Lombardo writes in verse, with short lines and a contemporary American register. His opening gives "Black and murderous, that cost the Greeks / Incalculable pain," which is direct and has physical force. Rieu writes in continuous prose, with longer, flowing sentences: "that accursed anger, which brought the Greeks endless sufferings." The difference in register is audible throughout. In Book 21, Lombardo has Achilles say "Don't take it hard," a phrase that reads as spoken American English. Rieu writes "Why make such a song about it," which is more idiomatic British English of the mid-twentieth century. Lombardo's lines are short enough to carry a performance rhythm. Rieu's prose moves at reading pace, with connective tissue between clauses that Lombardo's line breaks replace with silence. Rieu keeps more of Homer's narrative scaffolding. His translation of the Book 5 Athena scene holds the full exchange, including Diomedes identifying Ares in the field and Athena's description of him as "that mad, double-dealing delinquent." Lombardo cuts some lines entirely, reducing Athena's speech to its emotional core and giving "He's nothing but / A shifty lout." Rieu's version gives a reader more of the original's content; Lombardo's gives more energy in the individual line. The Book 6 leaves passage shows this clearly: Rieu keeps the repetition of "one generation grows, the other fades," while Lombardo ends on "Their generations come and go," a shorter, plainer close. Neither version adds commentary; they differ in how much structural detail each keeps from the Greek.
Sing, Goddess, Achilles' rage,
Black and murderous, that cost the Greeks
Incalculable pain, pitched countless souls
Of heroes into Hades' dark,
And left their bodies to rot as feasts
For dogs and birds, as Zeus' will was done.
Anger — sing, goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that accursed anger, which brought the Greeks endless sufferings and sent the mighty souls of many warriors to Hades, leaving their bodies as carrion for the dogs and a feast for the birds; and Zeus' purpose was fulfilled. It all began when Agamemnon lord of men and godlike Achilles quarrelled and parted.