The Iliad

Translated into Blank Verse
by Ichabod Charles Wright

(London 1861)

Selection from the Opening of the Poem

THE wrath of Peleus’ son, O goddess, sing—
Achilles’ baneful wrath—which to the Greeks
Brought woes unnumbered, and, to Hades’ depths
Hurrying the souls of many valiant chiefs,
Their bodies left a prey to dogs and birds:—
Yet was Jove’s will advancing to its end—
From the first hour when, after fierce debate,
Discord arose between the godlike prince
Achilles, and Atrides, king of men.

Which of the gods provoked the deadly feud? 10

Jove and Latona’s son. He, with the king

Indignant, sent a plague that scattered death
Throughout the host, in vengeance for his priest,
The aged Chryses, whom Atrides scorned,
When to redeem his child he sought the ships

With boundless ransom, bearing in his hands
The sacred chaplet of the archer god,
Far-darting Phœbus, twined on golden staff.
Much he entreated all the Greeks, but most

The two Atridæ, leaders of the war 20

“Ye sons of Atreus,” he began, “and ye
Warriors in greaves accountred, may the gods

Who in the mansions of Olympus dwell,

Grant you to overthrow king Priam’s city,

And safely reach your homes, as ye restore
My much-loved daughter, and accept these gifts,
Revering Phœbus, Jove’s far-darting son.”

Then with a shout the Greeks all gave consent
The priest to honour, and accept the gifts.

But pleased not Agamemnon such resolve: 30
Stern he dismissed the suppliant with harsh speech:

“Let me not find thee near the ships, old man,

Or lingering now, or venturing here again;

Lest nought the staff and chaplet of thy god

Henceforth avail thee. I release her not,

Until old age o’ertake her in my halls

In Argos, far from her dear native land,

Plying the loom, and busied at my couch.

Begone; nor vex me, if thy life be dear.”

This heard, the old man trembled and obeyed. 40

Silent he took his way along the shore

Lashed by the ceaseless loud-resounding waves:

Withdrawing then, he to Apollo prayed,

Son of Latona of the radiant hair.

“God of the silver bow, who dost protect

Chrysa, and holy Cilla, and with might

Rulest in Tenedos, O hear me now,

Sminthus; if e’er I decked thy beauteous fane,

Or burnt to thee fat thighs of bulls and goats

Accomplish this my prayer.—Let thy dread shafts 50

Avenge my tears upon the Argive host.”

REVIEW COMMENTS

In his engaging Preface, Wright explains that, in his view, earlier English translations of Homer (most notably those by Cowper and Pope) have kept Homer at a distance from the reader because the translators have placed too much of themselves into their work: “Hence it is, that the greatest of poets remains comparatively unknown to the mass of that nation which is perhaps most qualified by nature and education to enjoy him.” He concedes that “Any translation of Homer, taken as a whole, must be gravely defective” but he hopes “he may occasionally furnish to the English reader some faint idea of the glorious old Bard . . . .”

Wright’s translation certainly achieves more than this modest aim. The diction may be too often artificially aged and the Latinate sentence structure too often awkward to the modern reader, but the work is straightforward and direct, energetic and clear. Wright more than justifies his decision to reject the English hexameter (citing Longfellow’s comment that “the motions of the English Muse in that measure are not unlike those of a prisoner dancing to the music of his chains”). This translation invites comparison with Derby’s Iliad (also translated into unrhymed blank verse), two of the more enjoyable and successful nineteenth century English versions of Homer (produced almost simultaneously).

For the complete text of Wright’s Iliad, please use the following link: Wright Iliad.

For contemporary reviews of Wright’s Iliad, use the following links: Edinburgh Review, Vol 120-121 (1865) (a comparison with Derby’s translation); Saturday Review, Vol 21 (1866).

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