Ian Johnston's and Herbert Jordan's translations of Homer's *Iliad* both strive to capture the epic poem's grandeur while maintaining clarity and readability for contemporary audiences. In Johnston's translation, there is a straightforward, almost conversational tone, reflecting a focus on narrative clarity, as seen in the way Athena encourages Diomedes: "Have no fear of headstrong Ares, that madman, born evil, that fickle god." Johnston's version is characterized by its directness and occasional informal touches that make the text accessible without losing its epic stature. In his approach, each passage flows with a natural rhythm, emphasizing the story's dramatic elements, such as Achilles' inevitability of death: "Yet over me, as well, hangs Fate—my death." Herbert Jordan, on the other hand, offers a translation that sticks closer to the traditional epic style, as seen in his use of elevated language and structured verse, providing a refined grandeur to the narrative. His rendering of the same passage in Book 5, where Athena encourages Diomedes, maintains a more formal tone: "Strike without scruple or respect for him—a frenzied two-faced pest since he was born." Jordan's choice of language tends to echo the elevated poetic style of the original Greek text, adding a layer of cultural and historical resonance. While his style is somewhat more formal, it captures the solemnity and majesty of Homer’s epic, creating a contrast between the enduring themes of heroism and fate articulated by Achilles: "but dogged fate and death await me too." Both translations, despite their differences in style and tone, effectively convey the timeless themes and events of the *Iliad*.
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, goddess, of Peleus' son Achilles' anger,
ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals,
consigned to Hades countless valiant souls,
heroes, and left their bodies prey for dogs
or feast for vultures. Zeus's will was done
from when those two first quarreled and split apart,
the king, Agamemnon, and matchless Achilles.