Herbert Jordan's translation of the Iliad is marked by its clear and rhythmic prose, which maintains fidelity to the epic's original themes while making the story accessible to modern readers. For example, in the opening lines, Jordan's translation emphasizes the destructive consequences of Achilles' anger, capturing the epic's grandeur with phrases like "ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals." Jordan tends to maintain a poetic structure that echoes the meter of the original text, as seen in his metaphor of human generations as "foliage on trees" in Book 6. This approach helps retain the grandeur and gravitas of Homer's original intentions, providing a sense of timelessness in the human struggles and themes depicted throughout the work. In contrast, W. H. D. Rouse's translation targets a more straightforward, conversational tone, aiming to draw readers into the action and emotions of the story. Rouse begins the epic by focusing on the personal perspective with the phrase "An angry man—There is my story," which immediately places the reader in the midst of conflict. He uses direct speech and vivid characterizations, calling Ares "a mad furious creature" and "Mr. Facing-all-ways," to bring the personalities of the gods to life in a relatable way. Rouse's choice of simple and direct language seeks to capture the immediacy of the narrative, making it more engaging for readers who might be new to the epic, while still conveying the stark contrasts of fate and personal choice, as seen in Achilles' reflections on glory or long life in Book 9. Overall, both translations offer unique perspectives on the Iliad, with Jordan preserving the epic's original majesty and Rouse focusing on clarity and immediacy in storytelling.
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.
An angry man—There is my story: The bitter rancour of Achillês, prince of the house of Peleus, which brought a thousand troubles upon the Achaian host. Many a strong soul it sent down to Hadês, and left the heroes themselves a prey to dogs and carrion birds, while the will of God moved on to fulfilment.
It began first of all with a quarrel between my lord King Agamemnon of Atreus' line and the Prince Achillês.