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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 Eurybates。 〃Go；〃 said he； 〃to
the tent of Achilles； son of Peleus； take Briseis by the hand and
bring her hither； if he will not give her I shall come with others and
take her… which will press him harder。〃
He charged them straightly further and dismissed them； whereon
they went their way sorrowfully by the seaside； till they came to
the tents and ships of the Myrmidons。 They found Achilles sitting by
his tent and his ships； and ill…pleased he was when he beheld them。
They stood fearfully and reverently before him； and never a word did
they speak； but he knew them and said； 〃Welcome； heralds； messengers
of gods and men； draw near； my quarrel is not with you but with
Agamemnon who has sent you for the girl Briseis。 Therefore； Patroclus；
bring her and give her to them； but let them be witnesses by the
blessed gods； by mortal men； and by the fierceness of Agamemnon's
anger； that if ever again there be need of me to save the people
from ruin； they shall seek and they shall not find。 Agamemnon is mad
with rage and knows not how to look before and after that the Achaeans
may fight by their ships in safety。〃
Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him。 He brought Briseis
from the tent and gave her over to the heralds； who took her with them
to the ships of the Achaeans… and the woman was loth to go。 Then
Achilles went all alone by the side of the hoar sea； weeping and
looking out upon the boundless waste of waters。 He raised his hands in
prayer to his immortal mother； 〃Mother；〃 he cried； 〃you bore me doomed
to live but for a little season； surely Jove； who thunders from
Olympus； might have made that little glorious。 It is not so。
Agamemnon； son of Atreus； has done me dishonour； and has robbed me
of my prize by force。〃
As he spoke he wept aloud； and his mother heard him where she was
sitting in the depths of the sea hard by the old man her father。
Forthwith she rose as it were a grey mist out of the waves； sat down
before him as he stood weeping； caressed him with her hand； and
said； 〃My son； why are you weeping？ What is it that grieves you？
Keep it not from me； but tell me； that we may know it together。〃
Achilles drew a deep sigh and said； 〃You know it； why tell you
what you know well already？ We went to Thebe the strong city of
Eetion； sacked it； and brought hither the spoil。 The sons of the
Achaeans shared it duly among themselves； and chose lovely Chryseis as
the meed of Agamemnon； but Chryses； priest of Apollo； came to the
ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter； and brought with him a
great ransom： moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo；
wreathed with a suppliant's wreath； and he besought the Achaeans；
but most of all the two sons of Atreus who were their chiefs。
〃On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting
the priest and taking the ransom that he offered； but not so
Agamemnon； who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away。 So
he went back in anger； and Apollo； who loved him dearly； heard his
prayer。 Then the god sent a deadly dart upon the Argives； and the
people died thick on one another； for the arrows went everywhither
among the wide host of the Achaeans。 At last a seer in the fulness
of his knowledge declared to us the oracles of Apollo； and I was
myself first to say that we should appease him。 Whereon the son of
Atreus rose in anger； and threatened that which he has since done。 The
Achaeans are now taking the girl in a ship to Chryse； and sending
gifts of sacrifice to the god； but the heralds have just taken from my
tent the daughter of Briseus； whom the Achaeans had awarded to myself。
〃Help your brave son； therefore； if you are able。 Go to Olympus； and
if you have ever done him service in word or deed； implore the aid
of Jove。 Ofttimes in my father's house have I heard you glory in
that you alone of the immortals saved the son of Saturn from ruin；
when the others； with Juno； Neptune； and Pallas Minerva would have put
him in bonds。 It was you； goddess； who delivered him by calling to
Olympus the hundred…handed monster whom gods call Briareus； but men
Aegaeon； for he is stronger even than his father； when therefore he
took his seat all…glorious beside the son of Saturn； the other gods
were afraid； and did not bind him。 Go； then； to him； remind him of all
this； clasp his knees； and bid him give succour to the Trojans。 Let
the Achaeans be hemmed in at the sterns of their ships； and perish
on the sea…shore； that they may reap what joy they may of their
king； and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult to
the foremost of the Achaeans。〃
Thetis wept and answered； 〃My son； woe is me that I should have
borne or suckled you。 Would indeed that you had lived your span free
from all sorrow at your ships； for it is all too brief； alas； that you
should be at once short of life and long of sorrow above your peers：
woe； therefore； was the hour in which I bore you； nevertheless I
will go to the snowy heights of Olympus； and tell this tale to Jove；
if he will hear our prayer： meanwhile stay where you are with your
ships； nurse your anger against the Achaeans； and hold aloof from
fight。 For Jove went yesterday to Oceanus； to a feast among the
Ethiopians； and the other gods went with him。 He wi