

نَظيرَ خِرنَوصَينِ كاسِرَينِ

عَلى كِلابِ الصَيدِ مُرتَدَّينِ

like two fierce boars

turning upon hunting dogs.

فَأَعملا بَينَ الأَعادي الأَسَلا

وَاِهتَزَّتِ الإِغريقُ طُرّاً جَذَلا

They plied their spears among the enemy,

and all the Greeks trembled with joy.

ثُمَّةَ عُنقَ فارِسَينِ ضَربا

وَاِستَلَبا مَركَبَةً قَد رَكِبا

Then they struck two horsemen's necks

and seized the chariot they had ridden.

مِن وُلدِ ميروفوسَ مِن فَرقوتِ

أَبسَلِ مَن في القَومِ مِن رُتوتِ

They were sons of Merops of Percote,

among the bravest chiefs of their people.

قَد عَصَيا أَباهُما العَرّافا

وَاِتَّبَعا إِلى الوَغى الأَحلافا

They had disobeyed their prophetic father

and followed the allies into battle.

ساقَهُما داعي الردى فَأَقبَلا

عَلى ذيوميذَ الفَتى فَجُندِلا

Death's summons drove them forward

against young Diomedes, who felled them.

أَخمَدَ أَنفاسَهُما وَراحا

مِن بَعدِ ذا يَستَلِبُ السِلاحا

He extinguished their breath and went

afterward to strip their weapons.

وَأوذِسٌ جَندَلَ هُوفيداما

وَهيفَريخاً يَصطَلي اِحتِداما

Odysseus felled Hippodamus

and Hyperochus, burning with fury.

وَزَفسُ في إيذَةَ بِالمِرصادِ

فَوازَنَ القُوّاتِ في الأَعادي

Zeus watched from Ida

and balanced the opposing forces.

فَاِصطَدَمَ الأَبطالُ مِن كُلِّ الفِرَق

وَزُمَرَ العِدى ذيوميذُ اِختَرَق

Heroes clashed from every division,

and Diomedes pierced the enemy companies.

وَغَسطَروفَ بنَ فيونٍ جَرَحا

بِرُمحِهِ في حُقِّهِ فَاِنطَرَحا

He wounded Agastrophus, son of Paeon,

with his spear in the hip, felling him.

قَد خاضَ مُغتَرّاً سُرى الطلائِعِ

بِرِجلِهِ بَخوضُ في المعامِعِ

Overconfident, he had entered the foremost ranks,

going on foot amid the battle's turmoil.

وَالخَيلُ وَالسائِقُ في الساقَةِ قَد

ظَلَّت وَعَنهُ اِنقَطَعَت عُرى المَدد

His horses and driver had

remained behind; his means of aid were severed.

هُناكَ هَكطورُ رَأى وَاِنصَدَعا

وَصاحَ في الأَبطالِ ثُمَّ اِندَفَعا

Hector saw this there and was stirred,

shouted to the heroes, then charged.

وَاِندَفَعَت مِن خَلفِهِ كُلُّ السُرى

حَتّى ذيوميذُ الهُمامُ ذُعِرا

All the ranks rushed behind him,

until brave Diomedes grew alarmed.

قالَ أَرى هَكطورَ رَوّاعَ المَلا

يا أودِسٌ فَوراً عَلَينا أَقبَلا

He said, 'I see Hector, terror of men,

Odysseus, coming straight upon us.

قِف نَدفَعَنَّهُ وَبالعَزمِ وَقَف

مُسَدِّداً وَنَحوَ راسِهِ قَذَف

Stand; we shall repel him!' He stood resolutely,

aiming and casting toward his head.

فَفَوقَ رَأسِ البَيضَةِ الرُمحُ وَقَح

لَكِنَّما الفُولاذُ فولاذاً دَفَع

The spear struck the helmet's crown,

but steel repelled steel.

وَالقَونَسُ المُثَلَّثُ الأَطرافِ

عَن رَأسِهِ رَدَّ السِنانَ الجافي

The three-crested helmet

turned the harsh spear-point from his head.

ذَلِكَ مِن فيبوسَ فَضلٌ أَعظَمُ

فَهوَ بِذا المِغفَرِ قِدماً مُنعِمُ

This was a great favor from Phoebus,

who had long ago bestowed that helmet.

وَاِرتَدَّ هَكطورُ وَبالجَمعِ اِختَلَط

وَفَوقَ رُكبَتَيهِ للأَرضِ سَقَط

Hector recoiled and mingled with the crowd,

falling to earth upon his knees,

لِيَدِهِ مُستَنِداً حَيثُ التَوى

وَأَظلَمَت عَيناهُ مُنهَدَّ القُوى

supporting himself with his hand as he turned,

his eyes darkened, his strength shattered.

وَرَيثَما هَبَّ ذيوميذُ وَشَب

يَطلُبُ رُمحَهُ وَفي الأَرضِ نَشَب

While Diomedes sprang forward

to recover his spear, lodged in the earth,

أَفاقَ هَكطورُ بِالفَورِ اِعتَلى

وَساقَ بَينَ الجَمعِ يَأبى الأَجَلا

Hector recovered, immediately mounted,

and drove through the throng, escaping death.

فَصاحَ ذوميذُ وَبِالقَناةِ

جَرى أَأَيضاً فُزتَ بِالنَجاةِ

Diomedes shouted, running

with his spear, 'Have you escaped again?

يا كَلبُ كادَ عامِلي يُصميكا

لَو لَم يُبادِر فيبُسٌ يقيكا

Dog! My spear-point nearly killed you,

had Phoebus not hastened to protect you.

لَستَ تضؤُمُّ الحَربَ عَفواً أَبَدا

إِلّا بِهِ مُستَرفِداً مُستَنجِدا

Never do you freely enter battle

except seeking his aid and rescue.

لَكِنَّني سَوفَ أُلَقّيكَ الرَدى

إِن تُؤتِني الأَربابُ يَوماً مَدَدا

But I shall bring you death

if the gods ever grant me aid.

قَد فاتَكَ الفَوتُ فَرُح والآنا

سَأَبتَغي سِواكَ أَيّاً كانا

You have escaped; go—for now

I shall seek another, whoever he may be.'

وَلِاِستِلابِ اِبنِ فِيونٍ عَكَفا

فَجَرَّدَ اللأَمَةَ ثُمَّ اِنعَطَفا

He turned to strip Paeon's son,

removed the armor, then turned

مُقتَلِعاً مِغفَرَهُ ثُمَّ المِجَن

إِذا بِإِسكَندَرَ خُلسَةً كَمَن

to take his helmet and shield,

when Alexander secretly lay in ambush.

فَأَتكَأَ القَوسَ عَلى العَمودِ

في قَبرِءِ يَلو الشَيخِ فَخرِ الصيدِ

He rested his bow against the pillar

at old Ilus's tomb, pride of the nobles,

وَأَرسَلَ السَهمَ فَشَقَّ القَدَما

وَغاصَ في الأَرضِ بِسَيّالِ الدِما

and loosed an arrow that pierced the foot

and sank into earth amid flowing blood.

وَزََوجُ هيلانَةً مِن حَيثُ وَلَج

في ذَلِكَ الكَمينِ في الحالِ خَرَج

Helen's husband, from where he had entered

that ambush, immediately emerged,

مُقَهقِهاً مُبتَهِجاً مُفتَخِرا

لَم أُخطِئِ المَرمى وَسَهمي صَدَرا

laughing loudly, rejoicing and boasting:

'I missed not: my arrow found its mark.

يا حَبَّذا لو غاصَ في أَحشاكا

لِيَأمَنَ الطُروادُ مِن مَلقا كا

Would that it had sunk into your belly,

so the Trojans were safe from meeting you!

أَنتَ الذي كُلُّهُمُ مِنكَ اِرتَعَد

كَرِعدَةِ الماعِزِ مِن بَطشِ الأَسَد

All tremble before you

like goats before a lion's violence.'

أَمّا ذِيُوِميذُ فَجاشَ وَاِنثَنى

قالَ وَما غَرَّكَ يا وَجهَ الخَنا

Diomedes seethed and turned,

saying, 'What deceived you, shameless wretch?

سَدَّدتَ مُغتَرّاً بِذي القَوسِ أَلا

ما جِئتَني وَجهاً لِوَجهٍ مُقبِلا

You aimed confidently with that bow; why

did you not come face to face,

حَتّى تَرى يا أَخسأَ النُبّالِ

أَنَّكَ لا تُعَدُّ في الرِجالِ

to learn, vilest of archers,

that you count not among men,

وَأَنَّها لَن تَدفَعَن عَنكَ الأَسا

وَإِنَّما حامِلُها زيرُنِسا

and that it cannot ward suffering from you,

its bearer being merely a woman-chaser?

أَنالَكَ السُرُّ بِإِدراكِ القَدَم

مِنّي وَهَل يَذعَرُ ذا أَهلَ الهِمَم

Did striking my foot bring you delight?

Does that frighten men of resolve?

ما ضَرَّ سَهمُ خاسِئٍ رِعديدِ

يَهلَعُ كَالأَوغادِ أَو كَالغيدِ

A contemptible coward's arrow does no harm,

one trembling like knaves or tender maidens.

وَأَينَ أَنتَ مِن مَرامي أَسَلي

يُنفِذنَ مُذ يَصدُرنَ سَهمَ الأَجَلِ

How can you compare with my spear-casts?

As they fly, they deliver death's dart.

أَزواجُ مَن خَرَّمنَهُم أَيامى

وَوُلدُهُم في بُؤسِهِم يَتامى

The wives of those they fell are widows,

their children miserable orphans.

وَدَمُهُم يَسرَبُ وَالأَجسادُ

يُبيدُها في أَرضِها الفَسادُ

Their blood flows, and their bodies

are destroyed by decay upon the ground.

وَحولَهُم طَيرُ الفَلا تَحومُ

مِن بَعدِ أَزواجٍ بِهِم تَهيمُ

Wilderness birds circle around them,

instead of wives enamored of them.'

وَاِنقَضَّ أوذيسُ يَقيهِ فَجلَس

يُخرِجُ ذاكَ السَهمَ مِن حَيثُ أِحَبَس

Odysseus rushed to shield him; he sat

and removed the arrow from where it lodged.

فَاِشتَدَّتِ الآِمُ فيهِ فَاِعتَلا

وَقالَ لِلسائِقِ عُد بي عَجَلا

His pain intensified, and he mounted,

saying to the driver, 'Take me back quickly.'

فَباتَ أوذيسُ كَذا مُنفَرِدا

لَيسَ لَهُ مَن يَبتَغيهِ عَضُدا

Thus Odysseus remained alone,

with no one he could seek as support,

مُذ شَمَلَ الرُعبُ قُلوبَ الأَرغُسِ

فَنَفسَهُ ناجى بِحَرِّ النَفَسِ

since terror filled the Argives' hearts.

He spoke to himself with anguished breath:

وَيلاهُ ما الحيلَةُ إِن أَنهَزِمِ

فَالعارُ كُلُّ العارِ بَينَ الأُمَمِ

'Alas! What shall I do? If I flee,

utter disgrace among the nations.

وَإِن تَرَرَصتُ وَزَفسُ الأَعظَمُ

بَدَّدَ قَومي فَمَصيري أَشأَمُ

If I stand firm, while mighty Zeus

scatters my people, my fate is darker.

لا كُنتَ يا هاجِسُ دَعني هَل تُرى

غَيرُ الجَبانِ النِكسِ وَلّى مُدبِرا

Away, troubling thought! Leave me. Does

any but a base coward retreat?

وَلَيسَ لِلباسِلِ أَن يُبالي

أَصابَ أَم أُصيبَ في النِزالِ

A brave man must not care

whether he strikes or is struck in combat.'

وَبَينَما يَجولُ ذا بِفِكرِهِ

مُكتَئِباً مُفَكِّراً بِأَمرِهِ

While this revolved within his thoughts,

dejected and pondering his plight,

إِذا بِدُرّاعِ العِدى تَجمهَروا

وَبَيهَهُم أُسَّ بَلاهُم حَصَروا

armored enemies suddenly gathered

and surrounded their troubles' source among them,

كَفِتيَةٍ بِزُمرَةِ الكِلابِ

تَقنِصُ خِرنَوصاً بِبَطنِ الغابِ

like youths with a pack of dogs

hunting a boar deep in the forest.

فَيَبرُزُ الوَحشُ وَيَصلى غَضَبا

وَيَشحَذُ النابَ وَيَبدو مُرعِبا

The beast emerges, blazing with anger,

whets its tusk and appears terrifying.

يَصِرُّ بِالأَسنانِ وَالقُنّاصُ قَد

داروا عَلَيهِ وَهوَ بِالغَيظِ اِتَّقَد

It gnashes its teeth; the hunters have

circled it while it burns with rage.

فَماهُمُ يَخشَونَ مِنهُ الدَركا

وَهوَ بِمَن أَصابض مِنهُم فَتَكا

They fear not its pursuit,

though it slays whichever it catches.

وَهَكَذا أوذيسُ بِالرُمحِ وَثَب

وَذِيُّفيتَ بَينَ كِنفَيهِ ضَرَب

Thus Odysseus sprang with his spear

and struck Deiopites between the shoulders.

ثُمَّ ثوونَ وَأَنوَ قَتَلا

فَجاءَهُ خَرسيدَمٌ مُشتَعِلا

Then he killed Thoon and Ennomus,

and fiery Chersidamas came against him.

فَهَبَّ مِن مَركَبَةٍ يَبغيهِ

وَأُوذِسٌ في الحالِ يَلتَقيهِ

He leapt from a chariot to seek him,

and Odysseus immediately met him,

رَماهُ تَحتَ التُرسِ في سُرَّتِهِ

فَخَرَّ مَصروعاً عَلى راحَتِهِ

striking beneath the shield in his navel.

He fell stricken upon his palms.

ثُمَّ اِنثَنى وَاِبنَ هِفاسٍ طَعَنا

خَرُبسَ يُلقيهِ صَريعاً مُثخَنا

Then he turned and pierced Hippasus's son,

Charops, casting him down grievously wounded.

فَاِنقَضَّ صوقوسُ أَخوهُ الأَيهَمُ

وَصاحَ يضدوي يا أُذيسُ القَيِّمُ

His fierce brother Socus rushed forward

and shouted resoundingly, 'Worthy Odysseus,

يا زُبدَةَ الإِقدامِ وَالدَهاءِ

فَاليَومَ تُبلي أَيَّما إِبلاءِ

paragon of courage and cunning,

today you shall prove yourself indeed:

إِمّا حِمامُ وَلَدَي هِفاسِ

وَالسَلبُ وَالفَخارُ بَينَ الناسِ

either kill Hippasus's two sons,

winning spoils and fame among men—

هذا وَإِمّا مِن قَناتِيَ الرَدى

ثُمَّ أَتاهُ طاعِناً مُسَدِّدا

that—or receive death from my spear.'

Then he came, thrusting with careful aim.

فَنافِذُ السِنانِ في التُرسِ مَرَق واللَح

مَ تَحتَ الدِرعِ بِالخَصرِ اِختَرَق

The penetrating point passed through the shield, and flesh

beneath the breastplate at the waist it pierced.

لَكِن أَبَت فَالاسُ بِالخَفاءِ

نُفوذَهُ لِداخِلِ الأَحشاءِ

But Pallas secretly prevented

its penetration into his entrails.

وَلَم يَفُت أوذيسَ أَنَّ الجُرحا

ما كانَ قَتّالاً لِذا تَنَحّى

Odysseus perceived that the wound

was not fatal, so he stepped aside

وَصاحَ في صوقوسَ يا هَذا الشَقي

شَرَّ بِلىً مِنِّيَ سَوفَ تَلتَقي

and shouted at Socus, 'Wretched man,

you shall meet dire harm from me.

أَلجأتَني حيناً إِلى تَركِ اللِقا

لَكِن بِكَ الحَتفُ البَهيمُ أَحدَقا

You forced me briefly to leave combat,

but dark death has surrounded you.

وَبِصِقَيلِ عامِلي إِن تُقتَلِ

لآذِسَ النَفسُ تَدُم وَالفَخرُ لي

If my polished spear-point kills you,

your soul remains with Hades; glory is mine.'

فَاِرتاعَ صوقوسُ وَقَد رامَ الهَرَب

مُوَلِّياً لَكِنَّ أوذيسَ وَثَب

Socus grew frightened and sought escape,

turning away; but Odysseus sprang.

وَرُمحُهُ ما بَينَ كِتفَيهِ وَلَج

وَمِن شِعابِ الصَدرِ في الحالِ خَرَج

His spear entered between his shoulders

and immediately emerged through his chest.

فَخَرَّ في صَلصَلَةِ الحَديدِ

وَأوذِسٌ مُرتَفِعُ الهَديدِ

He fell amid clanging iron,

while Odysseus loudly threatened:

صوقوسُ ما أَنجَتكَ هَبّاتُ المَفَر

فَالمَوتُ أَعدى مِنكَ جَرياً وَأَشَر

'Socus, your dashes toward escape saved you not;

Death runs faster than you, and fiercer.

وَيَحَكَ لَم يُتَح لِوالِدَيكا

أَن يُغمِضا يَومَ الرَدي عَينَكا

Alas! Your parents were not granted

to close your eyes upon your death-day.

خَلَوتَ لِلطَيرِ فَظُفرٌ يَنشَبٌ

وَالأَجنُحُ الغَضَّةُ ضَرباً تَضرِبُ

You are left to birds; talons grip

and fresh wings beat upon you.

لَكِنَّني إِن مُتُّ فَالإِغريقُ

غَصَّ بِهِم في مَأتَمي الطَريقُ

But if I die, the Greeks

shall crowd the road at my funeral.'

وَاِجتَرَّ مِن مِجَنِّهِ وَالشاكِلَه

سِنانَ صوقوسَ بِتِلكَ الغائِلَه

He drew from his shield and flank

Socus's spear-point amid that distress.

فَجَرتِ الدِماءُ وَاِشتَدَّ الأَلَم

وَحَولَهُ جَيشُ العِدى طُرّاً هَجَم

Blood flowed and pain intensified;

the enemy army attacked all around him.

فَلِاِشتِدادِ الخَطبِ عادَ القَهقَري

وصاحَ يَدوي صَوتُهُ حَتّى السُرى

As danger intensified, he stepped backward,

shouting, his voice reaching the ranks.

دَعا ثَلاثاً يَطلُبُ الغِياثا

وَعى مَنيلا صَوتَهُ ثَلاثاً

Three times he called for rescue;

three times Menelaus heard his voice.

مالَ إِلى رَفيقِهِ أَياسِ قالَ

أَيا أَياسُ رَبَّ الباسِ

He turned to his companion Ajax, saying,

'Ajax, master of valor,

صَوتُ اُذيسَ أُذُني حالاً طَرَق

كَأَنَّما أُحرِجَ ما بَينَ الفِرَق

Odysseus's voice has just struck my ear,

as though trapped among the divisions,

وَشَدَّدَت أَزمَتَها عَلَيهِ

هَيِّ نُبادِر عَجَلاً إِلَيهِ

which have tightened their grip upon him.

Come, let us hurry to him.

أَخافُ مَهما صالَ يُضوى مُفرَدا

فَنَرِثُ الأَحزانَ عَنهُ سَرمَدا

I fear, however fiercely he fights, he falls alone,

leaving us everlasting sorrow.'

وَسارَ أَوَّلاً مَنيلا وَتَلا

أَياسُ كَالأَربابِ أَبناءِ العُلى

Menelaus went first, followed by

Ajax, like the gods, sons of heaven.

فَأَلفَيا أوذيسَ وَالطُروادُ قضد

تَكَأكَأوا عَلَيهِ عَدّاً وَعُدَد

They found Odysseus, with the Trojans

crowding upon him in numbers and arms,

كَأَنَّهُم مِن حَولِهِ ثَعالِبُ

عَلى الجِبالِ إِيَّلاً تُراقِبُ

like foxes around him

watching a stag upon the mountains.

في الإِيَّلِ القَنّاصُ سَهماً أَنشَبا

لَكِنَّهُ ما نالَ مِنهُ الأَرَبا

A hunter had lodged an arrow in it,

but had not secured his prey.

فَغابَ عَن مَرآهُ وَالثَعالي

مِن حَولِهِ تَجري عَلى التَوالي

It vanished from his sight, while foxes

ran around it one after another,

تَرومُ فَتكاً وَهوَ لا يُرامُ

يَجري وَلا يَلويهِ الاِزدِحامُ

seeking its death, though it remained unassailable,

running, undeterred by their crowding.

فَطالَما تَجري بِهِ قَوائِمُهُ

لا تَلتَوي لِجُرحِهِ عَزائِمُه

As long as its legs carry it,

its resolve does not yield to its wound.

لَكِن إِذا ما الدَمُ في الجُروحِ بَرَد

وَعَن خَفيفِ لَجَريِ بِالعَيِّ قَعَد

But when blood cools within its wounds

and exhaustion stops its swift running,

فازَت بِهِ في الطَودِ فَوقَ الغابِ

إِذا بِلَيثٍ فاتِكٍ قَضّابِ

they gain it on the mountain above the forest—

when a fierce, ravening lion appears,

يَذعَرُها ذُعراً فَتَلوي هَرَبا

وَهوَ بِهِ يَخلو مَنالاً طيبا

terrifies them, and they turn in flight,

leaving him alone with delicious prey.

كَذا أُذيسُ وَهوَ ما بَينَ العِدى

عَن نَفسِهِ يَدفَعُ بِالرُمحِ الرَدى

Thus Odysseus, amid the enemy,

warded death from himself with his spear.

بادَرَ آياسُ بِذَيّاكَ المِجَن

كَالبُرجِ يَحميهِ وَقَد كانَ وَهَن

Ajax hastened with that shield,

protecting him like a tower when he weakened.

فَفَرَّتِ الطَروادُ في كُلِّ مَفَر

ثُمَّ مَنيلا لِذِراعِهِ اِبتَدَر

The Trojans fled in every direction.

Then Menelaus rushed to his arm

وَاِجتَرَّهُ مِن بَينِ تِلكَ القَتَلَه

وَتِبعُهُ أَدنى إِلَيهِ العَجَلَه

and dragged him from those killers,

while his attendant brought the chariot near.

وَصالَ آياسُ وَدورِقلِ قَتَل

نَغلُ لِفريامَ وَفَندوقوسَ فَل

Ajax attacked and killed Doryclus,

Priam's bastard, and struck down Pandocus.

ثُمَّ لِسَندَراً وَفيراسَ رَمى

كَذاكَ فيلَرتَ يُفَجِّر الدِما

Then he struck Lysander and Pyrasus,

and likewise Pylartes, pouring forth blood,

كَالسَيلِ مِن شُمِّ الجِبالِ اِندَفَقا

تَمطُرُهُ أَنواءُ زَفسٍ غَدَقا

like a torrent rushing from lofty mountains,

fed abundantly by Zeus's rainstorms,

يَفيضُ للسَهلِ زُعاباً يَندَفِع

وَالأَرزَ وَالمَلولَ عُنفاً يَقتَلِع

flooding the plain in surging streams,

violently uprooting cedars and oaks

وَلِعُبابِ البَحرِ يَدفَعُ الزَبَد

كَما أَياسُ اِشتَدَّ فيهم وَاِتَّقَد

and driving foam into the swelling sea.

Thus Ajax pressed them and blazed with fury,

طَغا بِذاكَ السَهلِ كَالزُعابِ

يَبتَتُّ ظَهرَ الرَكبِ وَالرُكّابِ

raging across that plain like a flood,

cutting down chariots and their riders.

وَهَكطُرٌ في ثَغرِ إِسكامَندَرِ

يَصولُ في صَدرِ الجَناحِ الأَيسَرِ

Hector, at the Scamander's mouth,

attacked at the left wing's front.

وَقَد عَلا لَدَيهِ وَسطَ الفَيلَقِ

وَلا يَرى نَكالَ هَذي الفِرَقِ

Beside him, amid the army, uproar rose;

he did not see these companies' affliction.

وَقَد عَلا لضدَيهِ صَوتُ اللَغَبِ

حَولَ إِذومِنٍ وَنَسطورَ الأَبي

The sound of turmoil rose beside him,

around Idomeneus and proud Nestor.

وَهوَ بِمَركَبَتِهِ مُحتَدِمُ

كَتائِبَ الفِتيانِ حَطماً يَحطِمُ

He raged in his chariot,

shattering the young men's battalions.

لَكِنَّما جَيشُهُما ما بَرِحا

يَدفَعُ حَتّى ما خَوونُ جُرِحا

Yet their army continued

to resist until Machaon was wounded.

قَد كانَ كَاللَيثِ يَصولُ وَإِذا

في كِتفِهِ اليَمينِ سَهمٌ أُنفِذا

He had fought like a lion, when

an arrow pierced his right shoulder,

مُثَلَّثُ الأَطرافِ لِلإِسكَندَرِ

زَوجِ هِلانَةَ الجَميلِ الشَعرِ

three-pointed, belonging to Alexander,

husband of lovely-haired Helen.

َقفَومُ أَرغوسَ أولوا الإِقدامِ

خافوا اِنقِلابَ مَوقِفِ الصِدامِ

The courageous men of Argos

feared the battle's turn,

فَيَفتُكُ العِدى بِذَيّاكَ البَطَل

فَصاحَ إيذومينُ بادِيَ الوَجَل

lest the enemy kill that hero.

Idomeneus shouted, visibly alarmed:

نَسطورُ يا ذا المَجدِ وَالجَلالِ

هَيِّ فَهُبَّنَّ عَلى العِجالِ

'Nestor, man of glory and majesty,

come, leap upon the chariot,

وَسِر وَسوقَنَّ إِلى الأُسطولِ

بِما خَوونَ الماجِدِ النَبيلِ

depart and drive to the fleet

with glorious, noble Machaon.

هَذا النِطاسِيُّ الذي يَستَخرِجُ

سَهماً بِكَرّاتِ الصِدامِ يولَجُ

This physician, who extracts

arrows lodged during repeated clashes

وَفَوقَهُ يَذُرُّ بَلسَمُ الشِفا

بِجَحفَلٍ يُقاسُ إِن تَأَلَّفا

and sprinkles healing balm upon them,

is worth an assembled army.'

فَهَبَّ نَسطورُ وَما إِن كَذَّبا

وَبِاِبنِ أَسقَليبَ حالاً ذَهَبا

Nestor sprang up without delay

and immediately departed with Asclepius's son.

وَساطَ وَالجِيادُ كَالطَيرِ سَعَت

تَتوقُ لِلرُجوعِ مِن حَيثُ أَتَت

He whipped the horses, which sped like birds,

longing to return whence they came.

وَقِبرِيونُ تِبعُ هُكطورَ عَرَف

مُنقَلَبَ الطُروادِ في ذاكَ الطَرَف

Cebriones, Hector's attendant, noticed

the Trojans' reversal on that flank.

أَبصَرَهُم مِن فَوقِ عَرشِ العَجَلَه

إِزاءَ هَكطورَ لِذا أَوعَزَلَه

He saw them from the chariot seat

beside Hector, and therefore told him:

نَحنُ هُنا في طَرَفِ المُعَسكَرِ

نَفتُكُ فَتكَ الباسِلِ المُدَمِّرِ

'Here, at the army's edge,

we kill like courageous destroyers.

وَثَمَّ آياسُ المَنايا نَشَرا

وَالخَيلَ وَالفُرسانَ ذُعراً ذَعَرا

But there Ajax spreads death

and terrifies horses and horsemen.

نَعَم فَذا مِجَنُّهُ الكَبيرُ

مِن حَولِ كِنفَيهِ أَرى يَدورُ

Yes, that is his great shield

I see moving around his shoulders.

فَقُم نَسُق لِمأذِقِ الهَيجاءِ

حَيثُ عَلَت عَجاجَةُ الأَعداءِ

Come, let us drive into battle's straits,

where the enemies' dust-cloud rises,

هُناكَ حَيثُ اِصطَدَمَ الشُجعانُ

تَلاحَمَ المُشاةُ وَالقُرسانُ

where the brave men clash,

infantry and horsemen locked together.'

وَشَدَّدَ السَوطَ عَلى الجِيادِ

فَاِندَفَعَت لِساحَةِ الجِلادِ

He vigorously whipped the horses,

and they rushed to the combat-ground,

تَخَبِطُ بِالقَتلى وَبِاليَلامِقِ

عَلى نَجيعٍ مِن خُطاها دافِقِ

trampling corpses and shields,

through blood streaming beneath their steps.

حَتّى جَناحاص سُدَّةٍ المَركَبَةٍ

وَقَوسُها مِن تَحتِ تِلكَ السُدَّةِ

Even the sides of the chariot platform

and its rail beneath that platform

تَخَضَّبَت دَماً بِنَقعٍ فائِرِ

مِن دَورِ دولابٍ وَوَقعِ حافِرِ

were stained with blood in seething dust,

from turning wheels and striking hooves.

وَهَكطُرُ لِلفَتكِ يَصلى نارا

فغارَ ما بَينَ العِدى وَثارا

Hector burned with murderous fire,

raiding amid the enemy and raging,

يَطعَنُ فيهِم قاتِلاً مُجَندِلا

حَتّى سَراياهُم جَميعاً بَلبَلا

thrusting, killing and felling them,

until he confused all their companies.

وَظَلَّ كَرّاتِ الوَغى يُجاري

بِالسَيفِ وَالعامِلِ وَالحِجارِ

He kept contesting battle's charges

with sword, spear-point and stones.

وَهوَ عَلى ذَيّالِكَ البَأسِ أَبى

لِقاءَ آياسَ لِذا تَنكَّبا

Yet despite that valor, he refused

to encounter Ajax and avoided him,

خَشيَةَ أَن يُغاظَ زَفسُ إِن بَرَز

لِفارِسٍ أَبسَلَ مِنهُ وَأَعَز

fearing Zeus's anger if he challenged

a warrior braver and mightier than himself.

لَكِنَّ زَفسَ في المَقامِ الأَرفَعِ

رَوَّعَ آياسَ بِهَولِ المَصرَعِ

But Zeus, in the highest station,

terrified Ajax with dread of death.

فَدَهشاً أَطرَقَ وَالجَوبَ عَلى

كاهِلِهِ أَلقى وَعاد وَجِلا

Astonished, he bowed his head and cast

his shield upon his shoulder, retreating in fear.

بِطَرفِهِ جَيشَ العِدى يُباري

يَخطو ةوَيَنثَني كَوحشٍ ضاري

His eyes watched the enemy army

as he stepped and turned like a fierce beast,

وَخُطوَةً فَخُطوَةً يَلوي القَدَم

كَأَنَّهُ الضَيغَمُ في اللَيلِ هَجَم

drawing back his feet step by step,

like a lion attacking at night

وَالناسُ وَالكِلابُ في الأَسحارِ

تَحرُسُ حَولَ عُنَّةِ الأَبقارِ

while men and dogs before dawn

keep watch around the cattle enclosure.

تَسهَرُ كُلَّ اللَيلِ كَي لا يَرتَعا

بِشَحمِها وَلَحمِها وَيَرجِعا

They watch all night lest it feast

upon their fat and flesh, then return.

يَنقَضُّ مَدفوعاً بِفَرطِ السَغَبِ

لَكِن يَفوتُهُ نَوالُ الأَرَبِ

It lunges, driven by extreme hunger,

but cannot obtain its desire.

يَصُدُّهُ وَبلٌ مِنَ النِبالِ

وَلَهِبِ المَقابِسِ المُنهالِ

A shower of arrows repels it,

and a downpour of flaming torches,

حَتّى إِذا ما الفَجرُ لاحَ أَحجَما

مُكتَئِباً مُرتَعِداً مُحتَدِما

until dawn appears and it withdraws,

dejected, trembling and furious.

وَهَكَذا أَياسُ مُلتاعاً نَأى

عَن ساحَةِ القِتالِ وَالعَودَ اِرتَأى

Thus Ajax withdrew in anguish

from the battlefield, resolving to return.

وَهوَ يَصُدُّهُم بِجَوبٍ أَكبَرِ

أَلبِسَ سَبعَةً جُلودَ بَقَرِ

He repelled them with a mighty shield

covered with seven oxhides.

يُحجدِمُ حيناً ثُمَّ يَهجُمُ

بِبَأسِهِ المُعتادِ ثُمَّ يُهزَمُ

Awhile he withdrew, then attacked

with his accustomed valor, then was driven back.

وَصَدَّهُم في كُلِّ ذاكَ الزَمَنِ

صَدّاً ذَريعاً عَن بُلوغِ السُفُنِ

Throughout that time he checked them,

forcefully preventing them from reaching the ships.

يَحجِزُ مُشتَدّاً عَلى الأَعادي

بَينَ الأَخائِيَينَ وَالطُروادِ

He fiercely barred the enemy,

standing between Achaeans and Trojans.

وَصَيِّبُ النَيازِكِ القَتّالَه

عَلَيهِ مِن أَيدي العِدى مُنهالَه

A shower of deadly javelins

poured upon him from enemy hands.

فَبَعضُها عَن شِدَّةِ العَزمِ حُذِف

يَغُلُّ غَلّاً وَعَلى التُرسِ يَقِف

Some were cast with great force,

driving deep and lodging in his shield.

وَبَعضُها عَنهُ مَنالاً قَصَّرا

مُرتَكِزاً يَغوصُ في قَلبِ الثَرى

Others fell short of reaching him,

sticking deep in the earth.

وَلَم يَكَد يَراهُ أوريفيلُ

حَتّى اِنبَرى لِرَفدِهِ يَصولُ

Scarcely had Eurypylus seen him

before he sprang to help, attacking.

أَتاهُ لا يَعبَأُ بِالسِهامِ

تَنهالُ فَوقَهُ كَوَبلٍ هامِ

He came, heedless of missiles

pouring upon him like streaming rain.

وَأَرسَلَ المِزراقِ مِن حَيثُ اِنطَلَق

وَآفِمونَ القَرمَ في العُنفِ اِختَرَق

He launched his javelin as he advanced,

violently piercing brave Aphimon.

كَبِدَهُ مَزَّقَ ثُمَّ راحا

يَسلُبُهُ الشِكَّةَ وَالسِلاحا

He tore his liver, then went

to strip his armor and weapons.

فَاِنتَهَزَ الفُرصَةَ فاريسُ وَقَد

أُشغِلَ أوريفيلُ في تِلكَ العُدَد

Paris seized the opportunity while

Eurypylus was occupied with that equipment.

في حُقِّهِ أَنفَذَ سَهماً فضاِنكَسَر

نَضيُّهُ وَالدَمُ بِالجُروحِ اِنفَجَر

He drove an arrow into his hip; it broke,

its shaft snapping as blood burst forth.

لِصَحبِهِ التَوى بِبَرّاحِ الأَلَم

يَأبى الرَدى وَصاحَ يُنهِضُ الهِمَم

He turned toward his comrades in torment,

resisting death and shouting to rouse their courage:

يا نُخبَةَ الأَبطالِ جُندَ الباسِ

قِفوا اِدفَعوا الحِمامَ عَن أَياسِ

'Chosen heroes, soldiers of valor,

stand! Ward death from Ajax.

وَحَولَهُ تَأَلَّبوا فَخَشيَتي

يُصميهِ وَبلٌ مِن سِهامٍ صُبَّتِ

Gather around him, for I fear

a shower of arrows will kill him.'

وَمُذ لِذلِكَ النِداءِ اِنصَدَعوا

حَولَ أُريفيلَ الجريحَ اِجتَمَعوا

When they responded to that call,

they gathered around wounded Eurypylus.

وَدونَ أَيدٍ جُلنَ بِالعَوامِلِ

يَلامِقٌ أَلصِقنَ بِالكَواهِلِ

Before hands moving their spear-points,

shields were pressed against shoulders.

وَاِنضَمَّ آياسُ إِلَيهِم وَاِنقَلَب

وَاِشتَدَّ وَقعُ الحَربِ وَالطَعنُ اِنتَشَب

Ajax joined them and turned back;

battle's blows intensified and spear-fighting began.

وَكانَ آخيلُ عَلى البُعدِ رَقَب

وَفي مُؤَخَّرِ السَفينَةِ اِنتَصَب

Achilles had watched from afar

and stood at his ship's stern,

يَشهَدُ ما قَد حَلَّ بِالأَبطالِ

مشن قَومِهِ مِن مِحَن القِتالِ

observing what had befallen the heroes

of his people through battle's trials.

أَبصَرَ نَسطورَ الحَكيمَ اِنطَلَقا

عَلى الجِيادِ السابِحاتِ عَرَقا

He saw wise Nestor speeding

on horses swimming with sweat,

مَع ما خَوونَ يَنهَبُ الطَريقا

فَعَرَفَ السائِقَ وَالرَفيقا

with Machaon, devouring the road,

and recognized the driver and companion.

صاحَ بِفَطرُقلَ فَمِن خَيمَتِهِ

لَبّى وَهَذا مُبتَدا مِحنَتِهِ

He called Patroclus, who from his tent

answered—this began his affliction.

كَآرِسٍ مِن بابِهِ صاحَ وَما

رُمتَ اِبنَ فيلامِنِ نِداءي لِلحِما

Like Ares, he called from his doorway, 'What

did you want, son of Philamon, summoning me?'

قالَ أَخيلُ يا أَوَدَّ الخَلقِ لي

قَد بَلَغَ الإِغريقُ أَقصى الفَشَلِ

Achilles said, 'Dearest of all to me,

the Greeks have reached utmost defeat.

عَلى دَنِيِّ رُكبَتَيَّ صُغرا

سَيَنحَنونَ سائِللاينَ عُذرا

Low before my knees, in abasement,

they will bend, seeking pardon.

والآنَ نَسطورَ اِقصُدَنَّ مُسرِعا

وَاِسأَلهُ مَع أَيِّ جريحٍ رَجَعا

Now hurry straight to Nestor

and ask which wounded man he brought back.

ما إِن نَظَرتُ وَجهَهُ لَكِنَّهُ

أَشبَهَ ما خَوونَ طِبقاً مَتنَهُ

I did not see his face, but

his back looked exactly like Machaon's.

قَد مَرَّتِ الجِيادُ مِن أَمامي

طائِرَةً لِمَضرِبِ الخِيامِ

The horses passed before me,

flying toward the encampment.'

وَلَم يَكَد يُتِمُّ حَتّى كَرّا

فَطرُقلُ يَعدوا وَيُلَبّي الأَمرا

Scarcely had he finished before

Patroclus ran to obey the command.

وَنَسطُرٌ وَما خَوونُ وَصَلا

خَيمَةَ نَسطُرٍ بِها تَرَجَّلا

Nestor and Machaon reached

Nestor's tent and dismounted there.

وَتابِعُ الشَيخِ أُريميدونُ حَل

جِيادَهُ وَذَهَبا بِلا مَهَل

The old man's attendant Eurymedon unyoked

his horses; both went without delay

يُنَشِّفانِ العَرَقَ السَيّالا

عَلى نَسيمِ البَحرِ ثُمَّ مالا

to dry their streaming sweat

in the sea breeze, then turned

لِخَيمَةِ الشَيخِ وَفيما جَلَسا

وَهيكَميذا بِنتُ أُرسينُوِّسا

to the old man's tent; as they sat,

Hecamede, daughter of Arsinous,

تِلكَ الرِبحَلةُ البَديعَةُ الشَعَر

لِنَسطُرِ كانَت نَصيباً مُدَّخَر

that full-figured, lovely-haired woman,

had been reserved as Nestor's share.

أُهدِيَها جَزاءَ رَأيٍ أَصوَبا

لَمّا أَخيلُ تيندوسَ خَرَّبا

She was given him for his sound counsel

when Achilles ravaged Tenedos.

قامَت لِإِعدادِ الشَرابِ عامِدَه

لَدَيهِما تَنصِبُ أَبهى مائِدَه

She rose to prepare their drink,

setting a splendid table before them,

جَميلَةَ مَصقولَةَ القَوائِمِ

زَرقاءَها تَنبِذُ لَومَ اللائِمِ

beautiful, with polished legs,

its dark-blue finish beyond reproach.

مِن ثَمَّ أَلقَت فَوقَها دَسيعَه

مُؤَلَّقٌ نُحاسُها بَديعَه

Then upon it she placed a basin,

beautiful, its bronze gleaming.

وَمَزَجَت فيها عَلى الفَورِ البَصَل

وَخالِصَ الدَقيقِ مَع صافي العَسَل

She promptly mixed into it onions

and pure flour with clear honey.

وَوَضَعَت إِزاءَها كَوكباً أَغَر

كانَ لَدى نَسطورَ مِن قَبلِ السَفَر

Beside it she set a radiant cup,

which Nestor possessed before the voyage.

وَهوَ عَلى قائِمَتَيهِ اِنتَصَبا

وَبِمَساميرِ النُضارِ التَهَبا

It stood upon its two supports

and blazed with golden studs.

وَفَوقَ كُلِّ مِن عُراهُ الأَربعِ

طَيرُ حَمامٍ مِن نُضارٍ أَلمَعِ

Above each of its four handles

was a dove of shining gold.

وَذَلِكَ الكَوبُ إِذا ما يَطفَحُ

هَيهاتَ غَيرُ نَسطُرٍ يُزَحزِحُ

When that cup brimmed full,

none but Nestor could easily move it.

لَكِنَّما ذَيّالكَ الشَيخُ الصَفِي

يَحمِلُهُ حَملاً بِلا تَكَلُّفِ

Yet that venerable old man

lifted it without effort.

وَراحَتِ الصَبِيَّةُ السَبِيَّه

بِحُسنِها كالرَبَّةِ السَنِيَّه

The captive girl,

beautiful as a splendid goddess,

تَصُبُّ فيهِ خَمرَ إِفرَمنا عَلى

ماءٍ وَفَوقَهُ تَفُتُّ عَجَلا

poured Pramnian wine into it over

water, and hastily grated over it,

بِمِبرَدِ النُحاسِ جُبنَ السَخلِ

وَتَقتُلُ المَزيجَ خَيرَ قَتلِ

with a bronze grater, young goats' cheese,

tempering the mixture perfectly.

وَفَوقَهُ ذَرَّت دَقيقاً صافي

ثُمَّ دَعَتهُما لِلإِرتِشافِ

Over it she sprinkled pure flour

and invited them to sip.

إِذا بِفَطرُقلَ كَرَبٍّ ظَهَرا

في البابِ فَالشَيخُ رأى وَاِبتَدَرا

Then Patroclus appeared like a god

at the door; the old man saw and hastened,

وَقامَ عَن سُدَّتِهِ الوَقّادَه

بِيَدِهِ يَأخُذُ حُكمَ العادَه

rising from his gleaming seat

to take his hand, as custom required.

ثُمَّ دَعاهُ لِلجلوسِ فَأبى

وَقالَ يا مُريدَ زَفسَ الأَنجَبا

Then he invited him to sit, but he refused

and said, 'Noblest votary of Zeus,

عَفوا فَلَستُ بِمُلَبّي الأَمرِ

فَشَأنَ آخيلَ نَظيري تَدري

forgive me; I cannot obey.

You know Achilles's ways as I do:

قَد يَصطَلي عَفواً بسورَةِ الغَضَب

وَيُتهِمُ البَريءَ عَن غَيرِ سَبَب

he may suddenly burn with furious anger

and accuse the innocent without cause.

سَيَّرَني أَسأَلُ مِنكَ الخَبَرا

بِأَيِّ مَجرحٍ أَتَيتَ مُدبِرا

He sent me to ask you

which wounded man you brought back.

سَأَقفِلبَنَّ راجِعاً ذا الحينا

مُذ قَد عَرَفتُ الشَهمَ ما خَؤونا

I shall return this very moment,

now that I recognize brave Machaon.'

فقالَ نَسطورُ وَأَينَ يَلقى

أَخيلُ بِالإِغريقِ هَذا الرِفقا

Nestor said, 'Where does Achilles find

this kindness toward the Greeks?

أَما رَأ أَنَّ فَناهُم بادِ

وَاِشتَمَلوا بِحُلَّةِ الحِدادِ

Has he not seen their evident destruction

and their cloaks of mourning?

وَخَيرُ مَن فيهِم فَفي الأَشراعِ

بَينَ جريحٍ وَطَريحٍ ناعي

Their finest men are by the ships,

wounded or laid low, lamenting.

فَذا أَبو البَأسِ ذِيوميذُ البِطَل

أَلَّمَهُ السَهمُ وَبِالرَغمِ قَفَل

Here is Diomedes, valor's heroic father:

an arrow hurt him; unwillingly he returned.

وَذاكَ أوذيسُ وَأَتريذُ خَرَق

جِسمَهُما العامِلُ وَالدَمُ اِندَفَق

Odysseus and Atreides were pierced—

the spear-point entered their bodies; blood flowed.

وَهاكَ وريفيلَ بِالعُنفِ اِنكَسَر

بِفَخذِهِ نَبلٌ بِهِ الجُرحُ اِنفَجَر

And see Eurypylus: violently broken

in his thigh, an arrow burst his wound.

وَها هُنا تَرى الكَمِيَّ الباسِلا

بِهِ جَريحاً جشتُ تَوّاً قافِلا

Here you see the brave warrior

whom I have just brought back wounded.

لَكِنَّ آخيلَ عَلى شِدَّتِهِ

لَيسَ يُبالي بِبَني لُحمَتِهِ

But Achilles, despite his strength,

cares not for his own kin.

أَمُتَقاعِساً يَظَلُّ حَتّى

يَبتَتَّنا سَيفُ الأَعادي بَتّا

Will he remain idle until

the enemy sword utterly cuts us down

وَتَلهَبُ النيرانُ بِالأُسطولِ

تُبيدُها بِالجُندِ وَالقُيولِ

and flames blaze through the fleet,

destroying it with soldiers and chiefs?

وا أَسَفا الشَبابُ وَلّى وَمَضى

وَالبَأسُ وَالإِقدامُ عَنّي أَعرَضا

Alas! Youth has departed and passed,

and valor and courage forsaken me.

وفاتَني الإِبلاءُ والإيقاعُ

كما اِستَطالَت قَبلُ مِنّي الباعُ

Martial prowess and striking power escaped me,

as once my reach extended far,

يَومَ الإِلِيّونَ على صُوارِنا

سَطَوا فَأَجَّجنا لَظى أُوارِنا

when the Eleans upon our cattle herds

raided, and we kindled our burning wrath.

صُلنا عَلَيهم وَاِغتَنَمنا البَقَرا

فجاءَنا إيتومِنٌ مُستَعِرا

We attacked and captured their cattle.

Then furious Itymoneus came against us,

إِبنُ هِفيروخَ الذي قد كانا

يَحكُمُ في أَليذَةَ السُكّانا

son of Hyperochus, who

ruled the people in Elis.

فَنالَ مِنّي طَعنَةً نالَ الرَدى

بِها وَوَلّى القَومُ طُرّاً شُرَّدا

He received my thrust and met death

through it; all his men fled scattered.

وَخَلَتِ الأَنعامُ في السَهلِ لَنا

خَمسونَ سِرباً ماعِزاً مُسَمَّنا

The livestock on the plain became ours:

fifty herds of fattened goats,

وَمِثلُها مِن أَحسَنِ الأُبقورِ

وَمِثلُها مِن أَسمَةِ الخِنزيرِ

as many of the finest cattle,

as many of the fattest swine.

وَمِثلَ ذا الغَنيمَ سُقنا في الغَلَس

وَمِئَةً أَيضاً وَخَمسينَ فَرَس

We drove as many sheep through twilight,

and a hundred and fifty mares,

شَقراءُ طُرّاً تُرضِعُ الأَمهارا

سُقنا لِفيلوسَ نَؤُمُّ الدارا

all chestnut, nursing their foals.

We drove them homeward to Pylos.

كُنتُ فَتىً وَاِهتَزَّ نيلاً طَرَبا

أَبي لَعَودي غانِماً مُكتَسِبا

I was young; Neleus rejoiced,

my father, at my profitable, triumphant return.

وَصاحَتِ الدُعاةُ في مَن طَلَبا

مِن ذِمَّةِ الأَعداءِ مالاً سُلِبا

Heralds cried out to those seeking

property the enemy had stolen from them.

فَاِحتَشَدوا وَاِقتَسَموا القَليلا

وَذاكَ نَذرٌ مِن كَثيرٍ نيلا

They gathered and divided a little,

a small portion of the great gain,

حَيثُ الإِفِيّونَ عَلى قِلَّتِنا

صالوا بِفيلوسَ عَلى جُملَتِنا

for the Epeians, exploiting our fewness,

had attacked all of us in Pylos.

وَقَبلَ ذا بِأَحؤُلِ قَد صالا

هِرَقلُ فينا يَذبضحُ الأَبطالا

Years before, Heracles had attacked

our people, slaughtering heroes.

وَمِن بَني نيلا وَكانوا اِثنَي عَشَر

سِوايَ لَم يَبقَ لَدَيهِ اِبنُ ذَكَر

Of Neleus's twelve sons,

no son besides me remained to him.

فَزادَنا العَدُوُّ غَدراً وَاِعتَسَف

وَبِأَساليبِ اللداداتِ قَذَف

The enemy increased treachery and oppression

and assailed us with hostile devices.

وَفي اِقتِسامِ الكَسبِ نيلا أَفرَزا

قَطيعِ أَبقارٍ لَهُ وَأَحرَزا

When dividing the spoils, Neleus set aside

a cattle herd for himself and secured

سِربَ شِياهٍ بِرُعاتِها الَّتي

أَبقى لَه تَرعى ثَلاثمِئَةِ

a flock of sheep with their shepherds, which

he kept grazing for him, three hundred strong.

قَذِمَّةُ الأضعداءِ كانَت مُثقَلَه

لَهُ بَدينٍ رامَ أَن يُحَصِّلَه

The enemy's account was burdened

with a debt to him he sought to collect.

إِذا كانَ قَد أَرسَلَ لِلسِباقِ

أَربَعَةً مِن أَكرَمِ العِتاقِ

He had sent to the races

four of his noblest horses,

يا مُلُ أَن يَفوزَ بِالرِهانِ

بِقِدرِهِم وَنَدَبِ الفُرسانِ

hoping to win the wager

through their quality and the riders' skill.

لَكِنَّ مَولى الناسِ أَفغِياسا

مُعتَسِفاً قضد حَبَسَ الأَفراسا

But Augeas, lord of the people,

unjustly detained the horses

كَذَلِكَ المَركَبَةَ الغَرّاءَ

وَاللاسائِقُ المُستاءُ فَذّاً جاءَ

and likewise the splendid chariot;

the distressed driver returned alone.

لِذاكَ نيلا اِغتَمَّ وَالوَفرَ اِدَّخَر

وَوَزَّعَ الباقي بِعَدلٍ وَأَمَر

So Neleus grieved and kept that abundance,

dividing the remainder fairly and commanding

بِأَن نُضَحّي لِبَني الأَربابِ

شُكراً عَلى اَطايِبِ الأَسلابِ

that we sacrifice to the gods

in gratitude for the excellent spoils.

وَثالِثَ الأَيّامِ فاجأَنا العِدى

بِخَيلِهِم لا يُحصَرونَ عَددا

On the third day the enemy surprised us

with horsemen beyond counting.

وَالمُليُنانِ قائِدا الفُرسانِ

غِرّان للطِعانِ جاهِلانِ

The two Moliones led the horsemen,

young and ignorant of spear-fighting.

وَفي ثُغرِ أَلفِيا في طَرَفِ

فيلوسَ قامَت فَوقَ تَلٍّ مُشرِفِ

At the Alpheus's boundary, on Pylos's edge,

upon a commanding hill stood

بَلدَةُ إِثريونَ حاصَروها

يَبغونَ بِالعَنوَةِ أَن يُفنوها

the town of Thryon; they besieged it,

seeking to destroy it by force.

وَفي الدَياجي اِنحَدَرَت أَثينا

وَهُم بِذاكَ السَهلِ يَضرِبونا

In darkness Athena descended

while they attacked us on that plain,

وَنَبَّهَتنا لِلوَبالِ المُحدِقِ

فَهَمَّ بِالهِمَّةِ كُلُّ الفَيلَقِ

warning us of surrounding disaster.

The entire army sprang eagerly to action.

وَخالَني نيلاً صَبِيّاً غِرّاً

وَخافَ أَن أَكُرَّ فيمَن كَرّا

Neleus thought me an inexperienced boy

and feared I would charge with the others.

فَخَيلِيَ الجِيادَ أَخفى وَحَظَر

عُليَّ اَن أَجري عَلى ذاكَ الأَثَر

He hid my fine horses and forbade

me to follow that course.

فَراجِلاً بِعَونِها سِرتُ وَلي

كانَ لَدى الفُرسانِ أَسمى مَنزِلِ

So I went on foot with her aid,

winning the highest place among horsemen.

سِرنا إِلى حَيثُ لَدى آرينِسا

يَصُبُّ نَهرٌ قَد دَعَوا مينيساً

We traveled to where, beside Arene,

flows a river called Minyeius.

لِلفَجرِ ظَلّض تَرقُبُ الخَيّاله

تَعقُبها كَتائِبُ الرَجّالَه

The horsemen waited until dawn,

followed by infantry battalions.

ثُمَّ تَكَتَّبنا وَعِندَ الظُهرِ

طُرّاً نَزَلنا فَوقَ قُدسِ الثَغرِ

Then we formed companies, and at noon

all camped beside the sacred river-mouth.

مِن ثَمَّ أَعدَدنا الضَحياي الغُرّا

لِزَفسَ نَستَمِدُّ مِنهُ النَصرا

Next we prepared splendid sacrifices

for Zeus, seeking victory from him.

وأَلثِسُ النَهرُ لَهُ أَذكَينا

عِجلاً كَذا بِآخَرٍ ضَحَّينا

For the river Alpheus we slaughtered

a bull, and sacrificed another

لِفوسِذٍ وَعَجلَةٌ تَبيعَه

لِرَبَّةِ الحِكمَةِ وَالشَفيعَه

to Poseidon, and a yearling heifer

to the goddess of wisdom, our patroness.

ثُمَّ تَناوَلنا الطَعامَ وَرَقَد

كُلٌّ مُدَجَّجاً عَلى ذاكَ الجَدَد

Then we ate, and every man slept,

fully armed, upon that firm ground.

وَحالَما بَراحِ مِن خِبائِها

لِلأَرضِ أَرسَلَت سَنا ضيائِها

As soon as the sun from her pavilion

sent the splendor of her light earthward,

بِزَفسَ لُذنا وَأَثينا وَمَضى

لِلحَربِ جَيشُنا عَلى ذاكَ الفَضا

we invoked Zeus and Athena, and

our army crossed that open ground to war.

أَمّا الإِفِيّونَ فَحولَ البَلَدِ

تَأَلَّبوا بِعَدَدٍ وَعُدَدِ

The Epeians, around the town,

had gathered in numbers and arms,

فَتحاً يَرومونَ وَلَكِن نَظَروا

شِدَّةَ آريسَ بِنا وَذُعِروا

seeking conquest; but they saw

Ares's might within us and grew terrified.

فَأَوَّلُ الفُرسانِ مَطعوناً وَقَع

بِنَصلِ رُمحي عِندَما نَحوي اِندَفَع

The first horseman fell pierced

by my spear-point when he charged me:

مُليوسُ وَهوَ صُهرُ أَفغِياسِ

وَبَعلُ آغاميذَةِ الإيناسِ

Mulius, Augeas's son-in-law,

husband of delightful Agamede,

مَن كُنةَ نَبتِ الأَرضِ طُرّاً سَبَرَت

وَلِلعَقاقيرِ جَميعاً خَبَرَت

who understood every earthly plant

and knew all medicinal herbs.

جَندَلتُهُ فَخَرَّ مِن مَركَبَتِه

وَواثِباً عَلَوتُ في مَنَصَّتِه

I felled him; he fell from his chariot.

Leaping up, I mounted its platform

وَصُلتُ صَدرَ الجَيشِ وَالأَعداءُ

وَلّوا وَفيهِم عَلَتِ الضَوضاءُ

and attacked the army's front; the enemy

fled, and clamor rose among them.

راعَهُمُ أَنَّ زَعيمَ العَجَلِ

وَأَبسَلَ الأَبطالِ بِالحَتفِ بُلي

They were terrified that their chariot chief

and bravest hero had met death.

وَفيهِم هَبَبتُ كَالإِعصارِ

أَذبَحُ كُلَّ سارحٍ وَسارٍ

I swept among them like a whirlwind,

slaughtering every man moving or marching.

وَفَوقَ خَمسينَ مِنَ العِجالِ

بِمِئَةٍ مِن أَمنَعِ الأَبطالِ

On more than fifty chariots,

a hundred of the mightiest heroes

فتَكتُ طاعِناً وَأَولَيتُ الرَدى

وَمِنهُمُ اِغتَنَمتُ تِلكَ العُدَدا

I slew with thrusts, granting them death,

and seized their equipment.

وَكُدتُ أولي وَلَدي أَكتورا

وَمُليناً بِعامِلي الثُبورا

I nearly brought Actor's sons

and Molion's to ruin with my spear.

لَكِنَّما جَدُّهُما فوسيذُ في

مُكَثَّفِ الضَبابِ فيهما خَفي

But their grandfather Poseidon

hid them within thick mist.

وَلَم نَزَل نَكسَأُهُم في السَهلِ

وَنَصرُ زَفسٍ فَوقَنا يَستَعلي

We kept driving them across the plain,

Zeus's victory reigning above us,

نَذبَحُهُم وَنَسلُبُ السِلاحا

وَالخَيلُ فينا تَنهَبُ البِطاحا

slaughtering them and stripping weapons,

our horses devouring the flatlands,

حَتّى وَطِئنا أَرضَ بفُراسا النَعَم

وَصَخر أولينيسَ ذلك الأَشَم

until we trod rich Buprasium's land

and lofty Olenian rock.

وعندَ تَلِّ آلِسٍ أَثينا

بَدَت لِعَودٍ عاجِلٍ تَدعونا

At Alesium's hill Athena

appeared, calling us to return quickly.

عُدنا وَلَكِن بعدَما بِمَخفَقي

حَتفاً لَقي آخِرث جُندِيٍّ بَقي

We returned, but only after my blade

killed the last soldier remaining.

وَفي مآبِنا الأَخائِيّونا

شُكراً وَحَمداً كُلُّهُم يُسدونا

Upon our return, all the Achaeans

offered thanks and praise

لِزَفسَ في الأَربابِ أبناءِ العُلى

وَلِلفَتى نَسطورَ ما بَينَ المَلا

to Zeus among heaven's divine sons

and to young Nestor among men.

فذاكَ شَأني كانَ يَومَ المِحَنِ

إِن لَم يَكُن كالحِلمِ ماضي الزمَنِ

Such was my conduct in hardship's day,

unless the past is merely a dream.

لكِن أَخيلُ لَيسَ بِالشَقيقِ

وَسَوفَ يَبكي نَكبَةُ الإِغريقِ

But Achilles has no brotherly concern

and will lament the Greeks' disaster.

فَاِذكُر مِنِتيوسَ وَما قالَ لَكا

في إِفثِيا الفَيحاءِ مُذ أَرسَلَكا

Remember Menoetius and what he told you

in spacious Phthia when he sent you.

أَلَم أَكُن وَأوذِسٌ في القَصرِ

نَسمَعُ ما تَسمَعُهُ مِن أَمرِ

Were not Odysseus and I in the palace,

hearing the commands you heard,

يَومَ ذَهَبنا نَحشِدُ العُمّالا

بَينَ الأَخائيينَ وَالأَبطالا

the day we went recruiting fighters

and heroes among the Achaeans?

ودارُ فيلا كُنتَ مَع أبيكا

فيها وَآخيلُ الفَتى يَليكا

You were with your father in Peleus's house,

with young Achilles beside you.

وَالشَيخُ فيلا في فَناءِ الدارِ

مُؤَجَّجٌ فيها لَهيبَ النارِ

Old Peleus, in the courtyard,

had kindled a blazing fire,

يَحرِقُ أَفخاذاً مِنَ الثيرانِ

لِزَفسِ يَستَرضيهِ بِالقُربانِ

burning bulls' thigh-pieces

for Zeus, seeking favor with sacrifice.

وَفَوقَها يُريقُ مِن كَأسِ الذَهَب

مُدامَةً سَوداءَ مِن صافي العِنَب

Over them he poured from a golden cup

dark wine of pure grapes.

وَأَنتُمُ اللُحومَ تَقطَعونا

مِن مَدخَلِ البابِ نَظَرتمونا

You were cutting the meat

when you saw us at the doorway.

فَقامَ آخيلُ وَفي أَيدينا

أَمسَكَ راحِباً بِنا يَدعونا

Achilles rose and took our hands,

welcoming us and inviting us inside.

وَإِذ قَضَينا مشن شرابٍ ضافي

وَخَيرِ زادٍ حَقَّ لِلأَضيافِ

When we had enjoyed abundant drink

and the best food due to guests,

إِلَيكُما وَجَّهتُ قَولي عَلَنا

فَرُمتُما اللَحاقَ في الحالِ بِنا

I openly addressed you both,

and you wished to accompany us immediately.

فَقالَ فيلا لِأَخيلَ يا اِبني

بَرِّز عَلى الأَقرانِ يَومَ الطَعنِ

Peleus said to Achilles, 'My son,

excel your peers in spear-fighting.'

ثُمَّ مِنتيوسُ تَلا يَقولُ

رَفيقُكَ الباسِلُ ذا أَخيلُ

Then Menoetius followed, saying:

'Your brave companion here, Achilles,

فاقَكَ بَأساً نَسباً وَقَدرا

وَزِدتَهُ عُمراً وَزِدتَ خُبرا

surpasses you in valor, lineage and rank,

but you exceed him in age and experience.

فَاِنصَحهُ خَيراً وَلَهُ كُن مُرشِدا

يُطِعِ لِماتُريهِ مِن سُبلِ الهُدى

Counsel him well and be his guide;

he will heed the righteous paths you show.'

فَذاكَ أَمرُ الشَيخِ لَكِنّي أَرى

أَنَّكَ قَد نَسيتَ أَمراً أَمَرا

That was the old man's command, but I see

you have forgotten what he commanded.

بَلِّغ أَخيلَ قَبلَ إِدراكِ الدَرَك

قَولي عَساهُ مُصغِياً يَذعَنُ لَكَ

Tell Achilles my words before ruin

overtakes us; perhaps he will listen and yield.

فَرُبَّ رَبٍّ مالَ لِلتَرَفُّقِ

وَالخَيرُ في نُصحِ الرَفيقِ المُشفِقِ

Often a master inclines toward gentleness,

and good lies in a caring companion's counsel.

وَإِن يَكُن يَخشى حُلولَ البُؤسِ

بِوَحيِ ثيتيسَ لَهُ عَن زَفسِ

If he fears misfortune's arrival

through Thetis's revelation from Zeus,

فَبِكَ فَليَبعَث مَع المَرامِدَه

عَسى بِكُم لَنا تَتِمُّ الفائِدَه

let him send you with the Myrmidons;

perhaps through you our purpose will succeed.

وَأَلبَس سِلاحَهُ عَسى الطُروادُ

يَروعُهُم لِذَلِكَ الجِلادُ

Wear his armor; perhaps the Trojans

will be terrified of that encounter

إِن نَظَروهُ فيكَ وَالإِغريقُ

يَبدو لَهُم لِلراحَةِ الطَريقُ

when they see it on you, and the Greeks

will find a path to rest.

جَيشُكَ إِذ مَلَّ مِنَ القُعودِ

يَبطُشُ في جَيشِ العِدى المَجهودِ

Your army, weary of sitting idle,

will strike the exhausted enemy army.

بِذا تَقي السَفينَ وَالخَيمَ وَعَن

عاتِقِنا تَدرَأُ أَثقالَ المِحَنِ

Thus you protect ships and tents, and

lift grievous burdens from our shoulders.'

لِذاكَ فَطرُقلُ أَساً تَقَطَّرا

وَكَرَّ يَبتَغي أَخيلَ مُخبِرا

At this Patroclus melted with sorrow

and returned to inform Achilles.

وَإِذ لِأَشراعِ أُذيسَ عَرَضا

حَيثُ أَقامَ القَومُ ديوانَ القَضا

As he passed Odysseus's ships,

where the men established their court,

حَيثُ أَحَلّوا مَجلِسَ الأَعيانِ

وَنَصَبوا مَذابِحَ القُربانِ

where they held the council of chiefs

and erected sacrificial altars,

بَدا أُريفيلُ لَدَيهِ عارِجا

مِن ساحَةِ الحَربِ جَريحاً عارِجا

Eurypylus appeared before him, limping,

wounded, limping from the battlefield.

يَرشَحُ مِن جَبينِهِ سَيلُ عَرَق

وَالسَهمُ بادٍ عَضَلَ الحُقِّ اختَرَق

A stream of sweat seeped from his forehead,

the visible arrow piercing his hip-muscle,

وَالدَمُ أَسوَداً سَخيناً يَجري

لَكِنَّهُ مُعتَصِمٌ بِالصَبرِ

and dark, warm blood flowed,

but he held fast to endurance.

فَرَقَّ فَطرُقلُ لِذاكَ المَنظَرِ

وَقالَ مُلتاعاً لِهَولِ المَخبَرِ

Patroclus was moved by that sight

and spoke, distressed by its dreadful import:

وا أَسَفا يا زُبدَةَ الأَغارِقِ

أَتُهلِكَنَّكُم ظُبى المَخافِقِ

'Alas, finest of the Greeks!

Will sharp blades destroy you

عَن دارِكُم نائينَ وَالأَصحابِ

لِتَذهَبوا مَطاعِمَ الكِلابِ

far from your homes and companions,

leaving you as food for dogs?

قُل لي أُريفيلُ أَفي الإِغريقِ

بِقَيَّةٌ لِعِبرِ ذا المَضيقِ

Tell me, Eurypylus: have the Greeks

any strength left to cross this crisis?

أَم ثَقُلَت وَطأَةُ هَكطورَ فَلا

مَرَدَّ لِلخَزي الوَبيلِ فَشَلا

Or has Hector's pressure grown so heavy

that grievous disgrace and defeat cannot be checked?'

قالَ فَبَل قَد قُضِيَ الأَمرُ وَلا

مَناصَ وَاِنظُر تَلقَ خَيرَ النُبَلا

He said, 'Indeed, the matter is settled; no

escape remains. Look: the finest nobles

بَينَ جَريحٍ وَطَريحٍ غادي

وَقُوَّةُ الطُروادِ في اِزدِيادِ

are wounded or laid low, departing,

while Trojan strength increases.

هَيِّ أَغِثني وَاِصحَبَنّي لِلخِيَم

وَأَخرِجِ السَهمَ يَزُل عَنّي الأَلَم

Come, help me and escort me to the tents.

Remove the arrow, and my pain will cease.

وَالجُرحَ فَاِغسِلهُ بِماءٍ فاتِرِ

وَاِسكُب عَلَيهِ بَلسَمَ القَناطِرِ

Wash the wound with lukewarm water

and pour upon it the centaurs' balm,

سِرٌّ حَفِظتَ عَن أَخيلَ وَهوَ عَن

أُستاذِهِ خَيرونَ في ماضي الزَمَن

a secret you learned from Achilles, who learned

from his teacher Chiron long ago.

أَمّا طَبيبانا فَفوذاليرُ

ما بَينَ دُرّاعِ العِدى مَحصورُ

Of our two physicians, Podalirius

is trapped among armored enemies,

وَما خَوونُ ذاكَ بادي العَطَبِ

في حاجَةٍ أَضحى إِلى التَطَبُّبِ

while Machaon, visibly injured,

himself now needs treatment.'

فَقالَ فَطرُقلُ سَرى الوَبالُ

وَيلاهُ ما الحيلَةُ وَالمآلُ

Patroclus said, 'Disaster has spread!

Alas! What resource, what outcome?

فها أَنا أَمضي إِلى أَخيلِ

أُبلِغُ قَولَ نَسطُرَ النَبيلِ

I am going to Achilles

to convey noble Nestor's words.

لكِن أَراني عَنكَ غَيرَ ناءِ

وَأَنتَ تَحتَ الأَزمَةِ اللأواءِ

But I cannot leave you

beneath this grievous distress.'

وَمِن ذِراعَيهِ بِلُطفٍ حَمَلَه

وَلِخيامِهِ سَليماً أَوصَلَه

Gently he supported him by his arms

and brought him safely to his tents.

وَمُذ لَدى الأَتباع في القُربِ ظَهَر

مَدّوا لَهُ الفِراشَ مِن جَلدِ البَقَر

When the attendants saw him approaching,

they spread an oxhide bed for him.

أَلقاهُ فَطرُقلُ عَلَيهِ وَقَطَع

بِالسَيفِ نَصلَ السَهمِ مِن حَيثُ وَقَع

Patroclus laid him upon it and cut

the arrow-point with his sword where it lodged.

وَغَسَلَ الجُرحَ وَعِرقاً مُرّاً

بِيضدِهِ فَتَّ وَحالاً ذَرّا

He washed the wound and a bitter root

he crushed by hand and promptly sprinkled.

فالتَأَمَ الجُرحُ وَأوقِفَ الدَمُ

وَأورفيلُ زالَ عَنهُ الأَلَمُ

The wound closed and bleeding stopped;

Eurypylus's pain departed.