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can hold his own against him。〃
Achilles answered； 〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； I should give you
formal notice plainly and in all fixity of purpose that there be no
more of this cajoling； from whatsoever quarter it may come。 Him do I
hate even as the gates of hell who says one thing while he hides
another in his heart； therefore I will say what I mean。 I will be
appeased neither by Agamemnon son of Atreus nor by any other of the
Danaans； for I see that I have no thanks for all my fighting。 He
that fights fares no better than he that does not； coward and hero are
held in equal honour； and death deals like measure to him who works
and him who is idle。 I have taken nothing by all my hardships… with my
life ever in my hand； as a bird when she has found a morsel takes it
to her nestlings； and herself fares hardly； even so man a long night
have I been wakeful； and many a bloody battle have I waged by day
against those who were fighting for their women。 With my ships I
have taken twelve cities； and eleven round about Troy have I stormed
with my men by land； I took great store of wealth from every one of
them； but I gave all up to Agamemnon son of Atreus。 He stayed where he
was by his ships； yet of what came to him he gave little； and kept
much himself。
〃Nevertheless he did distribute some meeds of honour among the
chieftains and kings； and these have them still； from me alone of
the Achaeans did he take the woman in whom I delighted… let him keep
her and sleep with her。 Why； pray； must the Argives needs fight the
Trojans？ What made the son of Atreus gather the host and bring them？
Was it not for the sake of Helen？ Are the sons of Atreus the only
men in the world who love their wives？ Any man of common right feeling
will love and cherish her who is his own； as I this woman； with my
whole heart； though she was but a fruitling of my spear。 Agamemnon has
taken her from me； he has played me false； I know him； let him tempt
me no further； for he shall not move me。 Let him look to you； Ulysses；
and to the other princes to save his ships from burning。 He has done
much without me already。 He has built a wall； he has dug a trench deep
and wide all round it； and he has planted it within with stakes； but
even so he stays not the murderous might of Hector。 So long as I
fought the Achaeans Hector suffered not the battle range far from
the city walls； he would come to the Scaean gates and to the oak tree；
but no further。 Once he stayed to meet me and hardly did he escape
my onset： now； however； since I am in no mood to fight him； I will
to…morrow offer sacrifice to Jove and to all the gods； I will draw
my ships into the water and then victual them duly； to…morrow morning；
if you care to look； you will see my ships on the Hellespont； and my
men rowing out to sea with might and main。 If great Neptune vouchsafes
me a fair passage； in three days I shall be in Phthia。 I have much
there that I left behind me when I came here to my sorrow； and I shall
bring back still further store of gold； of red copper； of fair
women； and of iron； my share of the spoils that we have taken； but one
prize； he who gave has insolently taken away。 Tell him all as I now
bid you； and tell him in public that the Achaeans may hate him and
beware of him should he think that he can yet dupe others for his
effrontery never fails him。
〃As for me； hound that he is； he dares not look me in the face。 I
will take no counsel with him； and will undertake nothing in common
with him。 He has wronged me and deceived me enough； he shall not cozen
me further； let him go his own way； for Jove has robbed him of his
reason。 I loathe his presents； and for himself care not one straw。
He may offer me ten or even twenty times what he has now done； nay…
not though it be all that he has in the world； both now or ever
shall have； he may promise me the wealth of Orchomenus or of
Egyptian Thebes； which is the richest city in the whole world； for
it has a hundred gates through each of which two hundred men may drive
at once with their chariots and horses； he may offer me gifts as the
sands of the sea or the dust of the plain in multitude； but even so he
shall not move me till I have been revenged in full for the bitter
wrong he has done me。 I will not marry his daughter； she may be fair
as Venus； and skilful as Minerva； but I will have none of her： let
another take her； who may be a good match for her and who rules a
larger kingdom。 If the gods spare me to return home； Peleus will
find me a wife； there are Achaean women in Hellas and Phthia；
daughters of kings that have cities under them； of these I can take
whom I will and marry her。 Many a time was I minded when at home in
Phthia to woo and wed a woman who would make me a suitable wife； and
to enjoy the riches of my old father Peleus。 My life is more to me
than all the wealth of Ilius while it was yet at peace before the
Achaeans went there； or than all the treasure that lies on the stone
floor of Apollo's temple beneath the cliffs of Pytho。 Cattle and sheep
are to be had for harrying； and a man buy both tripods and horses if
he wants them； but when his life has once left him it can neither be
bought nor harried back again。
〃My mother Thetis tells me that there are two ways in which I may
meet my end。 If I stay here and fight； I shall not return alive but my
name will live for ever： whereas if I go home my name will die； but it
will be long ere death shall take me。 To the rest of you； then； I say；
'Go home； for you will not take Ilius。' Jove has held his hand over
her to protect her； and her people have taken heart。 Go； therefore； as
in duty bound； and tell the princes of the Achaeans the message that I
have sent them； tell them to find some other plan for the saving of
their ships and people； for so long as my displeasure lasts the one
that they have now hit upon may not be。 As for Phoenix； let him
sleep here that he may sail with me in the morning if he so will。
But I will not take him by force。〃
They all held their peace； dismayed at the sternness with which he
had denied them； till presently the old knight Phoenix in his great
fear for the ships of the Achaeans； burst into tears and said；
〃Noble Achilles； if you are now minded to return； and in the
fierceness of your anger will do nothing to save the ships from
burning； how； my son； can I remain here without you？ Your father
Peleus bade me go with you when he sent you as a mere lad from
Phthia to Agamemnon。 You knew nothing neither of war nor of the arts
whereby men make their mark in council； and he sent me with you to
train you in all excellence of speech and action。 Therefore； my son； I
will not stay here without you… no； not though heaven itself vouchsafe
to strip my years from off me； and make me young as I was when I first
left Hellas the land of fair women。 I was then flying the anger of
father Amyntor； son of Ormenus； who was furious with me in the
matter of his concubine； of whom he was enamoured to the wronging of
his wife my mother。 My mother； therefore； prayed me without ceasing to
lie with the woman myself； that so she hate my father； and in the
course of time I yielded。 Bu