The Iliad of Homer | Page 6

Priam, and the other Trojans, would
greatly rejoice in their souls, if they were to hear these things of you
twain contending: you who in council and in fighting surpass the
Greeks. But be persuaded; for ye are both younger than I am. For
already, in former times, I have associated with men braver than you,
and they never disdained me. I never saw, nor shall I see, such men as
Pirithous, and Dryas, shepherd of the people, and Cæneus, and Exadius,
and god-like Polyphemus,[32] and Theseus, the son of Ægeus, like
unto the immortals. Bravest indeed were they trained up of earthly men;
bravest they were, and they fought with the bravest Centaurs of the
mountain caves, and terribly slew them. With these was I conversant,
coming from Pylus, far from the Apian land; for they invited me, and I
fought to the best of my power; but with them none of these who now
are mortals upon the earth could fight. And even they heard my
counsels, and obeyed my words. But do ye also obey, since it is better
to be obedient; nor do thou, although being powerful, take away the
maid from him, but leave it so, seeing that the sons of the Greeks first
gave [her as] a prize on him. Nor do thou, O son of Peleus, feel inclined
to contend against the king; since never yet has any sceptre-bearing

king, to whom Jove has given glory, been allotted an equal share of
dignity. But though thou be of superior strength, and a goddess mother
has given thee birth, yet he is superior in power, inasmuch as he rules
more people. Do thou, son of Atreus, repress thine anger; for it is I
that[33] entreat thee to forego thy resentment on behalf of Achilles,
who is the great bulwark of destructive war to all the Achæans."
[Footnote 32: A prince of the Lapithæ, not the Cyclops.]
[Footnote 33: See Anthon, who has well remarked the force of the
particles.]
But him king Agamemnon answering addressed: "Of a truth thou hast
said all these things, old man, according to what is right. But this man
is desirous to be above all other men; he wishes to have the mastery,
and lord it over all, and to prescribe to all; with which his desires I
think some one will not comply. But if the ever-existing gods have
made him a warrior, do they therefore give him the right to utter
insults?"
But him noble Achilles interruptingly answered: "Yea, forsooth,[34] I
may be called a coward and a man of no worth, if now I yield to thee in
everything, whatever thou mayest say. Enjoin these things to other men;
for dictate not to me, for I think that I shall no longer obey thee. But
another thing will I tell thee, and do thou store it in thy mind: I will not
contend with my hands, neither with thee, nor with others, on account
of this maid, since ye, the donors, take her away. But of the other
effects, which I have at my swift black ship, of those thou shalt not
remove one, taking them away, I being unwilling. But if [thou wilt],
come, make trial, that these also may know: quickly shall thy black
blood flow around my lance."
[Footnote 34: Properly elliptical--I have done right; for, &c.--Crusius.]
Thus these twain, striving with contrary words, arose, and they broke
up the assembly at the ships of the Greeks. The son of Peleus on his
part repaired to his tents and well-proportioned[35] ships, with the son
of Menoetius,[36] and his companions. But the son of Atreus[37]

launched his swift ship into the sea, and selected and put into it twenty
rowers, and embarked a hecatomb for the god. And he led the fair
daughter of Chryses and placed her on board, and the very wise Ulysses
embarked as conductor. They then embarking, sailed over the watery
paths. But the son of Atreus ordered the armies to purify
themselves;[38] and they were purified, and cast forth the ablutions
into the sea. And they sacrificed to Apollo perfect hecatombs of bulls
and goats, along the shore of the barren sea; and the savour involved
in[39] smoke ascended to heaven. Thus were they employed in these
things through the army. Nor did Agamemnon cease from the
contention which at first he threatened against Achilles. But he thus
addressed Talthybius and Eurybates, who were his heralds and zealous
attendants:[40]
[Footnote 35: Equal on both sides, so as to preserve a balance. But
Blomfield, Obs. on Matth. Gr. § 124, prefers to render it "ships of due
size," as [Greek: dais eisê], ver. 468, "an equalized meal."]
[Footnote 36: Patroclus.]
[Footnote 37: So Anthon, comparing ver. 142.]
[Footnote 38: Not a mere