Then the much-enduring, brilliant Odysseus was divided in mind whether he should strike him so that life should leave him even there as he fell, or whether he should deal him a light blow and stretch him on the earth.
δὴ τότε μερμήριξε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἢ ἐλάσει' ὥς μιν ψυχὴ λίποι αὖθι πεσόντα , ἦέ μιν ἦκ' ἐλάσειε τανύσσειέν τ' ἐπὶ γαίῃ .
δή τότε μερμηρίζω πόλυτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς ἤ ἐλαύνω ὡς μιν ψυχή λείπω αὖθι πίπτω , ἤ μιν ἦκα ἐλαύνω τανύω τε ἐπί γαῖα .