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| Translation | Lines 1-11 (WATCHMAN) |
|---|---|
| Sommerstein (LCL) | I beg the gods to give me release from this misery — from my long year of watch-keeping, during which I’ve spent my nights on the Atreidae’s roof, resting on my elbows like a dog, and come to know thoroughly the throng of stars of the night, and also those bright potentates, conspicuous in the sky, which bring winter and summer to mortals, them as some set and others rise. And now I’m looking out for the agreed beacon-signal, the gleam of fire bringing from Troy the word and news of its capture; for such is the ruling of a woman’s hopeful heart, which plans like a man. |
| Lloyd-Jones | The gods I beg for deliverance from these toils, From my watch a year long, through which, sleeping upon the house of the Atreidae, like a dog, I have learned to know the assembly of the stars of night and those who bring winter and summer to mortals, the bright potentates, shining in the sky, the stars, when they set and at their rising. And now I am watching for the signal of the torch, the gleam of fire bringing news from Troy and the tidings of her capture; for such is the rule of a woman’s man-counseling, ever hopeful, heart. |
| Lattimore (Chicago) | I ask the gods some respite from the weariness of this watchtime measured by years I lie awake elbowed upon the Atreidae’s roof dogwise to mark the grand processionals of all the stars of night burdened with winter and again with heat for men, dynasties in their shining blazoned on the air, these stars, upon their wane and when the rest arise. I wait: to read the meaning in that beacon light, a blaze of fire to carry out of Troy the rumor and outcry of its capture; to such end a lady’s male strength of heart in its high confidence ordains. |
| Fagles (Penguin) | Dear gods, set me free from all the pain, the long watch I keep, one whole year awake … propped on my arms, crouched on the roofs of Atreus like a dog. I know the stars by heart, the armies of the night, and there in the lead the ones that bring us snow or the crops of summer, bring us all we have — our great blazing kings of the sky, I know them, when they rise and when they fall … and now I watch for the light, the signal-fire breaking out of Troy, shouting Troy is taken. So she commands, full of her high hopes. That woman — she manoeuvres [maneuvers Bantam] like a man. |
| Campbell, prose (1893) | Pray heaven I may be released from this weary task of year-long watching! Couched here upon the Atreidae’s roof, dog-like, reposing on my arm, I have come to know by heart the nightly assemblage of the stars, — the wanings and the risings of those constellations, bright potentates that, glittering in Ether, bring on for mankind their summers and their winter-seasons. And now I am watching for the flame-token, that fiery ray which is to bring from the Trojan land the rumour and report of overthrow. |
| Campbell, verse (1890) | I ask the gods deliverance from the toil Of these long watchings. Through twelve weary moons Couched on the Atridae’s house-top, like a dog, With head on hand, and ever-wakeful eye, I have conned the nightly concourse of the stars That shine majestical in yon clear heaven, And by their risings and their settings bring Summer and winter to the world. To-night I watch for the flame-signal that shall tell To us in Argos tidings borne from Troy, Voicing her capture. Such the strong command Of an expectant, passionate, man-souled woman. |
| Blackie (1850) | I pray the gods a respite from these toils, This long year’s watch that, dog-like, I have kept. High on the Atridan’s battlements, beholding The nightly council of the stars, the circling Of the celestial signs and those bright regents High-swung in ether, that bring mortal men Summer and winter. Here I watch the torch, The appointed flame that wings a voice from Troy, Telling of capture; thus I serve her hopes, The masculine-minded who is sovereign here. |
| Buckley (1849) | I pray the gods a deliverance from these toils, a remedy for my year-long watch, in which, couching on my elbows on the roofs of the Atreidae, like a dog, I have contemplated the host of the nightly stars, and the bright potentates that bear winter and summer to mortals, conspicuous in the firmament. And now I am watching for the signal of the beacon, the blaze of fire that brings a voice from Troy, and tidings of its capture; for thus strong in hope is the woman’s heart, of manly counsel. |
| Anon. [Blomfield?] (1822) | I ask indeed of the Gods a discharge from these toils, a relief of the year-long watch, in which couched on the top of the abode of the Atridae, like a dog, I observe the assembly of nightly stars, and the shining rulers that bring winter and summer to mortals, conspicuous in heaven. And now I look out for the signal (or, watch-word) of the torch, (or, beacon,) the flame of fire, bearing from Troy news, and tidings of its being taken: for so commands the masculine-purposed heart of the woman (i.e. Clytemnestra) expecting it (viz. the taking of Troy). |
| Potter (1777) | Ye fav’ring Gods, relieve me from this toil: Fix’d, as a dog, on Agamemnon’s roof I watch the live-long year, observing hence The host of stars, that in the spangled skies Take their bright stations, and to mortals bring Winter and summer; radiant rulers, when They set, or rising glitter thro’ the night. Here now I watch, if haply I may see The blazing torch, whose flame brings news from Troy, The signal of its ruin: these high hopes My royal mistress, thinking on her lord, Feeds in her heart … |