Both translators write in verse, but the lines feel different on the page. Lattimore uses a long, loose hexameter-influenced line that often runs to fifteen or sixteen syllables without a strict beat, giving the reader something that scans as elevated but not metrically tight. Merrill works in a more regular dactylic hexameter, the meter of the Greek original. In the opening lines, Lattimore writes "its devastation, which puts pains thousandfold upon the Achaians," while Merrill writes "ruinous rage which brought the Achaians uncounted afflictions." Lattimore's diction leans archaic, with constructions like "hurled in their multitudes" and "gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting." Merrill's register sits slightly closer to ordinary speech, though he still uses formal constructions and the occasional inverted word order, as in "spoil for the dogs it made of their bodies." Lattimore prioritizes capturing Homer's formulaic density and the weight of individual words, sometimes at the cost of easy flow. His rendering of Achilles' choice in Book 9, "the excellence of my glory is gone," is literal but slightly awkward in English. Merrill follows the Greek line structure more closely and treats his hexameter as a performance text, something to be read aloud in a steady rhythm. In the Book 21 passage, Lattimore's Achilles says "Yet even I have also my death and my strong destiny," which is word-for-word faithful. Merrill's version, "Yet over me also hangs death, irresistible doomsday," changes the syntax and adds a phrase not in the Greek but produces a more immediate spoken line. Lattimore rewards close reading; Merrill rewards listening.
Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son Achilleus
and its devastation, which puts pains thousandfold upon the Achaians,
hurled in their multitudes to the house of Hades strong souls
of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting
of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished
since that time when first there stood in division of conflict
Atreus' son the lord of men and brilliant Achilleus.
Sing now, goddess, the wrath of Achilles the scion of Peleus,
ruinous rage which brought the Achaians uncounted afflictions;
many the powerful souls it sent to the dwelling of Hades,
those of the heroes, and spoil for the dogs it made of their bodies,
plunder for all of the birds, and the purpose of Zeus was accomplished—
sing from the time when first stood hostile, starting the conflict,
Atreus' scion, the lord of the people, and noble Achilles.