ὡς φάτο, νεικείων Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶν
Θερσίτης: τῷ δ' ὦκα παρίστατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς:
καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰ̈δὼν χαλεπῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ:
θερσῖτ', ἀκριτόμυθε: λιγύς περ ἐὼν ἀγορητής
ἴ̈σχεο: μηδ' ἔθελ' οἶος ἐριζέμεναι βασιλεῦσιν:
οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ σέο φημὶ χερειότερον: βροτὸν ἄλλον
ἔμμεναι: ὅσσοι ἅμ' Ἀτρείδῃς ὑπὸ Ί̈λιον ἦλθον:
τῶ οὐκ ἂν βασιλῆας ἀνὰ στόμ' ἔχων ἀγορεύοις.
καί σφιν ὀνείδεά τε προφέροις, νόστόν τε φυλάσσοις:
οὐδέ τι πω σάφα ἴδμεν. ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα:
ἦ εὖ, ἦε κακῶς νοστήσομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν:
τῶ νῦν Ἀτρείδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν
ἧσαι ὀνειδίζων: ὅτι οἱ μάλα πολλὰ διδοῦσιν
ἥρωες Δαναοί. σὺ δὲ κερτομέων ἀγορεύεις:
ἀλλ' έκ τοι ἐρέω, το δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται:
εἰ κ' έτι σ' ἀφραίνοντα κιχήσομαι ὡς νύ περ ὧδε.
μηκέτ' ἔπειτ' Ὀδυσῆϊ κάρη ὤμοισιν ἐπείῃ:
μηδ' ἔτι Τηλεμάχοιο πατὴρ κεκλημένος εἴην.
εἰ μὴ ἐγώ σε λαβὼν ἀπὸ μὲν φίλα εἵματα δύσω
χλαῖνάν τ' ἠδὲ χιτῶνα. τά τ' αἰδῶ ἀμφικαλύπτει:
αὐτὸν δὲ κλαίοντα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἀφήσω
πεπληγὼς ἀγορῆθεν ἀεικέσσι πληγῇσιν.
So spake Thersites, railing at Agamemnon, shepherd of the host. But quickly to his side came goodly Odysseus, and with an angry glance from beneath his brows, chid him with harsh words, saying: "Thersites of reckless speech, clear-voiced talker though thou art, refrain thee, and be not minded to strive singly against kings. For I deem that there is no viler mortal than thou amongst all those that with the sons of Atreus came beneath Ilios. Wherefore 'twere well thou shouldst not take the name of kings in thy mouth as thou protest, to cast reproaches upon them, and to watch for home-going. In no wise do we know clearly as yet how these things are to be, whether it be for good or ill that we sons of the Achaeans shall return. Therefore dost thou now continually utter revilings against Atreus' son, Agamemnon, shepherd of the host, for that the Danaan warriors give him gifts full many; whereas thou pratest on with railings. But I will speak out to thee, and this word shall verily be brought to pass: if I find thee again playing the fool, even as now thou dost, then may the head of Odysseus abide no more upon his shoulders, nor may I any more be called the father of Telemachus, if I take thee not, and strip off thy raiment, thy cloak, and thy tunic that cover thy nakedness, and for thyself send thee wailing to the swift ships, beaten forth from the place of gathering with shameful blows."
