Comparative Translations of the Iliad

FITZGERALD

Here young men and the most desired young girls

were dancing, linked, touching each other's wrists...

Trained and adept, they circle there with ease

the way a potter sitting at his wheel will give it a practice twirl between his palms

to see it run; or else, again, in line as though in ranks, they moved on one another:

magical dancing!

LATTIMORE

And there were young men on it and young girls, sought for their beauty

with gifts of oxen, dancing, and holding hands at the wrist. These

wore, the maidens long light robes, but the men wore tunics...

At whiles on their understanding feet they would run very lightly,

as when a potter crouching makes trial of his wheel, holding

it close in his hands, to see if it will run smooth . . .

POPE

. . . a comely band

Of youths and maidens, bounding

hand in hand. . .

Now all at once they rise, at once

descend, With well-taught feet: now shape in

oblique ways,

Confusedly regular, the moving maze: Now forth at once, too swift for sight,

they spring, And undistinguish'd blend the flying ring.

So swirls a wheel, in giddy circle toss'd,

And, rapid as it runs, the single

spokes are lost.

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