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rue my coming。 But of this we will take thought hereafter； for the
present； let us draw a ship into the sea； and find a crew for her
expressly； let us put a hecatomb on board； and let us send Chryseis
also； further； let some chief man among us be in command； either Ajax；
or Idomeneus； or yourself； son of Peleus； mighty warrior that you are；
that we may offer sacrifice and appease the the anger of the god。〃
Achilles scowled at him and answered； 〃You are steeped in
insolence and lust of gain。 With what heart can any of the Achaeans do
your bidding； either on foray or in open fighting？ I came not
warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me。 I have no quarrel
with them。 They have not raided my cattle nor my horses； nor cut
down my harvests on the rich plains of Phthia； for between me and them
there is a great space； both mountain and sounding sea。 We have
followed you； Sir Insolence！ for your pleasure； not ours… to gain
satisfaction from the Trojans for your shameless self and for
Menelaus。 You forget this； and threaten to rob me of the prize for
which I have toiled； and which the sons of the Achaeans have given me。
Never when the Achaeans sack any rich city of the Trojans do I receive
so good a prize as you do； though it is my hands that do the better
part of the fighting。 When the sharing comes； your share is far the
largest； and I； forsooth； must go back to my ships； take what I can
get and be thankful； when my labour of fighting is done。 Now；
therefore； I shall go back to Phthia； it will be much better for me to
return home with my ships； for I will not stay here dishonoured to
gather gold and substance for you。〃
And Agamemnon answered； 〃Fly if you will； I shall make you no
prayers to stay you。 I have others here who will do me honour； and
above all Jove； the lord of counsel。 There is no king here so
hateful to me as you are； for you are ever quarrelsome and ill
affected。 What though you be brave？ Was it not heaven that made you
so？ Go home； then； with your ships and comrades to lord it over the
Myrmidons。 I care neither for you nor for your anger； and thus will
I do： since Phoebus Apollo is taking Chryseis from me； I shall send
her with my ship and my followers； but I shall come to your tent and
take your own prize Briseis； that you may learn how much stronger I am
than you are； and that another may fear to set himself up as equal
or comparable with me。〃
The son of Peleus was furious； and his heart within his shaggy
breast was divided whether to draw his sword； push the others aside；
and kill the son of Atreus； or to restrain himself and check his
anger。 While he was thus in two minds； and was drawing his mighty
sword from its scabbard； Minerva came down from heaven （for Juno had
sent her in the love she bore to them both）； and seized the son of
Peleus by his yellow hair； visible to him alone； for of the others
no man could see her。 Achilles turned in amaze； and by the fire that
flashed from her eyes at once knew that she was Minerva。 〃Why are
you here；〃 said he； 〃daughter of aegis…bearing Jove？ To see the
pride of Agamemnon； son of Atreus？ Let me tell you… and it shall
surely be… he shall pay for this insolence with his life。〃
And Minerva said； 〃I come from heaven； if you will hear me； to bid
you stay your anger。 Juno has sent me； who cares for both of you
alike。 Cease； then； this brawling； and do not draw your sword； rail at
him if you will； and your railing will not be vain； for I tell you…
and it shall surely be… that you shall hereafter receive gifts three
times as splendid by reason of this present insult。 Hold； therefore；
and obey。〃
〃Goddess；〃 answered Achilles； 〃however angry a man may be； he must
do as you two command him。 This will be best； for the gods ever hear
the prayers of him who has obeyed them。〃
He stayed his hand on the silver hilt of his sword； and thrust it
back into the scabbard as Minerva bade him。 Then she went back to
Olympus among the other gods； and to the house of aegis…bearing Jove。
But the son of Peleus again began railing at the son of Atreus；
for he was still in a rage。 〃Wine…bibber；〃 he cried； 〃with the face of
a dog and the heart of a hind； you never dare to go out with the
host in fight； nor yet with our chosen men in ambuscade。 You shun this
as you do death itself。 You had rather go round and rob his prizes
from any man who contradicts you。 You devour your people； for you
are king over a feeble folk； otherwise； son of Atreus； henceforward
you would insult no man。 Therefore I say； and swear it with a great
oath… nay； by this my sceptre 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