The translations of Homer's Iliad by Samuel Butler and Robert Graves present distinct approaches to rendering the epic poem into English. Samuel Butler's translation is known for its straightforward and prose-like style, aiming to capture the essence of the narrative in a clear and accessible manner. For instance, Butler begins the epic with a direct invocation to the goddess to sing of Achilles's wrath and the subsequent misfortunes it brought upon the Achaeans. His narrative places a strong emphasis on simplicity and clarity, which can be seen in descriptions such as those from Book 9, where Achilles muses on the choice between glory and long life. Butler's language tends to focus on delivering the story's events efficiently, making it approachable for readers less familiar with the nuances of ancient Greek. On the other hand, Robert Graves takes a more poetic and artistic approach in his translation, seeking to preserve the rhythmic and lyrical quality of the original Greek text. He employs a more elaborate and sometimes archaic language, as illustrated by his rendition of the opening lines, which personifies the muse as a "Mountain Goddess" to evoke a sense of grandeur and mythological context. Graves's translation often uses rich imagery and metaphor, as seen in the depiction of the cycle of human life in Book 6, where the leaves' lifecycle is mirrored with that of men in a lyrical fashion. This stylistic choice adds a layer of poetic nuance and depth, appealing to readers who appreciate a more interpretive and ornate translation that aims to evoke the original's poetic elements.
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.
Sing, Mountain Goddess, sing through me
That anger which most ruinously
Inflamed Achilles, Peleus' son,
And which, before the tale was done,
Had glutted Hell with champions—bold,
Stern spirits by the thousandfold;
Ravens and dogs their corpses ate
For thus did Zeus, who watched their fate,
See his resolve, first taken when
Proud Agamemnon, King of men,
An insult on Achilles cast,
Achieve accomplishment at last.