Samuel Butler and Rodney Merrill present two distinct translations of Homer's "Iliad," each offering a unique style and perspective. Butler's translation is noted for its straightforward, prose-like approach that prioritizes readability. His language conveys the core narrative with clear and direct expressions. For example, in depicting the anger of Achilles, Butler opens with a simple invocation to the goddess to sing of Achilles's wrath and its consequences for the Achaeans. His translation tends to use plain language even in portraying the gods and heroes, as seen in Athena's encouragement to Diomedes, which employs straightforward speech. In contrast, Merrill’s version maintains a rhythmic, poetic style that more closely reflects the original Greek meter. His lines capture the musicality and the grandeur of Homer’s epic through the use of verse, which adds richness and depth to the reading experience. The opening line in Merrill's translation has a lyrical quality that matches the intensity of the original epic, emphasizing the "ruinous rage" of Achilles. Merrill's portrayal of scenes, such as Athena speaking to Diomedes, incorporates flowing and rhythmic language that preserves the drama and the epic’s oral tradition. Both translations effectively convey the themes and events of the "Iliad," yet they do so with varying degrees of poetic flourish and narrative accessibility.
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 now, goddess, the wrath of Achilles the scion of Peleus,
ruinous rage which brought the Achaians uncounted afflictions;
many the powerful souls it sent to the dwelling of Hades,
those of the heroes, and spoil for the dogs it made of their bodies,
plunder for all of the birds, and the purpose of Zeus was accomplished—
sing from the time when first stood hostile, starting the conflict,
Atreus' scion, the lord of the people, and noble Achilles.