HOMER
HIS ILIADS
TRANSLATED,
ADORN’D
WITH SCULPTURE,
AND
ILLUSTRATED
WITH
ANNOTATIONS,
BY
JOHN OGILBY, Esq
Master of His MAJESTIES Revells in the Kingdom of
IRELAND
London 1660

[Sample from the Opening of the Poem]

Achilles Peleus Son's destructive Rage,
Great Goddess, sing, which did the Greeks engage
In many Woes, and mighty Hero's Ghosts
Sent down untimely to the Stygian Coasts:
Devouring Vultures on their Bodies prey'd,
And greedy Dogs (so was Jove's Will obey'd;)
Because Great Agamemnon fell at odds
With stern Achilles, Off-spring of the Gods.

REVIEW COMMENT

John Ogilby, one of the more intriguing characters in this list of Homer translators, began his study of Greek when he was well past his fiftieth year. His Iliad was (and still is) celebrated for its outstanding production values (quality of the paper, binding, and so on) and for its many remarkable illustrations. His translation aroused young Alexander’s Pope’s imaginative interest in Homer. However, the poetry (written in heroic couplets) has never been considered worthy of very close attention.

For an interesting illustrated account of Ogilby and his translation of the Iliad, use the following link: Ogilby.

[List of Published English Translations of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey]