Odius and Eurybates go with them。 Now bring water for our hands； and
bid all keep silence while we pray to Jove the son of Saturn； if so be
that he may have mercy upon us。〃
Thus did he speak； and his saying pleased them well。 Men…servants
poured water over the hands of the guests； while pages filled the
mixing…bowls with wine and water； and handed it round after giving
every man his drink…offering； then； when they had made their
offerings； and had drunk each as much as he was minded； the envoys set
out from the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus； and Nestor； looking
first to one and then to another； but most especially at Ulysses；
was instant with them that they should prevail with the noble son of
Peleus。
They went their way by the shore of the sounding sea； and prayed
earnestly to earth…encircling Neptune that the high spirit of the
son of Aeacus might incline favourably towards them。 When they reached
the ships and tents of the Myrmidons； they found Achilles playing on a
lyre； fair； of cunning workmanship； and its cross…bar was of silver。
It was part of the spoils which he had taken when he sacked the city
of Eetion； and he was now diverting himself with it and singing the
feats of heroes。 He was alone with Patroclus； who sat opposite to
him and said nothing； waiting till he should cease singing。 Ulysses
and Ajax now came in… Ulysses leading the way …and stood before him。
Achilles sprang from his seat with the lyre still in his hand； and
Patroclus； when he saw the strangers； rose also。 Achilles then greeted
them saying； 〃All hail and welcome… you must come upon some great
matter； you； who for all my anger are still dearest to me of the
Achaeans。〃
With this he led them forward； and bade them sit on seats covered
with purple rugs； then he said to Patroclus who was close by him； 〃Son
of Menoetius； set a larger bowl upon the table； mix less water with
the wine； and give every man his cup； for these are very dear friends；
who are now under my roof。〃
Patroclus did as his comrade bade him； he set the chopping…block
in front of the fire； and on it he laid the loin of a sheep； the
loin also of a goat； and the chine of a fat hog。 Automedon held the
meat while Achilles chopped it； he then sliced the pieces and put them
on spits while the son of Menoetius made the fire burn high。 When
the flame had died down； he spread the embers； laid the spits on top
of them； lifting them up and setting them upon the spit…racks； and
he sprinkled them with salt。 When the meat was roasted； he set it on
platters； and handed bread round the table in fair baskets； while
Achilles dealt them their portions。 Then Achilles took his seat facing
Ulysses against the opposite wall； and bade his comrade Patroclus
offer sacrifice to the gods； so he cast the offerings into the fire；
and they laid their hands upon the good things that were before
them。 As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink； Ajax made a
sign to Phoenix； and when he saw this； Ulysses filled his cup with
wine and pledged Achilles。
〃Hail；〃 said he； 〃Achilles； we have had no scant of good cheer；
neither in the tent of Agamemnon； nor yet here； there has been
plenty to eat and drink； but our thought turns upon no such matter。
Sir； we are in the face of great disaster； and without your help
know not whether we shall save our fleet or lose it。 The Trojans and
their allies have camped hard by our ships and by the wall； they
have lit watchfires throughout their host and deem that nothing can
now prevent them from falling on our fleet。 Jove； moreover； has sent
his lightnings on their right； Hector； in all his glory； rages like
a maniac； confident that Jove is with him he fears neither god nor
man； but is gone raving mad； and prays for the approach of day。 He
vows that he will hew the high sterns of our ships in pieces； set fire
to their hulls； and make havoc of the Achaeans while they are dazed
and smothered in smoke； I much fear that heaven will make good his
boasting； and it will prove our lot to perish at Troy far from our
home in Argos。 Up； then； and late though it be； save the sons of the
Achaeans who faint before the fury of the Trojans。 You will repent
bitterly hereafter if you do not； for when the harm is done there will
be no curing it； consider ere it be too late； and save the Danaans
from destruction。
〃My good friend； when your father Peleus sent you from Phthia to
Agamemnon； did he not charge you saying； 'Son； Minerva and Juno will
make you strong if they choose； but check your high temper； for the
better part is in goodwill。 Eschew vain quarrelling； and the
Achaeans old and young will respect you more for doing so。' These were
his words； but you have forgotten them。 Even now； however； be
appeased； and put away your anger from you。 Agamemnon will make you
great amends if you will forgive him； listen； and I will tell you what
he has said in his tent that he will give you。 He will give you
seven tripods that have never yet been on the fire； and ten talents of
gold； twenty iron cauldrons； and twelve strong horses that have won
races and carried off prizes。 Rich indeed both in land and gold is
he who has as many prizes as these horses have won for Agamemnon。
Moreover he will give you seven excellent workwomen； Lesbians； whom he
chose for himself； when you took Lesbos… all of surpassing beauty。
He will give you these； and with them her whom he erewhile took from
you； the daughter of Briseus； and he will swear a great oath； he has
never gone up into her couch nor been with her after the manner of men
and women。 All these things will he give you now down； and if
hereafter the gods vouchsafe him to sack the city of Priam； you can
come when we Achaeans are dividing the spoil； and load your ship
with gold and bronze to your liking。 You can take twenty Trojan women；
the loveliest after Helen herself。 Then； when we reach Achaean
Argos； wealthiest of all lands； you shall be his son…in…law； and he
will show you like honour with his own dear son Orestes； who is
being nurtured in all abundance。 Agamemnon has three daughters；
Chrysothemis； Laodice； and Iphianassa； you may take the one of your
choice； freely and without gifts of wooing； to the house of Peleus； he
will add such dower to boot as no man ever yet gave his daughter；
and will give you seven well…established cities； Cardamyle； Enope； and
Hire where there is grass； holy Pheras and the rich meadows of Anthea；
Aepea also； and the vine…clad slopes of Pedasus； all near the sea； and
on the borders of sandy Pylos。 The men that dwell there are rich in
cattle and sheep； they will honour you with gifts as though were a
god； and be obedient to your comfortable ordinances。 All this will
he do if you will now forgo your anger。 Moreover； though you hate both
him and his gifts with all your heart； yet pity the rest of the
Achaeans who are being harassed in all their host； they will honour
you as a god； and you will earn great glory at their hands。 You
might even kill Hector； he will come within your reach； for he is
infatuated； and declares that not a Danaan whom the ships have brought
can hold his own against him。〃
Achilles answered； 〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； I should give you
formal notice plainly and in all fixity of purpose that there be no
more of this cajoling； from whatsoever quarter it may come。 Him do I
hate even as the gates of hell who says one thing while he hides
another in his heart； therefore I will say what I mean。 I will be
appeased neither by Agamemnon son of Atreus nor by any other of the
Danaans； for I see that I have no thanks for all my fighting。 He
that fights fares no better than he that does not； coward and hero are
held in equal honour； and death deals like measure to him who works
and him who is idle。 I have taken nothing by all my hardships… with my
life ever in my hand； as a bird when she has found a morsel takes it
to her nestlings； and herself fares hardly； even so man a long night
have I been wakeful； and many a bloody battle have I waged by day
against those who were fighting for their women。 With my ships I
have taken twelve cities； and eleven round about Troy have I stormed
with my men by land； I took great store of wealth from every one of
them； but I gave all up to Agamemnon son of Atreus。 He stayed where he
was by his ships； yet of what came to him he gave little； and kept
much himself。
〃Nevertheless he did distribute some meeds of honour among the
chieftains and kings； and these have them still； from me alone of
the Achaeans did he take the woman in whom I delighted… let him keep
her and sleep with her。 Why； pray； must the Argives needs fight the
Trojans？ What made the son of Atreus gather the host and bring them？
Was it not for the sake of Helen？ Are the sons of Atreus the only
men in the world who love their wives？ Any man of common right feeling
will love and cherish her who is his own； as I this woman； with my
whole heart； though she was but a fruitling of my spear。 Agamemnon has
taken her from me； he has played me false； I know him； let him tempt
me no further； for he shall not move me。 Let him look to you； Ulysses；
and to the other princes to save his ships from burning。 He