Samuel Butler and Emily Wilson offer two distinct translations of Homer's Iliad, each reflecting their unique styles and approaches. Butler's translation, originally published in 1898, tends to lean towards a more archaic and literal prose, capturing the essence of the epic in a formal, structured English. For instance, in Butler's opening line, "Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus," he preserves the invocation-style of classical epics, emphasizing authority and grandeur. In contrast, Wilson's translation, published in 2021, offers a fresh, more modern take, as seen in her opening with "Goddess, sing of the cataclysmic wrath of great Achilles," using dynamic language that aims to engage contemporary readers while staying faithful to the original's intensity. Throughout their translations, differing stylistic choices continue to emerge. Butler's version of Athena encouraging Diomedes in Book 5 appears more direct and commanding, while Wilson's rendition adds a touch of vivid imagery through phrases like "Divine Athena with her shining eyes." Similarly, the metaphor of human generations as leaves in Book 6 is plainly stated by Butler, "Men come and go as leaves year by year upon the trees," whereas Wilson's version tightens the imagery with "The generations of men are like the growth and fall of leaves," offering a more rhythmic and lifelike representation. Despite these differences, both translators maintain the epic's core themes, whether it's Achilles' choice between glory and long life in Book 9 or the inevitability of death in Book 21. Ultimately, both Butler and Wilson bring their unique interpretive lenses to the Iliad, providing readers with varied experiences of Homer's timeless narrative.
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.
Goddess, sing of the cataclysmic wrath
of great Achilles, son of Peleus,
which caused the Greeks immeasurable pain
and sent so many noble souls of heroes
to Hades, and made men the spoils of dogs,
a banquet for the birds, and so the plan
of Zeus unfolded—starting with the conflict
between great Agamemnon, lord of men,
and glorious Achilles.