τὸν δ' ὁ γέρων Πρίαμος πρῶτος ἴ̈δεν ὀφθαλμοῖσι
παμφαίνονθ' ὥς τ' ἀστέρ'. ἐπεσσύμενον πεδίοιο:
ὅς ῥά τ' ὀπώρης εἶσιν, ἀρίζηλοι δέ οι αὐγαὶ
φαίνονται πολλοῖσι μετ' ἄστρασι, νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷ:
ὅν τε κύν' Ὠρίωνος ἐπίκλισιν καλέουσι:
λαμπρότατος μὲν ὅ δ' ἐστί, κακὸν δέ τε σῆμα τέτυκται:
καί τε φέρει πολλὸν πυρετὸν δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσιν:
ὣς τοῦ χαλκὸς ἔλαμπε περὶ στήθεσσι θέοντος.
ᾤμωξεν δ' ὁ γέρων: κεφαλὴν δ' ὅ γε κόψατο χερσὶν.
ὑψόσ' ἀνασχόμενος. μέγα δ' οἰμώξας ἐγεγόνει.
λισσόμενος φίλον υἱὸν: ὁ δὲ προπάροιθε πυλάων
ἑστήκει. ἄμοτον μεμαὼς Ἀχιλῆϊ μάχεσθαι:
τὸν δ' ὁ γέρων ἐλεεινὰ προσηύδα χεῖρας ὀρεγνύς:
Him the old man Priam was first to behold with his eyes, as he sped all-gleaming over the plain, like to the star that cometh forth at harvest-time, and brightly do his rays shine amid the host of stars in the darkness of night, the star that men call by name the Dog of Orion. Brightest of all is he, yet withal is he a sign of evil, and bringeth much fever upon wretched mortals. Even in such wise did the bronze gleam upon the breast of Achilles as he ran. And the old man uttered a groan, and beat upon his head with his hands, lifting them up on high, and with a groan he called aloud, beseeching his dear son, that was standing before the gates furiously eager to do battle with Achilles. To him the old man spake piteously, stretching forth his arms:
