Stand Firm

[sdi]

ὤ μοι ἐγὼ τί πάθω; μέγα μὲν κακὸν αἴ κε φέβωμαι
πληθὺν ταρβήσας: τὸ δὲ ῥίγιον αἴ κεν ἁλώω
μοῦνος: τοὺς δ᾽ ἄλλους Δαναοὺς ἐφόβησε Κρονίων.
ἀλλὰ τί ἤ μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός;
οἶδα γὰρ ὅττι κακοὶ μὲν ἀποίχονται πολέμοιο,
ὃς δέ κ᾽ ἀριστεύῃσι μάχῃ ἔνι τὸν δὲ μάλα χρεὼ
ἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς, ἤ τ᾽ ἔβλητ᾽ ἤ τ᾽ ἔβαλ᾽ ἄλλον.

"What to do? It'd be a big disgrace to run,
afraid of so many; but it would be worse to be captured
alone, since Zeus scared off all my men.
But why am I arguing with myself?
I know better than anyone that losers wimp out,
but whoever would be a hero must
stand firm, win or lose."

(Odusseus speaking. Homer, Iliad XI 404–10, as loosely translated—hopefully not too badly!—by yours truly.)

---

Remember that Odusseus had eleven more long years of "standing firm" as a hero (ἀριστεύῃσι μάχῃ "to be the best at fighting") before he became a Hero (ἥρω "ascended human soul"). Nobody said it would be easy, but what's the alternative?

Comments

[sdi]

For fun (and I suppose my own future reference), a more accurate translation (I think) is:

"Oh, what will I allow to happen to me? It would be very bad if I flee,
frightened by the multitude; but it would be worse if I were captured
alone, for [the son] of Kronos has terrified all of the Greeks.
But why does my heart debate this with me?
For well do I know that the bad shy from war,
but whosoever would be best in battle, it is very necessary that
he stand firm, whether he is hit or hits another."