Robert Fitzgerald's translation of the Iliad presents a version of Homer's epic that emphasizes the grandeur and fate-driven pathos of the poem. His language, as seen in lines from Book 1, highlights the destructive nature of Akhilleus' anger, framing it as "doomed and ruinous" and setting a somber tone of inevitable loss that runs throughout his translation. Fitzgerald's depiction of interactions among the gods, such as Athena encouraging Diomedes in Book 5, is straightforward yet colorful, portraying the gods' capricious nature and direct influence on human affairs. His imagery, such as in Book 6 with its comparison of men to leaves, maintains a lyrical quality while reminding readers of the transient nature of human life. When Akhilleus contemplates his fate in Book 9, Fitzgerald maintains a clear dichotomy between glory and a long life, which underscores the burdens of heroism. Rodney Merrill's translation also brings the epic's core thematic elements to the forefront but tends to employ a more structured and measured style. In the opening lines of Book 1, Merrill captures the scale of Akhilleus' "ruinous rage" while providing a detailed account of the resulting chaos, emphasizing the comprehensive misery brought upon the Achaeans. Merrill's verses in Book 5, where Athena speaks to Diomedes, highlight the dual nature and unpredictability of the gods, particularly Ares, offering a rhythmic flow that reflects the poem's oral tradition. The metaphor of men as leaves in Book 6 is concise yet evocative, capturing the cycle of life and death. Akhilleus' reflections on his fate in Book 9 are portrayed with a structural clarity that pinpoints his internal conflict between achieving eternal glory and obtaining a peaceful, extended life. Both translations effectively convey the Iliad's epic grandeur and themes, but they each bring their own unique nuance and interpretation to the enduring tale.
Anger be now your song, immortal one,
Akhilleus' anger, doomed and ruinous,
that caused the Akhaians loss on bitter loss
and crowded brave souls into the undergloom,
leaving so many dead men—carrion
for dogs and birds; and the will of Zeus was done.
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.