The Iliad | Page 6

which shalt sprout neither leaf nor shoot, nor bud anew from the day on
which it left its parent stem upon the mountains--for the axe stripped it
of leaf and bark, and now the sons of the Achaeans bear it as judges
and guardians of the decrees of heaven--so surely and solemnly do I
swear that hereafter they shall look fondly for Achilles and shall not
find him. In the day of your distress, when your men fall dying by the
murderous hand of Hector, you shall not know how to help them, and
shall rend your heart with rage for the hour when you offered insult to
the bravest of the Achaeans."
With this the son of Peleus dashed his gold-bestudded sceptre on the
ground and took his seat, while the son of Atreus was beginning
fiercely from his place upon the other side. Then uprose
smooth-tongued Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pylians, and the words
fell from his lips sweeter than honey. Two generations of men born and
bred in Pylos had passed away under his rule, and he was now reigning
over the third. With all sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed
them thus:--
"Of a truth," he said, "a great sorrow has befallen the Achaean land.
Surely Priam with his sons would rejoice, and the Trojans be glad at
heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two, who are so
excellent in fight and counsel. I am older than either of you; therefore
be guided by me. Moreover I have been the familiar friend of men even
greater than you are, and they did not disregard my counsels. Never
again can I behold such men as Pirithous and Dryas shepherd of his
people, or as Caeneus, Exadius, godlike Polyphemus, and Theseus son
of Aegeus, peer of the immortals. These were the mightiest men ever
born upon this earth: mightiest were they, and when they fought the
fiercest tribes of mountain savages they utterly overthrew them. I came
from distant Pylos, and went about among them, for they would have
me come, and I fought as it was in me to do. Not a man now living

could withstand them, but they heard my words, and were persuaded by
them. So be it also with yourselves, for this is the more excellent way.
Therefore, Agamemnon, though you be strong, take not this girl away,
for the sons of the Achaeans have already given her to Achilles; and
you, Achilles, strive not further with the king, for no man who by the
grace of Jove wields a sceptre has like honour with Agamemnon. You
are strong, and have a goddess for your mother; but Agamemnon is
stronger than you, for he has more people under him. Son of Atreus,
check your anger, I implore you; end this quarrel with Achilles, who in
the day of battle is a tower of strength to the Achaeans."
And Agamemnon answered, "Sir, all that you have said is true, but this
fellow must needs become our lord and master: he must be lord of all,
king of all, and captain of all, and this shall hardly be. Granted that the
gods have made him a great warrior, have they also given him the right
to speak with railing?"
Achilles interrupted him. "I should be a mean coward," he cried, "were
I to give in to you in all things. Order other people about, not me, for I
shall obey no longer. Furthermore I say--and lay my saying to your
heart--I shall fight neither you nor any man about this girl, for those
that take were those also that gave. But of all else that is at my ship you
shall carry away nothing by force. Try, that others may see; if you do,
my spear shall be reddened with your blood."
When they had quarrelled thus angrily, they rose, and broke up the
assembly at the ships of the Achaeans. The son of Peleus went back to
his tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his company, while
Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose a crew of twenty
oarsmen. He escorted Chryseis on board and sent moreover a hecatomb
for the god. And Ulysses went as captain.
These, then, went on board and sailed their ways over the sea. But the
son of Atreus bade the people purify themselves; so they purified
themselves and cast their filth into the sea. Then they offered
hecatombs of bulls and goats without blemish on the sea-shore, and the
smoke with the savour of their sacrifice rose curling up towards
heaven.

Thus did they busy themselves throughout the host. But Agamemnon
did not forget the threat that he had made Achilles, and called his trusty
messengers and squires Talthybius and