Richmond Lattimore and Stephen Mitchell offer distinct approaches to translating Homer's "Iliad," each with unique stylistic choices. Lattimore's translation is known for its attempt to capture the poetic rhythm and formal structure of the original Ancient Greek text. His lines often preserve the epic's elevated tone, as seen in the introduction where he describes the "anger of Peleus' son Achilleus" with a cadence that mirrors the source material's grandeur. This approach is consistent in passages such as Athena's encouragement to Diomedes, which maintains a measure of literary solemnity, describing Ares as a "double-faced liar" with formal gravitas that echoes the original's diction. Stephen Mitchell, on the other hand, opts for a more contemporary and accessible language, prioritizing clarity and directness without straying far from the core narrative. His introduction begins with "The rage of Achilles—sing it now, goddess," an invitation to the audience that simplifies Lattimore's more complex phrasing. Mitchell's translation of Athena's speech to Diomedes reads more like modern dialogue, describing Ares as a "monster of violence" with straightforward language. Throughout, Mitchell's version emphasizes readability while retaining the epic's main themes, making it a suitable choice for those new to the classic text who seek an engaging and comprehensible experience. Both translations, despite their differences, manage to convey the timeless and resonant nature of the "Iliad."
Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son Achilleus
and its devastation, which puts pains thousandfold upon the Achaians,
hurled in their multitudes to the house of Hades strong souls
of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting
of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished
since that time when first there stood in division of conflict
Atreus' son the lord of men and brilliant Achilleus.
The rage of Achilles—sing it now, goddess, sing through me
the deadly rage that caused the Achaeans such grief
and hurled down to Hades the souls of so many fighters,
leaving their naked flesh to be eaten by dogs
and carrion birds, as the will of Zeus was accomplished.
Begin at the time when bitter words first divided
that king of men, Agamemnon, and godlike Achilles.