Stanley Lombardo and Stephen Mitchell both offer distinct approaches in their translations of Homer's Iliad, capturing the essence of this ancient epic in their unique ways. Lombardo's translation tends to be more contemporary and direct, with a rhythmic and accessible language that feels immediate and raw. For instance, in his introduction to Book 1, Lombardo uses stark, visceral imagery to convey Achilles' rage and its devastating effects on the Greeks, capturing the haunting consequences in a few potent lines. Likewise, his portrayal of Athena encouraging Diomedes in Book 5 is straightforward and bold, emphasizing her disdain for Ares as a "shifty lout." Moreover, Lombardo's version of the generational metaphor in Book 6 highlights the transient nature of human life with a clear, evocative comparison to the leaves that come and go with the seasons. In contrast, Stephen Mitchell's translation leans towards a more poetic and formal tone, aiming to preserve the grandeur and solemnity of the original text. When introducing Book 1, Mitchell invokes a grand narrative voice, asking the goddess to sing through him, which adds a layer of formality and reverence to the epic tale. His description of Athena's guidance to Diomedes in Book 5 carries a slightly more detailed dramatic flair, bestowing Athena with a sense of affectionate instruction while portraying Ares as a "madman" and "a brazen and two-faced liar." The seasonal leave metaphor in Book 6 becomes an elegant reflection on human mortality and renewal under Mitchell's pen, capturing the cyclical nature of life with a lyrical touch. Both translations aim to bring Homer's world to life for modern readers, yet they do so with distinct emphases that reflect each translator's interpretive choices and stylistic preferences.
Sing, Goddess, Achilles' rage,
Black and murderous, that cost the Greeks
Incalculable pain, pitched countless souls
Of heroes into Hades' dark,
And left their bodies to rot as feasts
For dogs and birds, as Zeus' will was done.
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.