Samuel Butler's translation of the Iliad presents a straightforward and accessible version of the epic. His language is clear and direct, providing a narrative flow that is easy to follow. For instance, in the introduction, Butler captures the essence of the epic by stating, "Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans." This opening immediately establishes the theme of Achilles' wrath and its devastating consequences for the Achaeans. In his portrayal of the interaction between Athena and Diomedes, Butler uses simple and direct language to express Athena's encouragement, saying: "fear neither Ares nor any other of the immortals, for I will befriend you." This helps convey the accessibility of Butler’s version, highlighting divine intervention in human affairs without overly ornate language. Peter Green, on the other hand, provides a translation that strives to preserve the rhythmic and poetic qualities of the original Greek text. His rendition of the opening lines, "Wrath, goddess, sing of Achilles Pēleus's son's calamitous wrath," emphasizes the disastrous impact of Achilles’ emotions with a slightly more formal touch. Green's translation features a diverse vocabulary and attempts to capture the cadence of the original, as seen in his translation of the leaves metaphor from Book 6: "As the generation of leaves, so is that of mankind." This poetic approach seeks to convey the cyclical nature of human life in a way that resonates with Homer's style. In his depiction of Achilles' existential choice between glory and longevity, Green uses a nuanced language that emphasizes the hero's dilemma. Both translations offer valuable insights; Butler’s version is more straightforward, while Green’s approach is more poetic, aiming to maintain the epic’s rhythmic spirit.
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.
Wrath, goddess, sing of Achilles Pēleus's son's
calamitous wrath, which hit the Achaians with countless ills—
many the valiant souls it saw off down to Hādēs,
souls of heroes, their selves1 left as carrion for dogs
and all birds of prey, and the plan of Zeus was fulfilled
from the first moment those two men parted in fury,
Atreus's son, king of men, and the godlike Achilles.