English translations of Homer

Translators and scholars have translated the main works attributed to Homer, the Iliad and Odyssey, from the Homeric Greek into English, since the 16th and 17th centuries. Translations are ordered chronologically by date of first publication, with first lines provided to illustrate the style of the translation.

Not all translators translated both the Iliad and Odyssey; in addition to the complete translations listed here, numerous partial translations, ranging from several lines to complete books, have appeared in a variety of publications.

The "original" text cited below is that of "the Oxford Homer".^[1]

[1]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Hall, Arthur of Grantham	1539–1605, M. P., courtier, translator	1581	London, for Ralph Newberie	I Thee beseech, O Goddesse milde, the hatefull hate to plaine, Whereby Achilles was so wroong, and grewe in suche disdaine,	^[3]
Rawlyns, Roger		1587	London, Orwin		^[4]
Colse, Peter		1596	London, H. Jackson		^[5]
Chapman, George	1559–1634, dramatist, poet, classicist	1611–15	London, Rich. Field for Nathaniell Butter^[6]	Achilles' banefull wrath resound, O Goddesse, that imposd Infinite sorrowes on the Greekes, and many brave soules losd	^[7]
Grantham, Thomas	c. 1610–1664	1659	London, T. Lock	Achilles son of Peleus Goddes sing, His baneful wrath which to the Greeks did bring Unnumbred greifs, brave souls to hel did send	^[8]
Ogilby, John	1600–1676, cartographer, publisher, translator	1660	London, Roycroft	Achilles Peleus Son's destructive Rage, Great Goddess, sing, which did the Greeks engage	^[9]
Hobbes, Thomas	1588–1679, acclaimed philosopher, etc.	1676	London, W. Crook	O Goddess sing what woe the discontent Of Thetis' son brought to the Greeks; what souls Of heroes down to Erebus it sent,	^[10]
Dryden, John	1631–1700, dramatist, Poet Laureate	1700	London, J. Tonson	The Wrath of Peleus Son, O Muse, resound; Whose dire Effects the Grecian Army found:	^[11]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Ozell, John	d. 1743, translator, accountant	1712	London, Bernard Lintott
Broome, William	1689–1745, poet, translator
Oldisworth, William	1680–1734^[12]
Pope, Alexander	1688–1744, poet	1715	London, Bernard Lintot	Achilles' wrath, to Greece the direful spring Of woes unnumber'd, heavenly goddess, sing!	^[13]
Tickell, Thomas	1685–1740, poet	1715	London, Tickell	Achilles' fatal wrath, whence discord rose, That brought the sons of Greece unnumber'd woes,	^[14]
Fenton, Elijah	1683–1730, poet, biographer, translator	1717	London, printed for Bernard Lintot
Cooke, T.		1729
Fitz-Cotton, H.		1749	Dublin, George Faulkner
Ashwick, Samuel		1750	London, printed for Brindley, Sheepey and Keith

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Scott, J. N.		1755	London, Osborne and Shipton
Langley, Samuel,	1720– 1791 Rector of Checkley^[15]	1767	London, Dodsley
Macpherson, James	1736–1796, poet, compiler of Scots Gaelic poems, politician	1773	London, T. Becket	The wrath of the son of Peleus,—O goddess of song, unfold! The deadly wrath of Achilles : To Greece the source of many woes!	^[16]
Cowper, William	1731–1800, poet and hymnodist	1791	London, J. Johnson	Achilles sing, O Goddess! Peleus' son; His wrath pernicious, who ten thousand woes	^[17]
Tremenheere, William	1757–1838 Chaplain to the Royal Navy^[18]	1792	London, Faulder?
Geddes, Alexander	1737–1802, Scots Roman Catholic theologian; scholar, poet	1792	London: printed for J. Debrett
Bak, Joshua (T. Bridges?)		1797	London

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Williams, Peter?
Bulmer, William ^{[improper synthesis?]}	1757–1830, printer	1807		The stern resentment of Achilles, son Of Peleus, Muse record,—dire source of woe;	^[19]
Cowper, William (3rd edition)	1731–1800, poet and hymnodist	1809		Sing Muse the deadly wrath of Peleus' son Achilles, source of many thousand woes	^[20]
Morrice, Rev. James		1809		Sing, Muse, the fatal wrath of Peleus' son, Which to the Greeks unnumb'red evils brought,	^[21]
Cary, Henry	1772–1844, author, translator	1821	London, Munday and Slatter	Sing, Goddess, the destructive wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus, which brought many disasters upon the Greeks,	^[22]
Sotheby, William	1757–1833, poet, translator	1831	London, John Murray
Anonymous A Graduate Of The University of Oxford		1847	Dublin, Cumming and Ferguson	Sing, Goddess, the fatal resentment of Achilles, the son of Peleus, which caused innumerable woes to the Achaeans, and prematurely despatched many brave souls of heroes to Orcus, and made themselves (i.e. their bodies) a prey to dogs and all birds, (for the counsel of Jove was being accomplished,) from the time that Atrides, king of men, and the noble Achilles, first contending, were disunited.	^[23]
Munford, William	1775–1825, American lawyer ^[24]	1846	Boston, Little Brown
Brandreth, Thomas Shaw	1788–1873, mathematician, inventor, classicist	1846	London, W. Pickering	Achillies wrath accurst, O Goddess, sing, Which caused ten thousand sorrows to the Greeks,	^[25]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Buckley, Theodore Alois	1825–1856, translator	1851	London, H. G. Bohn	Sing, O goddess, the destructive wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus, which brought countless woes upon the Greeks,	^[26]
Hamilton, Sidney G.		1855–58	Philadelphia
Clark, Thomas		1855–58	Philadelphia
Newman, Francis William	1807–1893, classics professor^[27]	1856	London, Walton & Maberly	Of Peleus' son, Achilles, sing, oh goddess, the resentment Accursed, which with countless pangs Achaia's army wounded,	^[28]
Wright, Ichabod Charles	1795–1871, translator, poet, accountant	1858–65	Cambridge, Macmillan
Giles, Rev. Dr. J. A. [John Allen]	1808–1884, headmaster, scholar, prolific author, clergyman^[29]	1861–82		Sing, O goddess, the destructive wrath of Achilles son of Peleus, which caused ten thousand thousand griefs to the Achæans	^[30]
Dart, J. Henry	1817–1887, East India Company counsel^[31]	1862	London, Longmans Green	Sing, divine Muse, sing the implacable wrath of Achilleus! Heavy with death and with woe to the banded sons of Achaia!	^[32]
Barter, William G. T	1808–1871, barrister ^[33]^[34]	1864	London, Longman, Brown, and Green	The wrath of Peleus' son Achilles sing, O goddess, wrath destructive, that did on	^[35]
Norgate, T. S. [Thomas Starling, Jr.]	1807–1893, clergyman^[36]	1864	London, Williams and Norgate	Goddess! O sing the wrath of Pêleus' son, Achillès' wrath,—baneful,—that on the Achaians	^[37]
Derby, 14th Earl of Smith-Stanley, Edward 14th Earl of derby	1799–1869, Prime Minister	1864		Of Peleus' son, Achilles, sing, O Muse, The vengeance, deep and deadly; whence to Greece	^[38]
Simcox, Edwin W.		1865	London, Jackson, Walford and Hodder
Worsley, Philip Stanhope	1835–1866, poet	1865	Edinburgh and London, William Blackwood and Sons	Wrath of Achilleus, son of Peleus, sing, O heavenly Muse, which in its fatal sway	^[39]
Conington, John	1825–1869, classics professor	1865	Edinburgh and London, William Blackwood and Sons		^[39]
Blackie, John Stuart	1809–1895, Scots professor of classics	1866	Edinburgh, Edmonston and Douglas	The baneful wrath, O goddess, sing, of Peleus' son, the source Of sorrows dire, and countless woes to all the Grecian force;	^[40]
Calverley, Charles Stuart	1831–1884, poet, wit	1866		The wrath of Peleus' son, that evil wrath Which on Achaia piled a myriad woes,	^[41]
Herschel, Sir John	1792–1871, scientist	1866	London & Cambridge, Macmillan	Sing, celestial Muse! the destroying wrath of Achilles, Peleus' son: which myriad mischiefs heaped on the Grecians,	^[42]
Omega		1866	London: Hatchard and Co.	Sing, Muse, Achilles' scathing wrath, which bore A thousand sorrows to Achaia's shore—	^[43]
Cochrane, James Inglis		1867	Edinburgh	Sing, O heavenly goddess, the wrath of Peleides Achilles, Ruinous wrath, whence numberless woes came down to Achaia,	^[44]
Merivale, Charles, Dean of Ely	1808–1893, clergyman, historian	1868	London, Strahan	Peleïdes Achilles, his anger, Goddess, sing; Fell anger, fated on the Greeks ten thousand woes to bring;	^[45]
Gilchrist, James		1869		Sing, Goddess, the pernicious wrath of Achilles the son of Peleus, which caused innumerable woes to the Greeks,	^[30]
Bryant, William Cullen	1794–1878, American poet, Evening Post editor	1870	Boston, Houghton, Fields Osgood	O goddess! sing the wrath of Peleus' son, Achilles; sing the deadly wrath that brought	^[25]
Caldcleugh, W. G.	1812–1872, American lawyer^[46]^[47]	1870	Philadelphia, Lippincott	Sing of Achilles' wrath, oh heavenly muse, Which brought upon the Greeks unnumbered woes,	^[25]
Rose, John Benson		1874	London, privately printed

English translations of Homer

Iliad

Reference text

16th and 17th centuries (1581–1700)

Early 18th century (1701–1750)

Late 18th century (1751–1800)

Early 19th century (1801–1850)

Late middle 19th century (1851–1875)

Late 19th century (1876–1900)

Early 20th century (1901–1925)

Early middle 20th century (1926–1950)

Late middle 20th century (1951–1975)

Late 20th century (1976–2000)

21st century

Odyssey

Reference text

17th century (1615–1700)

Early 18th century (1701–1750)

Late 18th century (1751–1800)

Early 19th century (1801–1850)

Late middle 19th century (1851–1875)

Late 19th century (1876–1900)

Early 20th century (1901–1925)

Early middle 20th century (1926–1950)

Late middle 20th century (1951–1975)

Late 20th century (1976–2000)

21st century

Notes

References

Further reading

External links

Related Articles

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Barnard, Mordaunt Roger	1828–1906, clergyman, translator	1876	London, Williams and Margate
Cayley, C. B. [Charles Bagot]	1823–1883, translator	1877	London, Longmans	Muse, of Pelidéan Achilles sing the resentment Ruinous, who brought down many thousand griefs on Achaians,	^[22]
Mongan, Roscoe		1879	London, James Cornish & Sons
Hailstone, Herbert	Cambridge classicist, poet	1882	London, Relfe Brothers	Sing, goddess, the deadly wrath of Achilles, Peleus' son, which caused for the Achæans countless woes,	^[48]
Lang, Andrew	1844–1912, Scots poet, historian, critic, folk tales collector, etc.	1882^[49]	London, Macmillan	Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles Peleus' son, the ruinous wrath that brought on the Achaians woes innumerable,	^[50]
Leaf, Walter	1852–1927, banker, scholar
Myers, Ernest	1844–1921, poet, classicist
Green, W.C.		1884		Sing, goddess Muse, the wrath of Peleus' son, The wrath of Achilleus with ruin fraught,	^[30]
Way, Arthur Sanders (Avia)	1847–1930, Australian classicist, headmaster	1886–8	London, S. Low	The wrath of Achilles, the Peleus-begotten, O Song-queen, sing, Fell wrath, that dealt the Achaians woes past numbering;	^[51]
Howland, G. [George]	1824–1892, American educator, author, translator^[52]	1889		Sing for me, goddess, the wrath, the wrath of Peleian Achilles Ruinous wrath, which laid unnumbered woes on the Grecians;	^[53]
Cordery, John Graham	1833–1900, civil servant, British Raj^[54]	1890	London	The wrath, that rose accursèd, and that laid Unnumbered sorrows on Achaia's host,	^[55]
Garnett, Richard		1890		Sing, Goddess, how Pelides' wrath arose, Disastrous, working Greece unnumbered woes,	^[56]
Purves, John		1891	London, Percival	Sing, O goddess, the fatal wrath of Peleus' son Achilles, which brought ten thousand troubles on the Achæans,	^[57]
Bateman, C. W.		c. 1895	London, J. Cornish	Goddess, sing the destroying wrath of Achilles, Peleus' son, which brought woes unnumbered on the Achæans,	^[40]
Mongan, R.		c. 1895
Butler, Samuel	1835–1902, novelist, essayist, critic	1898	London, Longmans, Green^[58]	Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.	^[59]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Tibbetts, E. A.		1907	Boston, R.G. Badges
Blakeney, E. H.	1869–1955, educator, classicist, poet	1909–13	London, G. Bell and Sons	Sing, O goddess, the accursèd wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus, the wrath which brought countless sorrows unto the Achaians	^[60]
Lewis, Arthur Garner		1911	New York, Baker & Taylor
Murray, Augustus Taber	1866–1940, American professor of classics	1924–5	Cambridge & London, Harvard & Heinemann	The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus' son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought the countless woes upon the Achaeans,	^[61]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Murison, A. F.	1847–1934, Professor of Roman Law, translator, classicist	1933	London, Longmans Green	Sing, O goddess, the Wrath of Achilleus, son of king Peleus— Wrath accursèd, the source of unnumbered woes to the Achaioi,	^[62]
Marris, Sir William S.	1873–1945, governor, British Raj	1934	Oxford
Rouse, W. H. D.	1863–1950, Pedagogist of classical studies	1938	London, T. Nelson & Sons	An angry man—there is my story: the bitter rancour of Achillês, prince of the house of Peleus, which brought a thousand troubles upon the Achaian host.	^[63]
Smith, R. [James Robinson]	1888–1964, Classicist, translator, poet^[64]	1938	London, Grafton
Smith, William Benjamin	1850–1934, American professor of mathematics	1944	New York, Macmillan
Miller, Walter	1864–1949, American professor of classics, archaeologist	1944	New York, Macmillan
Rieu, E. V.	1887–1972, classicist, publisher, poet	1946	Harmondsworth, Middlesex, Penguin	The Wrath of Achilles is my theme, that fatal wrath which, in fulfillment of the will of Zeus, brought the Achaeans so much suffering and sent the gallant souls of many noblemen to Hades
Chase, Alsten Hurd	1906–1994, American chairman of preparatory school classics department^[65]	1950	Boston, Little Brown	Sing, O Goddess, of the wrath of Peleus' son Achilles, the deadly wrath that brought upon the Achaeans countless woes
Perry, William G.	1913–1998, Psychologist, professor of education, classicist^[66]	1950	Boston, Little Brown

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Lattimore, Richmond	1906–1984, poet, translator	1951	Chicago, University Chicago Press^[67]	Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son Achilleus and its devastation, which put pains thousandfold upon the Achaians,	^[68]
Andrew, S. O. [Samuel Ogden]	1868–1952, headmaster, classicist ^[69]^[70]	1955	London, J. M. Dent & Sons^[A]	Sing, Goddess, the wrath of Achilles Pelëides, The ruinous anger that woes on the Danaans brought	^[71]
Oakley, Michael J.		1955	London, J. M. Dent & Sons^[A]		^[71]
Graves, Robert	1895–1985, Professor of Poetry, translator, novelist	1959	New York, Doubleday and London, Cassell	Sing, MOUNTAIN GODDESS, sing through me That anger which most ruinously	^[72]
Rees, Ennis	1925–2009, American Professor of English, poet, translator^[73]	1963	New York, Random House	Sing, O goddess, the ruinous wrath of Achilles, Son of Peleus, the terrible curse that brought	^[72]
Fitzgerald, Robert	1910–1985, American Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory, poet, critic, translator	1974	New York, Doubleday	Anger be now your song, immortal one, Akhilleus' anger, doomed and ruinous,	^[74]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Hull, Denison Bingham	1897–1988, American classicist^[75]^[76]	1982		Sing, goddess, of Achilles' ruinous anger which brought ten thousand pains to the Achaeans	^[77]
Hammond, Martin	born 1944, Headmaster, classicist	1987	Harmondsworth Middlesex, Penguin^[78]	Sing, goddess, of the anger of Achilleus, son of Peleus, the accursed anger which brought uncounted anguish on the Achaians	^[79]
Fagles, Robert	1933–2008, American professor of English, poet	1990	New York, Viking/Penguin	Rage—Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,	^[80]
Reck, Michael	1928–1993, Poet, classicist, orientalist^[81]	1990	New York, Harper Collins	Sing, Goddess, Achilles' maniac rage: ruinous thing! it roused a thousand sorrows	^[82]
Lombardo, Stanley	born 1943, American Professor of Classics	1997	Indianapolis, Hackett	Rage: Sing, Goddess, Achilles' rage, Black and murderous, that cost the Greeks	^[83]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Johnston, Ian^[84]	Canadian academic	2002^[85]		Sing, Goddess, sing of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus— that murderous anger which condemned Achaeans	^[86]
Rieu, E. V. (posthumously revised by Rieu, D. C. H. and Jones, Peter)	1887–1972, classicist, publisher, poet	2003	Penguin Books	Anger—sing, goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that accursed anger, which brought the Greeks endless sufferings	^[87]
Merrill, Rodney	American classicist^[88]	2007	University of Michigan Press	Sing now, goddess, the wrath of Achilles the scion of Peleus, ruinous rage which brought the Achaians uncounted afflictions;	^[89]
Jordan, Herbert	born 1938, American lawyer, translator^[90]	2008	University of Oklahoma Press	Sing, goddess, of Peleus' son Achilles' anger, ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals,	^[91]
Kline, Anthony S.	born 1947, translator	2009		Goddess, sing me the anger, of Achilles Peleus' son, that fatal anger that brought countless sorrows on the Greeks,	^[92]
Mitchell, Stephen	born 1943, American poet, translator	2011	Simon & Schuster	The rage of Achilles—sing it now, goddess, sing through me the deadly rage that caused the Achaeans such grief	^[93]
Verity, Anthony	born 1939, classical scholar	2011	Oxford University Press	Sing, goddess, the anger of Achilles, Peleus' son, the accursed anger which brought the Achaeans countless	^[94]
McCrorie, Edward	born 1936, American poet and classicist	2012	The Johns Hopkins University Press	Sing of rage, Goddess, that bane of Akhilleus, Peleus' son, which caused untold pain for Akhaians,	^[95]
Oswald, Alice	born 1966 British poet, won T. S. Eliot Prize in 2002^[96]	2012	W. W. Norton & Company
Whitaker, Richard	born 1951, South African classicist, professor of classics	2012	New Voices	Muse, sing the rage of Peleus’ son Akhilleus, deadly rage that brought the Akhaians endless pain,	^[97]
Powell, Barry B.	born 1942, American poet, classicist, translator	2013	Oxford University Press	The rage sing, O goddess, of Achilles the son of Peleus, the destructive anger that brought ten-thousand pains to the	^[98]
Alexander, Caroline	born 1956, American classicist	2015	Ecco Press	Wrath—sing, goddess, of the ruinous wrath of Peleus' son Achilles, that inflicted woes without number upon the Achaeans,	^[99]
Blakely, Ralph E.		2015	Forge Books	Sing, goddess, of the wrath of Achilles Peleusson, the ruinous wrath that brought immense pain to the Acheans	^[100]
Green, Peter	1924–2024, British classicist	2015	University of California Press	Wrath, goddess, sing of Achilles Pēleus' son's calamitous wrath, which hit the Achaians with countless ills—	^[101]
Dolan, John	born 1955, poet and author	2017	Feral House	I didn't write this story. I'm just delivering it. ... It comes from way back, from the gods.	^[102]
Wilson, Emily	born 1971, classicist	2023	W. W. Norton & Company	Goddess, sing of the cataclysmic wrath of great Achilles, son of Peleus, which caused the Greeks immeasurable pain and sent so many noble souls of heroes to Hades,	^[103]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Chapman, George	1559–1634, dramatist, poet, classicist	1615	London, Rich. Field for Nathaniell Butter	The man, O Muse, inform, that many a way Wound with his wisdom to his wished stay;	^[105]
Ogilby, John	1600–1676, cartographer, publisher, translator	1665	London, Roycroft	That prudent Hero's wandering, Muse, rehearse, Who (Troy b'ing sack'd) coasting the Universe,	^[106]
Hobbes, Thomas	1588–1679, acclaimed philosopher, etc.	1675	London, W. Crook	Tell me, O Muse, th’ adventures of the man That having sack’d the sacred town of Troy,	^[107]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Cary, H. F.? (“Graduate of Oxford”)	1772–1844, author, translator	1823	London, Whittaker	O Muse, inspire me to tell of the crafty man, who wandered very much after he	^[111]
Sotheby, William	1757–1833, poet, translator	1834	London, John Murray	Muse! sing the Man by long experience tried, Who, fertile in resources, wander'd wide,	^[112]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Monro, David Binning	1836–1905, Scots anatomy professor, Homerist	1901	Oxford, Clarendon	— Note: translation inclusive of Books 13–24 —	^[142]
Mackail, John William	1859–1945, Oxford Professor of Poetry	1903–10	London, John Murray	O Muse, instruct me of the man who drew His changeful course through wanderings not a few After he sacked the holy town of Troy, And saw the cities and the counsel knew Of many men, and many a time at sea Within his heart he bore calamity, While his own life he laboured to redeem And bring his fellows back from jeopardy. Yet not his fellows thus from death he won, Fain as he was to save them: who undone By their own hearts' infatuation died, Fools, that devoured the oxen of the Sun, Hyperion: and therefore he the day Of their returning homeward reft away. Goddess, God's daughter, grant that now thereof We too may hear, such portion as we may.	^[143]
Cotterill, Henry Bernard	1846–1924, essayist, translator^[144]^[145]	1911	Boston, D. Estes/Harrap	Sing, O Muse, of the man so wary and wise, who in far lands Wandered whenas he had wasted the sacred town of the Trojans. Many a people he saw and beheld their cities and customs, Many a woe he endured in his heart as he tossed on the ocean, Striving to win him his life and to bring home safely his comrades. Ah but he rescued them not, those comrades, much as he wished it. Ruined by their own act of infatuate madness they perished, Fools that they were—who the cows of the sun-god, lord Hyperion, Slaughtered and ate; and he took from the men their day of returning. Sing—whence-ever the lay—sing, Zeus-born goddess, for us too!	^[146]
Murray, Augustus Taber	1866–1940, American professor of classics	1919	Cambridge & London, Harvard & Heinemann	Tell me, O Muse, of the man of many devices, who wandered full many ways after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy. Many were the men whose cities he saw and whose mind he learned, aye, and many the woes he suffered in his heart upon the sea, seeking to win his own life and the return of his comrades. Yet even so he saved not his comrades, though he desired it sore, for through their own blind folly they perished—fools, who devoured the kine of Helios Hyperion; but he took from them the day of their returning. Of these things, goddess, daughter of Zeus, beginning where thou wilt, tell thou even unto us.	^[147]
Caulfeild, Francis		1921	London, G. Bell & Sons	Sing me the Restless Man, O Muse, who roamed the world over, When, by his wondrous guile, he had sacked Troy's sacred fortress. Cities of various men he saw: their thoughts he discernéd. Many a time, in the deep, his heart was melted for trouble. Striving to win his life, and eke return for his comrades: Yet, though he strove full sore, he could not save his companions, For, as was meet and just, through deeds of folly they perished: Fools ! who devoured the oxen of Him who rides in the heavens, Helios, who, in his course, missed out their day of returning. Yet, how they fared and died, be gracious, O Goddess, to tell us. On page viii, Caulfeild gives the scansion in Homer's "original metre" of the third line of his translation as: Māny a \| tĩme in the \| deēp [– (pause or 'cæsura')] hĩs \| heārt was \| mēlted for \| trōublē,^[148]	^[148]
Marris, Sir William S.	1873–1945, governor, British Raj	1925	London, England, and Mysore, India, Oxford University Press	Tell me, O Muse, of that Great Traveller Who wandered far and wide when he had sacked The sacred town of Troy. Of many men He saw the cities and he learned the mind; Ay, and at heart he suffered many woes Upon the sea, intent to save his life And bring his comrades home. Yet even so His men he could not save for all his efforts, For through their own blind wilfulness they perished; The fools! who ate up Hyperion's kine; And he bereft them of their homing day. Touching these things, beginning where thou wilt, Tell even us, O goddess, child of Zeus.
Hiller, Robert H.	1864–1944, American professor of Greek^[149]^[150]	1925	Philadelphia and Chicago, etc., John C. Winston	Tell me, O Muse, of that clever hero who wandered far after capturing the sacred city of Troy. For he saw the towns and learned the ways of many peoples. Many hardships too he suffered on the sea while struggling for his own life and for the safe return of his men. Yet all his zeal did not save his companions. They perished through their own rashness — the fools! — because they ate the cattle of the Sun, and he therefore kept them from reaching home. Tell us also of this, 0 goddess, daughter of Zeus, beginning where you will.	^[151]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Bates, H. E.	1868–1929, novelist, short-story writer	1929	New York, McGraw Hill	Tell me the tale, Muse, of that man Of many changes, he who went	^[152]
Lawrence, T. E. (T. E. Shaw)	1888–1935, archaeological scholar, military strategist, author	1932	London, Walker, Merton, Rogers; New York, Oxford University Press	O divine poesy Goddess-daughter of Zeus	^[153]
Rouse, William Henry Denham	1863–1950, pedogogist of classic studies	1937	London, T. Nelson & Sons^[154]	This is the story of a man, one who was never at a loss. He had travelled	^[155]
Rieu, E. V.	1887–1972, classicist, publisher, poet	1945	London & Baltimore, Penguin	The hero of the tale which I beg the Muse to help me tell is that resourceful	^[156]
Andrew, S. O. [Samuel Ogden]	1868–1952, headmaster ^[69]^[70]^[B]	1948	London, J. M. Dent & Sons	Tell me, O muse, of the hero fated to roam So long and so far when Ilion's keep he had sack'd,	^[157]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Rees, Ennis	1925–2009, American Professor of English, poet, translator^[73]	1960	New York, Random House	Of that versatile man, O Muse, tell me the story, How he wandered both long and far after sacking The city of holy Troy. May were the towns He saw and many the men whose minds he knew, And many were the woes his stout heart suffered at sea As he fought to return alive with living comrades. Them he could not save, though much he longed to, For through their own thoughtless greed they died -- blind fools Who slaughtered the Sun's own cattle, Hyperion's herd, For food, and so by him were kept from returning. Of all these things, O Goddess, daughter of Zeus, Beginning wherever you swish, tell even us.	^[158] ^[159]
Fitzgerald, Robert	1910–1985, American Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory, poet, critic, translator	1961	New York, Doubleday	Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold on the proud height of Troy. He saw the townlands and learned the minds of many distant men, and weathered many bitter nights and days in his deep heart at sea, while he fought only to save his life, to bring his shipmates home. But not by will nor valor could he save them, for their own recklessness destroyed them all-- children and fools, they killed and feasted on the cattle of Lord Hêlios, the Sun, and he who moves all day through heaven took from their eyes the dawn of their return. Of these adventures, Muse, daughter of Zeus, tell us in our time, lift up great song again.	^[160]
Epps, Preston H.	1888–1982, American professor^[161]^[162]^[C]	1965	New York, Macmillan
Lattimore, Richmond	1906–1984, poet, translator	1965	New York, Harper & Row^[163]	Tell me, Muse, of the man of many ways, who was driven far journeys, after he had sacked Troy's sacred citadel. Many were they whose cities he saw, whose minds he learned of, many the pains he suffered in his spirit on the wide sea, struggling for his own life and the homecoming of his companions. Even so he could not save his companions, hard though he strove to; they were destroyed by their own wild recklessness, fools, who devoured the oxen of Helios, the Sun God, and he took away the day of their homecoming. From some point here, goddess, daughter of Zeus, speak, and begin our story.	^[164]
Cook, Albert Spaulding	1925–1998, professor^[165]^[D]	1967	New York, W. W. Norton	Tell me, Muse, about the man of many turns, who many Ways wandered when he had sacked Troy's holy citadel; He saw the cities of many men, and he knew their thought; On the ocean he suffered many pains within his heart, Striving for his life and his companions' return. But he did not save his companions, though he wanted to: They lost their own lives because of their recklessness. The fools, they devoured the cattle of Hyperion, The Sun, and he took away the day of their return. Begin the tale somewhere for us also, goddess, daughter of Zeus.	^[166]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Hull, Denison Bingham	1897–1988, American classicist^[75]^[76]	1979	Ohio University Press
Shewring, Walter	1906–1990, Professor of classics, poet^[167]	1980	Oxford, Oxford University Press	Goddess of song, teach me the story of a hero. This was the man of wide-ranging spirit who had sacked the sacred town of Troy and who wandered afterwards long and far.	^[168]
Hammond, Martin	born 1944, Headmaster, classicist	2000	London, Duckworth^[169]	Muse, tell me of a man – a man of much resource, who was made	^[170]
Mandelbaum, Allen	born 1926, American professor of Italian literature and of humanities, poet, translator	1990	Berkeley, University California Press	Muse, tell me of the man of many wiles, the man who wandered many paths of exile	^[171]
Rieu, Emile Victor	1887–1972, classicist, publisher, poet	1991	London, Penguin	Tell me, Muse of that resourceful man who was driven to wander far	^[172]
posthumously revised by Rieu, D. C. H.	1916–2008, Headmaster, classicist
posthumously revised by Jones, Peter V.	Born 1942 Classicist, writer, journalist
Fagles, Robert	1933–2008, American professor of English, poet	1996	New York, Viking/Penguin	Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered	^[173]
Kemball-Cook, Brian	1912–2002, Headmaster, classicist^[174]	1993	London, Calliope Press	Tell me, O Muse, of a man of resourceful spirit who wandered Far, having taken by storm Troy's sacred city and sacked it.	^[175]
Dawe, R. D.	Classicist, translator^[176]	1993	Sussex, The Book Guild	Tell me, Muse, of the versatile man who was driven off course many times after he had sacked the holy citadel of Troy.	^[177]
Reading, Peter	born 1946, Poet	1994
Lombardo, Stanley	born 1943, American Professor of Classics	2000	Indianapolis, Hackett	Speak, Memory – Of the cunning hero The wanderer, blown off course time and again After he plundered Troy's sacred heights.	^[178]^[179]

Translator		Publication		Proemic verse	R
Eickhoff, R. L.	translator, poet, playwright, novelist, classicist^[180]	2001	New York, T. Doherty	Sing, Muse, of that wanderer who sundered The sacred walls of Troy and traveled Many sea-lanes while struggling for his Life and his men's return. His men, who In their folly slew and consumed the holy Cattle of the Sun, Hyperion, who Therefore spurned their journey home. Now, Muse, begin the tale of that man Of many masquerades.	^[180]
Johnston, Ian^[84]	Canadian academic	2006	Arlington, Richer Resources Publications	Muse, speak to me now of that resourceful man who wandered far and wide after ravaging	^[181]
Merrill, Rodney	American classicist^[88]	2002	University of Michigan Press	Tell me, Muse, of the man versatile and resourceful, who wandered many a sea-mile after he ransacked Troy’s holy city.	^[88]
Kline, Anthony S.	born 1947, translator	2004		Tell me, Muse, of that man of many resources, who wandered far and wide, after sacking the holy citadel of Troy.	^[182]^[183]
McCrorie, Edward	American professor of English, classicist	2004	Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press	The man, my Muse, resourceful, driven a long way after he sacked the holy city of Trojans:	^[184]
Armitage, Simon	born 1963, poet, playwright, novelist	2006	London, Faber and Faber Limited	Remind us, Muse, of that man of many means, sent spinning the length and breadth of the map after bringing the towers of Troy to their knees;	^[185]
Stein, Charles	American poet, translator^[186]	2008	Berkeley, North Atlantic Books	Speak through me, O Muse, of that man of many devices	^[186]
Mitchell, Stephen	born 1943, American poet and anthologist	2013	Atria Paperback	Sing to me, Muse, of that endlessly cunning man who was blown off course to the ends of the earth, in the years	^[187]
Powell, Barry B.	born 1942, American poet, classicist, translator	2014	Oxford University Press	Sing to me of the resourceful man, O Muse, who wandered far after he had sacked the sacred city of Troy. He saw	^[188]
Verity, Anthony	born 1939 classical scholar	2017	Oxford University Press	Tell me, Muse, of the man of many turns, who was driven far and wide after he had sacked the sacred city of Troy.	^[189]
Whitaker, Richard	born 1951, South African classicist, professor of classics	2017	African Sun Press	Tell me, Muse, of that resourceful man who trekked far and wide, when he’d sacked Troy’s holy place;	^[190]
Wilson, Emily	born 1971, classicist	2017	W. W. Norton & Company	Tell me about a complicated man. Muse, tell me how he wandered and was lost when he had wrecked the holy town of Troy,	^[191]
Green, Peter	1924–2024, British classicist	2018	University of California Press	The man, Muse—tell me about that resourceful man, who wandered far and wide, when he'd sacked Troy's sacred citadel	^[192]
Mendelsohn, Daniel	born 1960, American author, critic, essayist, and translator	2025	University of Chicago Press	Tell me the tale of a man, Muse, who had so many roundabout ways To wander, driven off course, after sacking Troy's hallowed keep;	^[193]