/lit/ - Literature

>filling the decks came bands of Epean fighters, two companies under Thalpius and Amphimachus, sons of the line of Actor, one of Eurytus, one of Cteatus. Strong Diores the son of Amarynceus led the third and the princely Polyxinus led the fourth, the son of King Agasthenes, Augeas' noble stock. Then ocean men from Dulichion and the Holy Islands, the Echinades rising over the sea across from Elis — Meges a match for Ares led their troops to war, a son of the rider Phyleus dear to Zeus who once, enraged at his father, fled and settled Dulichion. In his son's command sailed forty long black ships. Next Odysseus led his Cephallenian companies, gallant-hearted fighters, the island men of Ithaca, of Mount Neriton's leafy ridges shimmering in the wind, and men who lived in Crocylia and rugged Aegilips, men who held Zacynthus and men who dwelled near Samos and mainland men who grazed their flocks across the channel. That mastermind like Zeus, Odysseus led those fighters on. In his command sailed twelve ships, prows flashing crimson. And Thoas son of Andraemon led Aetolia's units, soldiers who lived in Pleuron, Pylene and Olenus, Chalcis along the shore and Calydon's rocky heights where the sons of wellborn Oeneus were no more and the king himself was dead and Meleager with his golden hair was gone. So the rule of all Aetolian men had passed to Thoas.
How about I just skip the last 12 pages of the chapter

Nobody actually remembers what's in the book of ships anon, just read it and don't worry about it.

It's just listing places and gives some stereotypes about them that have been long forgotten. It'd be like saying "and the Aussies were there with their beloved Foster, riders of sharks and home to iron insects." It was probably light hearted and funny: "lol, yeah Aepy is finely masoned dude."

why the fuck are you reading homer in prose?

>>19382931
because it feels more convenient thats why

>>19382942
Absolute degenerate

>>19383517
i dont really care chud

>>19382931
You want to read the catalog of ships in heroic couplets? I'd take my own eyes out. Rhythmic prose is closer to dactylic hexameter than English doggerel.

>>19382759
>Prose translation
Kill yourself immediately. Reading verse isn't difficult you fucking retard

>>19382759
It's there for the ancient greek listeners to feel represented and make some noise for their fictional brethren.

>>19386524
give your head a shake mate

>>19382759
NPCs bourgeois care about lineage, because they have nothing else in their lives.

>>19382931
Honestly, what's the difference if you're not reading the original Greek text?

>>19386524
neither is reading prose, i just dont rlly care :^)

fucking queers shitting your diaper because NOOO ANON ISNT READING IT WIT DA LINES SPACED LIKE IN DA ORIGINAL what do you think that youre personally getting to know Homer? are you honoring him? a more significant criticism would be "youre reading a translation too modern, id suggest an earlier one like _____ which captures the general tone better" not
>B-B-BUT THE LINES DOOD!!!!!

>>19387807
WTF!
Is that real?

>>19387832
got him at a yard sale for a pretty good price. almost got him potty trained. he and my garloid are getting along quite nicely.

>>19382920
Also, the bard retelling the tale most probably tailored this part to his audience. If he was performing in Zacunthus for example, he would make sure to mention that section to get some cheers, and likely also mention their rivals to allow the audience to boo at them. Etc etc.

>>19382759
>>19382780
I liked the chapter. I tried to imagine what the ships look like, how they would look all together, I took note and added up the number of ships, I laugh at the shiplets. Plus it gives you a quick intro on some important characters.

Homer isn't full of forced rhymes and exclamation points! Unlike Pope. Prose is a better translation medium for Greek epic.