Books with author Homer (as translated by Samuel Butler)

Rendered into English Prose forthe use of those who cannotread the original by Samuel Butler. One of the best and most accessible translations, Butler brings new life to this classic book! An excerpt from BOOK I The quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles--Achilles withdraws from the war, and sends his mother Thetis to ask Jove to help the Trojans--Scene between Jove and Juno on Olympus. Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, first fell out with one another. And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel? It was the son of Jove and Leto; for he was angry with the king and sent a pestilence upon the host to plague the people, because the son of Atreus had dishonoured Chryses his priest. Now Chryses had come to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and had brought with him a great ransom: moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo wreathed with a suppliant's wreath, and he besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus, who were their chiefs. "Sons of Atreus," he cried, "and all other Achaeans, may the gods who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam, and to reach your homes in safety; but free my daughter, and accept a ransom for her, in reverence to Apollo, son of Jove." On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered; but not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away. "Old man," said he, "let me not find you tarrying about our ships, nor yet coming hereafter. Your sceptre of the god and your wreath shall profit you nothing. I will not free her. She shall grow old in my house at Argos far from her own home, busying herself with her loom and visiting my couch; so go, and do not provoke me or it shall be the worse for you."

The Iliad by Homer (as translated by Samuel Butler)Homer’s epic poem dates back to the eighth century, BC. The classic adventure story that follows the fate of two great armies takes place over just a two-week time period. The Iliad and Homer’s The Odyssey are the greatest poems to come from ancient oral tradition.The epic tale begins nine years after the start of the Trojan war between the Greeks and the Trojans. The Greek (Achaean) army has just taken the town of Chryse, and two beautiful maidens have been captured. The leader of the Achaean army, Agamemnon, takes one maiden, Chryseis, for himself. The second maiden, Briseis, is granted to Achilles, the most able and heroic of the Achaean soldiers. Chryseis’ father is a priest under the god Apollo, and when Agamemnon refuses to return his daughter, he sends a plague upon the Achaean army. After many die, Agamemnon agrees to return Chryseis. Upset about losing his prize, Agamemnon demands that Briseis be taken from Achilles and give to him. Achilles, insulted and angered by this offense, quits the Achaean army and vows revenge.As gods begin to take sides, the war increases in intensity and many lives are sacrificed. Troy becomes stronger and stronger, threatening to defeat the Achaean army once and for all. Will Achilles let go of his pride, rejoin his comrades, and defend his homeland? The Iliad was praised by the likes of Socrates and Plato, and continues to enthrall scholars today. It has been adapted into countless adaptations, literary and film.