Ian Johnston and Robert Graves offer two distinct translations of Homer's *Iliad*, each bringing its unique style and interpretation to the epic poem. Johnston's translation presents a more modern and straightforward rendering, aiming for clarity and accessibility. For example, in the opening lines, Johnston uses direct language to convey the themes of rage and divine intervention: "Sing, Goddess, sing the rage of Achilles... in fulfillment of the will of Zeus." This approach focuses on maintaining the poem’s epic narrative while making it understandable for contemporary readers. In contrast, Robert Graves opts for a more poetic and traditional style, with lines like, "Sing, Mountain Goddess, sing through me / That anger which most ruinously / Inflamed Achilles.” Graves uses a more lyrical approach, emphasizing rhythm and rhyme, which mirrors the original Greek’s musical qualities. When examining specific passages, such as Athena's encouragement to Diomedes, Johnston's version remains concise and assertive: "Bright-eyed goddess Athena answered him... Have no fear of headstrong Ares, that madman, born evil." This straightforwardness simplifies the action and dialogue, keeping the focus on the narrative flow. Graves, meanwhile, enriches the moment with a more dramatic tone: "'Diomedes, true son of Tydeus, joy of my heart,' she cried." Graves’s choice of words like "mad, raving fellow" and "universal curse" imbues the text with an expressive quality, heightening the characters' emotions. Both translations aim to capture the essence of Homer’s work but diverge in style—Johnston prioritizes clarity and directness, while Graves embraces a more poetic, expressive rendition, both bringing new life to this ancient epic.
Sing, Goddess, sing the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus—
that murderous anger which condemned Achaeans
to countless agonies and threw many warrior souls
deep into Hades, leaving their dead bodies
carrion food for dogs and birds—
all in fulfilment of the will of Zeus.
Sing, Mountain Goddess, sing through me
That anger which most ruinously
Inflamed Achilles, Peleus' son,
And which, before the tale was done,
Had glutted Hell with champions—bold,
Stern spirits by the thousandfold;
Ravens and dogs their corpses ate
For thus did Zeus, who watched their fate,
See his resolve, first taken when
Proud Agamemnon, King of men,
An insult on Achilles cast,
Achieve accomplishment at last.