Alexander Pope and Herbert Jordan offer distinct translations of Homer's "The Iliad," each bringing unique elements to the timeless epic. Pope, writing in the early 18th century, delivers a translation that is both grand and formal. This can be seen in his choice of words and the rhythm of his lines, which are often constructed in rhymed couplets, as demonstrated in the introduction: "Achilles' wrath, to Greece the direful spring / Of woes unnumbered, heavenly goddess, sing!" His approach emphasizes the elevated style and poise characteristic of the Augustan age, offering readers a noble depiction imbued with poetic embellishments. Pope's rendition effectively conveys the grandeur and gravity of the epic's themes, such as the heroic fate Achilles faces in Book 9 or the inevitability of mortality described in Book 21. In contrast, Herbert Jordan's more contemporary translation opts for clarity and directness, making "The Iliad" accessible to modern readers. Jordan's translation tends to use a straightforward, narrative style, focusing on effective storytelling rather than adhering to strict metrical constraints, as seen in his opening lines: "Sing, goddess, of Peleus' son Achilles' anger, / ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals." This style allows for a more immediate connection with the text's emotional core, exposing the raw emotions and motivations of characters like Achilles and Diomedes. Jordan emphasizes the human aspects of the epic, such as the choice between glory or a long life, and the universality of death, providing an interpretation that resonates with contemporary sensibilities while preserving the original's intent.
Achilles' wrath, to Greece the direful spring
Of woes unnumbered, heavenly goddess, sing!
That wrath which hurled to Pluto's gloomy reign
The souls of mighty chiefs untimely slain;
Whose limbs, unburied on the naked shore,
Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore.
Since great Achilles and Atrides strove,
Such was the sovereign doom, and such the will of Jove!
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.