Robert Fagles and Stanley Lombardo both provide distinctive translations of Homer's *Iliad*, capturing the essence of the epic while offering different reading experiences. Fagles' translation is known for its poetic and grand style, emphasizing the gravity and grandeur of the ancient text. For example, Fagles opens with a dramatic introduction to Achilles' rage, described as "murderous, doomed," showcasing the high stakes and the divine will at play. Fagles tends to maintain a formal tone, evident in Athena's encouragement to Diomedes, where she calls him "joy of my heart!" This stylistic choice lends an epic quality to the narrative, weaving the characters and their fates into a tapestry of destiny and divine intervention. In contrast, Stanley Lombardo's translation is more direct and conversational, aiming to make the epic accessible to a contemporary audience. Lombardo's introduction captures Achilles' rage with a concise "Black and murderous," which still conveys the intensity of emotion but through a more straightforward approach. His portrayal of Athena's encouragement is also more informal, with phrases like "He's nothing but a shifty lout," reflecting a modern, colloquial tone. This style makes the actions and motives of the gods and heroes relatable and immediate, bridging the ancient and the modern world. Together, both translations provide unique windows into the *Iliad*, balancing the preservation of the epic's grandeur with accessibility to new readers.
Rage—Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,
murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls,
great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion,
feasts for the dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end.
Sing, Goddess, Achilles' rage,
Black and murderous, that cost the Greeks
Incalculable pain, pitched countless souls
Of heroes into Hades' dark,
And left their bodies to rot as feasts
For dogs and birds, as Zeus' will was done.