Lattimore writes in verse, with long lines meant to approximate the movement of Greek hexameter. Murray writes in prose. The difference is immediate in Book 1: Lattimore opens "Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son Achilleus," while Murray gives "The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus' son, Achilles." Murray's inversion of "wrath" to the front follows the Greek word order more closely. His diction carries an archaic flavor, with phrases like "thou too die" and "dear to my heart" in Book 21, and "fear thou not" in Book 5. Lattimore's register is elevated but not archaic. His Book 6 leaf simile reads cleanly: "As is the generation of leaves, so is that of humanity." Murray gives "Even as are the generations of leaves, such are those also of men," which is more formal and less direct. Murray's approach stays close to the Greek syntax and vocabulary, which makes him useful for readers who want to follow the original structure. He tends to keep phrases the Greek repeats, and his prose moves methodically through the text. Lattimore's verse lines follow Greek phrasing too, but he allows himself more room to adjust word order for rhythm and sound. In Book 9, Lattimore cuts to the core of Achilles' choice: "my return home is gone, but my glory shall be everlasting." Murray writes "lost is my home-return, but my renown shall be imperishable," keeping a closer match to the Greek. Both render the meaning accurately. The gain for Murray is fidelity to structure; the gain for Lattimore is a line you can hear as a unit.
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.
The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus' son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades many valiant souls of heroes, and made them themselves spoil for dogs and every bird; thus the plan of Zeus came to fulfillment, from the time when first they parted in strife Atreus' son, king of men, and brilliant Achilles.