Book 5 (*e）
The battle which was begun in the Fourth Book, on the 22d day of the action of the Iliad, is continued through the Fifth and Sixth Books, and this day ends with 7.380. The connexion between the two books is close. The Fourth Book has prepared the way for the conflicts of the Fifth Book; and Pandarus, who broke the truce, 4.93 ff., pays the penalty for his treachery by his death at 5.290 ff. The subject of the Fifth Book is announced at once, — the ‘Bravery of Diomed’ of Argos. The poet has prepared the way for this ‘Bravery’ by the scene at the close of the “*)epipw/lhsis, *d” 419 ff. The valor which Agamemnon doubted, 4.370 ff., is now manifested by mighty deeds. The Greek title, “*diomh/dous a)ristei/a”, in classical times covered not only the Fifth Book, but also a considerable part of the Sixth Book. See Hdt. ii. “*i *i” 6, where 6.289-292 is quoted as found “e)n *diomhde/os a)ristei/h|”.1-453. The Achaeans press forward victoriously.
1-94. Valorous deeds of the still unwounded Diomed. e)/nq' au)=: but then. The transition to a new scene involves a sort of contrast with what has preceded. cf. 471, “*m 182, *p” 477. cf. also “e)/nq' au)=te 541, *z” 234. e)/nqa: cf. 4.293. au)=: here nearly equiv. to “de/”. *palla\s *)aqh/nh: this goddess of war (cf. “pa/llw” brandish) had roused the Argives, 4.439, 515. She now reappears suddenly, without any information as to where she has been or what she has been doing. cf. the interpositions of Hephaestus, 23, of Aphrodite, 312, and of Apollo, 344. Athena had always cared for Tydeus (cf. 800 ff. and 4.390), and his son Diomed was one of her chief favorites.[2] me/nos: here seems to refer to physical might.
e)/kdhlos: conspicuous. Cf. “e)kpaifa/ssein 803, e)kprepe/) e)n polloi=si kai\ e)/coxon h(rw/essin *b” 483 (of Agamemnon).[3] *)argei/oisi: in appos. with “pa=sin”, rather than dat. with “meta/”. § 1 g.
ge/noito: for the following ‘hiatus,’ see on 4.147. kle/os ktl.: cf. “*s 121, n” 422. a)/roito: cf. 4.95.[4] Obs. the ‘asyndeton.’
dai=e/ oi(: kindled for him. “dai=e” is trans., as “*i 211, *s 206, 227, h” 7. cf. 7. a)ka/maton: unwearying. A standing epithet. — cf. ardet apex capiti cristisque a vertice flamma| funditur et vastos umbo vomit aureus ignis.| non secus ac liquida si quando nocte cometac| sanguinei lugubre rubent aut Sirius ardor Verg. Aen. x. 270 ff.[5] a)ste/ri ktl.: i.e. “*sei/rios” or the Dogstar. cf. 22.26 ff., where it is called “ku/n' *)wri/wnos”. Its ‘heliacal rising,’ about the middle of July, marked the height of “o)pw/ra”. The fruit season naturally comes much earlier in Greece than in the northern states of America or in England. Homer seems to know primarily but three seasons, — “e)a/r” (from about the middle of February), “o)pw/rh” (from about the summer solstice), and “xeimw/n” (from the latter part of October). Summer, in contrast to winter, is called “qe/ros”, and sometimes “qe/ros” may be the early summer and “o)pw/rh” the late summer. Of course, the bounds of the seasons were not definitely fixed. Aeschylus speaks of ‘winter,’ ‘flowery spring,’ and ‘fruitful summer’ (“qe/ros”), Prom. 454 ff.
o)pwrinw=|: cf. (“a)ste/ri”) “o(/s r(a/ t' o)pw/rhs ei)=sin *x” 27. o(/s te: “when it.”[6] lampro/n: for the cognate acc. used adverbially, cf. “deino/n *d” 420.
pamfai/nh|si: for the subjv. without “a)/n” in a general hypothetical sent., see on “e)e/rgh| *d” 131. leloume/nos ktl.: cf. “a)/rkton q' , h(\n kai\ a)/macan e)pi/klhsin kale/ousin| . . . oi)/h d) a)/mmoro/s e)sti loetrw=n *)wkeanoi=o e” 273 ff. *)wkeanoi=o: gen. of place. G. 179, 2; H. 760. cf. 6.508.[7] This verse resumes and repeats 4, after the comparison.
toi=on: the ultima is long by ‘position.’ § 41 m. a)po\ ktl.: cf. “*r 205, k” 362. w)/mwn: corresponds to “a)spi/dos” 4, as “krato/s” to “ko/ruqos”. cf. “tou= d' a)po\ me\n kefalh=s ko/ruq) ei(/leto kai\ sa/kos w)/mwn *o” 125.[8] cf. 16.285.
kata\ me/sson: i.e. between the two armies. o(/qi ktl.: “in the thickest throng.” cf. 93, “*l 148, *o 448, *f 528, *d” 302.[9] cf. 10.314.
h)=n de/ tis: a favorite beginning of an Epic story. cf. “*z 152, *b” 811, urbs antiqua fuit Verg. Aen. i. 12. *da/rhs: later ages made this Dares the teacher of Hector, and the author of a ‘Phrygian Iliad,’ older than Homer. Aelian V. H. xi. 2. The Latin work which purports to be a translation of that of Dares, is doubtless only a few centuries old. a)fneio/s: rich, like the priest at Ismarus, Od. 9.201 ff. a)mu/mwn: see on 4.89.[10] i(reu/s: no priests are mentioned in the Greek camp. Each was at tached to a special sanctuary, which he could not leave. The prayers and sacrifices for the army were offered by the king. See on 1.62.
*(hfai/stoio: Hephaestus and Athena (6.88, 269, 297) were worshipped in Troy, although they opposed the Trojans in their conflicts with the Greeks (20.33 ff.). The Trojans in general adored the same divinities (Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite, etc.) as the Greeks, just as they do not seem to have been distinguished by dress or custom. The poet, indeed, nowhere indicates a difference even in language; Greeks and Trojans converse together with perfect freedom. h)/sthn (“ei)mi/”): only here in dual. Elsewhere “h)=san” even after “du/w”. cf. 4.393.[11] *)idai=os: named from Mt. Ida, like his ‘homonym’ the herald Idaeus (3.248). See on 4.474.
ma/xhs: for the gen., see on “to/cwn *d” 196.[12] oi=: i.e. Diomed. Const. with “e)nanti/w”. See G. 186; H. 772.
a)pokrinqe/nte: separated, sc. from their companions. Their chariot was in advance of the Trojan line. This was careless; cf. 4.303 ff. — The following ‘hiatus’ is justified by the verse-pause. e)nanti/w: “to meet him.” Predicate. cf. 497, “a)nti/os h)=lqe qe/wn *z 54, a)nti/oi e)/stan a(/pantes *a” 535.[13] a)f' i(/ppoiin: for the const., see on 4.306. The convenience of the verse determined the use of the dual; the poet did not care to lay stress upon the exact number of the horses here any more than in 19. — The ultima of “i(/ppoiin” is treated as long before the verse-pause. § 41 p.
a)po\ xqono\s ktl.: on the analogy of “a)f' i(/ppoiin”. Diomed dismounted from his chariot at 4.419. pezo/s: on foot. Predicate. § 38 a.[14] 14 = “*g 15, *e 630, 850, *z 121, *l 232, *n 604, *p 462, *u 176, *f 148, *x 248, *y” 816. A formula to introduce the single combat of two warriors.
sxedo/n: for the use of an adv. with “h)=san”, see on “a)ke/wn *d” 22; § 3 j. e)p' a)llh/loisin: const. with “i)o/ntes”. For the idea of hostility in “e)pi/” (upon), see § 3 h “b”.[15] pro/teros: sc. “*diomh/dous”. cf. “u(/steros” 17.
proi+/ei ktl.: cf. 3.346.[16] 16-18 = 16.478-480 (with “*pa/troklos” for “*tudei+/dhs”).
“*tudei+/dew [*tudei/dou]”: const. with “w)=mon”, as is indicated by the rhythm as well as by the sense.[17] au)to/n: certainly very much like the Attic use as a personal pron., him; though some would translate himself, and find a contrast with the spear.
[18] *tudei+/dhs: clearly in appos. with “d”. cf. 4.20, and see § 24 k.
ou)x a(/lion: see on 4.498. But here the verse-pause, following “ou)x”, gives it emphasis in contrast with the action of Phegeus.[19] metama/zion: strictly an adj. with “sth=qos”, — but half in appos. with it, since it is separated from it by the verse-pause. Equiv. to “metacu\ tw=n mazw=n”. cf. “e)pomfa/lion *h” 267 (equiv. to “e)p' o)mfalw=|”), “e)pixqoni/wn *d” 45 (equiv. to “e)pi\ xqoni/”), “e)fe/stioi *b” 125 (which is explained by “oi(\ vai/ousi kata\ pto/lin”, equiv. to “e)f' e(sti/a|”). In general, ‘adjectives formed from a prep. and a subst. are equiv. to the prep. and the substantive.’ — cf. 4.480.
w)=se: sc. by the cast of his spear. cf. 11.143, 320. a)f' i(/ppwn: equiv. to “e)c o)xe/wn”. See on 111.[20] *)idai=os: here served as charioteer.
a)po/rouse: sprang down. This is explained in the second half-verse. cf. “a)no/rousen . . . lipw\n e(/dos *i” 193 f. — cf. ‘And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, . . . so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet,’ Judges iv. 15.[21] e)/tlh: did he have the heart.
peribh=nai: take his stand over. Cf. “a)mfi\ bai=ne 299, o(\s *xru/shn a)mfibe/bhkas *a” 37. The figure is taken from a beast standing over (bestriding) her young. cf. “a)mfi\ d' a)/r) au)tw=| bai=n), w(/s tis peri\ po/rtaki” (calf) “mh/thr *r” 4. a)delfeiou= [“a)delfou=”] ktame/noio: his slain brother. For the aor. mid. used as passive, see on 4.115.[22] ou)de\ ktl.: cf. 2.703, 726. The first neg. belongs to the whole sentence; the second is const. closely with “au)to/s”. — This fact as stated by the poet was also the prevailing motive in the mind of Idaeus when he left his brother.
me/lainan: see on 4.461.[23] a)lla/: “ei) mh/” would have been regular.
*(/hfaistos: in general, this god aided the Achaeans, but he saves Idaeus because of the services of the warrior's father. cf. 10 f. — The second half-verse explains and amplifies “e)/ruto”.[24] w(s dh/: namely in order that.
oi(=: i.e. Hephaestus. Ethical dative. a)kaxh/menos: for the accent, see § 31 e.[25] i(/ppous: strongly contrasted with the warriors.
e)cela/sas: sc. out of the throng of combatants.[26] 26 = 21.32.
kata/gein: to lead down, to lead back. Inf. of purpose. The coast was thought of as lower both than the ‘high seas’ and the inland plain. In most districts of Greece the ground rises rapidly from the sea. e)pi\ nh=as: equiv. to “e)s strato/n”. The ships drawn up on shore were such a prominent part of the Greek camp that ‘to the ships’ often means ‘to the tents.’[27] cf. 11.459.
*trw=es: the form of the sent. seems to be changed. See on 4.433. Or, this prominent word is placed before “e)pei/” which strictly should begin the clause. cf. 6.237; see § 1 k. ui(=e: object; at once divided into “to\n me/n, to\n de/”.[28] to\n me/n: i.e. Idaeus.
a)leua/menon: taking to flight. Coincident in time with “i)/don”. For the form, see § 30 i. kta/menon: slain. par' o)/xesfin: by the empty chariot. o)/xesfin: for the form, cf. “sth/qesfin” 41, and see § 15 a.[29] pa=sin ktl.: cf. “*p 280, *s” 223. See on 4.208. Here the Trojans are stimulated to fear and flight.
a)ta\r ktl.: Athena plots to remove Ares, the friend of the Trojans (see on 4.439), from the field of battle, in order to give free course to her favorite, Diomed. This action of Athena is not wholly satisfactory, however, since she is everywhere represented as far mightier than Ares, and after a time she aids Diomed in wounding Ares and driving him from the field, 827-867.[30] xeiro/s: for the gen., cf. 4.154.
[31] *)=ares, *)/ares: this verse is often quoted for the change of quantity in the penult of this name. See § 41 f “b”. Nowhere else in Homer is a word repeated immediately. Euripides and the Latin poets were rather fond of such repetition. ‘O Postume, Postume.’ — For the epithets without conj., see § 1 n, o. ‘The epithets paint three stages of war: attack, death, storming of the city.’
[32] ou)k a)\n dh\ ktl.: should we not, etc., “shall we not,” etc. A question in the sense of an exhortation. “Let us suffer these mortals” etc. Cf. “ou)k a)\n dh\ mei/neias a)rhi/filon *mene/laon *g” 52. Corresponding to this, is the use of the hortatory subjv. in the second clause, 34.
*trw=as me/n: correl. with “nw=i de/” 34.[33] ma/rnasqai: for the elision of “ai” in verb-endings, see § 10 a.
o(ppote/roisi: indir. question, as if ‘caring little’ had preceded. o)re/ch|: subjv., nearly as future. § 3 b.[34] xazw/mesqa: for the ending, see § 26 s.
*dio\s ktl.: Athena can hardly be in earnest here, since only at the beginning of “*q” does Zeus forbid the gods to take part in the conflicts. This is only a pretext, but Ares seems to be persuaded that he must not interfere with whatever plans Zeus has in mind.[36] cf. 18.389. Athena returns to Diomed at 121. Ares does not take part in the fight again until 461. He now is seated on the left of the battle which rages between the Scamander and the Simoïs.
kaqei=sen: generally treated as aor. of “kaqi/zw” seat. h)io/enti: high-banked. Cf. “ai)pa\ r(e/eqra” (“*skama/ndrou”) “*f 9, u(po\ krhmnou/s *f 26, u(yhlh\n ba/len o)/xqhn *f 171, o)/xqas pa\r potamoi=o *skama/ndrou *l” 499. — For the short vowel before “*sk”, see § 41 i. “e.”