between the rock and the cold, cold sea

ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε λῆγ᾽ ἔριδος, μηδὲ ξίφος ἕλκεο χειρί:
ἀλλ᾽ ἤτοι ἔπεσιν μὲν ὀνείδισον ὡς ἔσεταί περ:
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται:
καί ποτέ τοι τρὶς τόσσα παρέσσεται ἀγλαὰ δῶρα
ὕβριος εἵνεκα τῆσδε: σὺ δ᾽ ἴσχεο, πείθεο δ᾽ ἡμῖν.

"...But come now, leave off your strife, don't take your sword in hand:
But now, with words reproach him, just as it will be at all events:
for thus I speak, and this will have been accomplished too:
and then indeed thrice as much gleaming honour-gifts will be yours
on account of this hubris: you restrain yourself, and obey us."

"...Most hostile to me you are of Zeus-nourished kings:
for always to you strife and war is beloved, and battles.
If you're strong, a god bestowed that on you.
And having gone homeward together with your ships and your companion
Myrmiddons, be lord: I shall take no heed of you,
nor do I regard your grudgery. But I'll promise you this,
just as shining Apollo takes for himself the daughter of Chryses from me,
while I, together with my ships and my companions
will send her forth, I'll also carry off fine-featured Briseida,
your honour-gift, going myself to your tent, in order that you might know well
how much better I am than you, and some other might dread
to declare themselves equal to me, and to compare himself against me."

Thus he spoke. And distress was brought to the son of Peleus, and in his heart
and in his hairy breast he halted between two opinions,
whether he, by drawing his keen sword from beside his thigh,
and thus rouse up and slay in battle the son of Atreus,
or whether he should make an end to bitter anger and restrain his spirit.
Until he'd turned these things over against his wits and against his spirit,
he drew from its sheath his great sword, and Athena came
from heaven, for the white-armed goddess Hera sent her,
since she regarded both with affection in her spirit and she was distressed for both.
And she stood behind the son of Peleus, and grasped his golden hair,
appearing to him alone. Of the others no one saw.
And Achilleus was astounded, and he turned about, and immediately he perceived
Pallas Athena. Her eyes shone forth terribly.
And to her, speaking clearly, he addressed winged words:
"Why now, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, have you come?
Is it because you see here the hubris of Agamemon Atreus' son?
I will say one other thing for you, and I suppose it will come to pass,
of which insolence swiftly now may make and end for his life."

---

Today there were new routes at the climbing wall. For the first time in a very, very long time. Falling off things I haven't seen before is far less humiliating than falling off things I used to be able to do.

Routes: no official grades, but I believe I sent two 5s and most of a 6A, sight-lead (no beta, no top-rope) another 5, fell off a couple more 6As, and did yeoman's work on a 6B that may well become my two-month project. On Wednesday I'm to bring my own leadrope in so E. and I can try the roof.

---

Last week's FAoD has apparently brought on a touch of RSI. I may have to go look for wrist-straps.

"...Now, come on, let's drag a black ship into the heavenly sea,
and let's gather together oarsmen for the purpose, and a hekatomb
let's put aboard, and Chryses' fine-cheeked girl herself
we'll make go: and let a counselling man be chief aboard,
either Aias or Idomeneus or godlike Odysseus,
or you, son of Peleus, most fearsome of men,
in order that for us you may appease the Farworker by performing sacrifices."

With a grim look replied fleet-footed Achilleus:
"O shamelessnesss sent against me! O greed-for-gain!
How could any of the Achaeans be persuaded by your words
to go on a voyage or to battle men with might?
For I didn't come on account of Trojan warriors
in order to fight them here, since they're not blameworthy to me.
Never did they drive away my cattle, nor my horses,
nor ever in Phthia, fertile nurse of heroes,
did they spoil my harvest, since very many things are between us,
shady hills and the resounding sea.
But you, O great shameless one, we followed, so that you would be glad,
reaping honour for Menelaus and for you, Dog-eyes,
from Troy. Not one of these things do you show regard for, or trouble yourself about.
And you yourself threaten to take away my honour-prize,
for which I strove greatly, and which they gave me, the sons of the Achaeans...."

---

( Read more... )

Yesterday, I had a very civilised day. Full of loooooot, and the parent's man cooking good food, and dinner that felt comfortable and family-like. After twenty years of associating Dec 25th with HULK SMASH YOU NEVER LOVED ME (extended) family fights, it's amazing what a difference not having to be in touch with them makes to my fight/flight response system.

This morning I woke up with a cat curled at the base of my spine. This never happens. It made me feel unusually loved.

---

"...Always to be prophesying evils is dear to your heart
a good word never yet have you spoken, nor good accomplished,
and now prophesying to the Danaans, you proclaim
that on account of this the Farstriker sends griefs,
because for Chryses' bright girl I
did not want to accept ransom, since I greatly desire
to have her in my home: for I much prefer her to Clytemnestra
my lawful wife - she's not inferior in any way,
not in form, no, nor in nature, nor in heart nor yet in deeds.
But even so, I want to deliver her back if that's the more fitting thing:
I desire the army to be safe, rather than to be destroyed.
But for me straightaway provide an honour-prize, so not alone
among the Argives I may be left unrewarded, since that's not fitting.
You all see it, that my honour-gift goes elsewhere!"

Then godlike Achilles, swift of foot, answered him in turn:
"Noblest son of Atreus, most rapacious of all!
How will they give you an honour-gift, the great-souled Achaeans?
We don't know where there's much common property laid up
but everything from the city that we sacked, the army divided amongst itself,
and it wouldn't be fitting for the army to gather back these things already divided.
So release this woman now for the god: we Achaeans
will threefold and fourfold requite you for her, if ever Zeus
grants we may sack Troy's well-walled city."

---

Tonight I ran, a shambling thirteen-minute jog while the new moon made a sliver in the sky, and Venus gleamed beside it. And life is good.

In reply to him spoke Achilleus swift of foot:
"With good courage, indeed, speak what prophecy you know:
for by Apollo beloved of Zeus, from whom you, Calchas
when you pray aloud proclaim oracles to the Danaans,
no one - while I'm full of life, strong upon the the earth -
no one among our hollow ships will lay heavy hands upon you,
not anyone among all the Danaans, not even if you say, "Agamemnon"
- the best of the Achaeans, as he now vaunts himself to be.

I am most certainly mad.

---

This he avowed. Afraid, the old man obeyed his speech,
silently departed along the dunes of the loud-roaring sea,
and when he'd gone far off, venerable age prayed
to Lord Apollo, who lovely-haired Leto bore.
"Give ear to me, O silver-bowed, you who have warded away harm from Chryses
and Killa, sacred Tenedos too, you who are mighty-ruling Sminthian lord!
If ever gracefully I crowned for you your holy dwelling
if ever I burned for you fat-rich shanks
of bulls and of wild goats, fulfill my longing!
Let the Danaans atone for my tears in your swift death-dealing darts."

This he avowed, praying. To him radiant Apollo attended,
down he went from Olympus' peak angry at heart
bow borne on his shoulders with his close-covered quiver:
arrows clashed - yes - on his wrathful shoulder
stirred up, he came - and seemed like night.
Then he crouched, far off from the ships; let fly an arrow:
- baleful the scream birthed by bright bow -
first to mules he dealt death, next swift-footed hounds,
then sending piercing shafts into the men, he cast them down:
corpse-pyres were ever kindled in crowds.

---

I know, it's not good poetry, and in order to be even remotely poetic I'm taking a few liberties. But it's good practice.

Happy Longest Night.