The Iliad of Homer | Page 7

medicinal measure, but a symbolical putting
away of the guilt, which, through Agamemnon's transgression, was
brought upon the army also.--Wolf.]
[Footnote 39: Not about the smoke, but in the smoke; for [Greek: peri]
denotes also the staying within the compass of an object.--Nägelsbach.]
[Footnote 40: [Greek: therapôn] is a voluntary servant, as opposed to
[Greek: doulos].--See Arnold.]
"Going to the tent of Achilles, the son of Peleus, lead away fair Brisëis,
having taken her by the hand; but if he will not give her, then I myself,
coming with great numbers, will take her, and this will be more
grievous[41] to him."
Thus speaking, he despatched them, having added[42] a harsh

command. But they reluctantly went along the shore of the barren sea,
and came to the tents and ships of the Myrmidons. And they found him
sitting at his tent and his black ship: nor did Achilles, seeing them,
rejoice. But they, confused, and reverencing the king, stood still, nor
addressed him at all, nor spoke [their bidding]. But he perceived [it] in
his mind, and said:
"Hail, heralds, messengers of Jove,[43] and also of men, come near, for
ye are not blamable to me in the least, but Agamemnon, who has sent
you on account of the maid Brisëis. However, come, noble Patroclus,
lead forth the maid, and give her to them to conduct; but let these be
witnesses [of the insult offered me], both before the blessed gods, and
before mortal men, and before the merciless king. But if ever again
there shall be need of me to avert unseemly destruction from the rest,
[appeal to me shall be in vain],[44] for surely he rages with an
infatuated mind, nor knows at all how to view the future and the past,
in order that the Greeks may fight in safety at their ships."
Thus he spoke. And Patroclus obeyed his dear companion, and led
forth fair-cheeked Brisëis from the tent, and gave her to them to
conduct; and they returned along by the ships of the Greeks. But the
woman went with them reluctantly, whilst Achilles, weeping,[45]
immediately sat down, removed apart from his companions, upon the
shore of the hoary sea, gazing on the darkling main; and much he be
sought his dear mother, stretching forth his hands:
[Footnote 41: Hesych. [Greek: rigion phoberôteron chalepôteron].]
[Footnote 42: "Misit eos, minaci jusso dato."--Heyne.]
[Footnote 43: So called from their inviolability,--[Greek: asylon gar kai
theion to genos tô kêrykôn].--Schol. [Greek: Kai ezên antois
pantachose adeôs ienai].--Pollux, viii. They were properly sacred to
Mercury (id. iv. 9. Cf. Feith, Antiq. Homer, iv. 1), but are called the
messengers of Jove, as being under his special protection, with a
reference to the supporting of regal authority.]
[Footnote 44: Observe the aposiopesis.]

[Footnote 45: Not for the loss of Briseïs, but on account of the affront.]
"O mother, since thou hast borne me, to be but short-lived, at least then
ought high-thundering Olympian Jove to have vouchsafed honour to
me; but now he has not honoured me ever so little; for the son of
Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, has dishonoured me; for he, taking
away my prize, possesses it, himself having wrested it [from me]."
Thus he spoke, weeping. But to him his venerable mother hearkened,
sitting in the depths of the ocean beside her aged sire. And immediately
she rose up from the hoary deep, like a mist. And then she sat before
him weeping, and soothed him with her hand, and addressed him, and
spoke aloud:
"Son, why weepest thou--on account of what has grief come upon thy
mind? Declare it, nor hide it in thy soul, that we both may know it."
But her, sighing deeply, swift-footed Achilles addressed: "Thou
knowest; why should I tell all these things to thee, already knowing
[them]? We went against Thebe,[46] the sacred city of Eëtion; and this
we plundered, and brought hither all [the spoil]. And these things
indeed the sons of the Greeks fairly divided among themselves, and
selected for Agamemnon the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses. But
Chryses, priest of the far-darting Apollo, came afterwards to the fleet
ships of the brazen-mailed Greeks, about to ransom his daughter, and
bringing invaluable ransoms, having in his hand the fillets of
far-darting Apollo, on his golden sceptre. And he supplicated all the
Greeks, but chiefly the two sons of Atreus, the leaders of the people.
Upon this all the other Greeks shouted assent, that the priest should be
reverenced, and the splendid ransoms accepted: yet it was not pleasing
to Agamemnon, son of Atreus, in his mind; but he dismissed him evilly,
and added a harsh mandate. The old man therefore went back enraged;
but Apollo hearkened to him praying, for he was very dear tohim. And
he sent a destructive arrow against the Greeks;