οἰώθη δ' Ὀδυσεὺς δουρὶ κλυτὸς: οὐδέ τις αὐτῷ
Ἀργείων παρέμεινεν. ἐπεὶ φόβος ἔλλαβε πάντας.
ὀχθήσας δ' ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν:
ᾤ μοι ἐγὼ. τί πάθω. μέγα μὲν κακὸν αί κε φέβωμαι
πληθὺν, ταρβήσας. τὸ δὲ ῥίγιον αἴ κεν ἁλώω
μοῦνος. τοὺς δ' ἄλλους Δαναοὺς ἐφόβησε Κρονίων.
ἀλλὰ τί η μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός:
οἶδα γὰρ ὅττι κακοὶ μέν. ἀποίχονται πολέμοιο:
ὃς δέ κ' ἀριστεύῃσι μάχῃ ἔνι: τόν δὲ μάλα χρεὼ
ἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς. ἤ τ' έβλητ'. ἤ τ' ἔβαλ' ἄλλον:
Now Odysseus famed for his spear, was left alone, nor did anyone of the Argives abide by him, for that fear had laid hold of them all. Then mightily moved he spake unto his own great-hearted spirit: "Woe is me; what is to befall me? Great evil were it if I flee, seized with fear of the throng; yet this were a worse thing, if I be taken all alone, for the rest of the Danaans hath the son of Cronos scattered in flight. But why doth my heart thus hold converse with me? For I know that they are cowards that depart from battle, whereas whoso is pre-eminent in fight, him verily it behoveth to hold his ground boldly, whether he be smitten, or smite another."
