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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。 But my father soon came to know； and
cursed me bitterly； calling the dread Erinyes to witness。 He prayed
that no son of mine might ever sit upon knees… and the gods； Jove of
the world below and awful Proserpine； fulfilled his curse。 I took
counsel to kill him； but some god stayed my rashness and bade me think
on men's evil tongues and how I should be branded as the murderer of
my father： nevertheless I could not bear to stay in my father's
house with him so bitter a against me。 My cousins and clansmen came
about me； and pressed me sorely to remain； many a sheep and many an ox
did they slaughter； and many a fat hog did they set down to roast
before the fire； many a jar； too； did they broach of my father's wine。
Nine whole nights did they set a guard over me taking it in turns to
watch； and they kept a fire always burning； both in the cloister of
the outer court and in the inner court at the doors of the room
wherein I lay； but when the darkness of the tenth night came； I
broke through the closed doors of my room； and climbed the wall of the
outer court after passing quickly and unperceived through the men on
guard and the women servants。 I then fled through Hellas till I came
to fertile Phthia； mother of sheep； and to King Peleus； who made me
welcome and treated me as a father treats an only son who will be heir
to all his wealth。 He made me rich and set me over much people；
establishing me on the borders of Phthia where I was chief ruler
over the Dolopians。
〃It was I； Achilles； who had the making of you； I loved you with all
my heart： for you would eat neither at home nor when you had gone
out elsewhere； till I had first set you upon my knees； cut up the
dainty morsel that you were to eat； and held the wine…cup to your
lips。 Many a time have you slobbered your wine in baby helplessness
over my shirt； I had infinite trouble with you； but I knew that heaven
had vouchsafed me no offspring of my own； and I made a son of you；
Achilles； that in my hour of need you might protect me。 Now；
therefore； I say battle with your pride and beat it； cherish not
your anger for ever； the might and majesty of heaven are more than
ours； but even heaven may be appeased； and if a man has sinned he
prays the gods； and reconciles them to himself by his piteous cries
and by frankincense； with drink…offerings and the savour of burnt
sacrifice。 For prayers are as daughters to great Jove； halt； wrinkled；
with eyes askance； they follow in the footsteps of sin； who； being
fierce and fleet of foot； leaves them far behind him； and ever baneful
to mankind outstrips them even to the ends of the world； but
nevertheless the prayers come hobbling and healing after。 If a man has
pity upon these daughters of Jove when they draw near him； they will
bless him and hear him too when he is praying； but if he deny them and
will not listen to them； they go to Jove the son of Saturn and pray
that he may presently fall into sin… to his ruing bitterly
hereafter。 Therefore； Achilles； give these daughters of Jove due
reverence； and bow before them as all good men will bow。 Were not
the son of Atreus offering you gifts and promising others later… if he
were still furious and implacable… I am not he that would bid you
throw off your anger and help the Achaeans； no matter how great
their need； but he is giving much now； and more hereafter； he has sent
his captains to urge his suit； and has chosen those who of all the
Argives are most acceptable to you； make not then their words and
their coming to be of none effect。 Your anger has been righteous so
far。 We have heard in song how heroes of old time quarrelled when they
were roused to fury； but still they could be won by gifts； and fair
words could soothe them。
〃I have an old story in my mind… a very old one… but you are all
friends and I will tell it。 The Curetes and the Aetolians were
fighting and killing one another round Calydon… the Aetolians
defending the city and the Curetes trying to destroy it。 For Diana
of the golden throne was angry and did them hurt because Oeneus had
not offered her his harvest first…fruits。 The other gods had all
been feasted with hecatombs； but to the daughter of great Jove alone
he had made no sacrifice。 He had forgotten her； or somehow or other it
had escaped him； and this was a grievous sin。 Thereon the archer
goddess in her displeasure sent a prodigious creature against him… a
savage wild boar with great white tusks that did much harm to his
orchard lands； uprooting apple…trees in full bloom and throwing them
to the ground。 But Meleager son of Oeneus got huntsmen and hounds from
many cities and killed it… for it was so monstrous that not a few were
needed； and many a man did it stretch upon his funeral pyre。 On this
the goddess set the Curetes and the Aetolians fighting furiously about
the head and skin of the boar。
〃So long as Meleager was in the field things went badly with the
Curetes； and for all their numbers they could not hold their ground
under the city walls； but in the course of time Meleager was angered
as even a wise man will sometimes be。 He was incensed with his
mother Althaea； and therefore stayed at home with his wedded wife fair
Cleopatra； who was daughter of Marpessa daughter of Euenus； and of
Ides the man then living。 He it was who took his bow and faced King
Apollo himself for fair Marpessa's sake； her father and mother then
named her Alcyone； because her mother had mourned with the plaintive
strains of the halcyon…bird when Phoebus Apollo had carried her off。
Meleager； then； stayed at home with Cleopatra； nursing the anger which
he felt by reason of his mother's curses。 His mother； grieving for the
death of her brother； prayed the gods； and beat the earth with her
hands； calling upon Hades and on awful Proserpine； she went down
upon her knees and her bosom was wet with tears as she prayed that
they would kill her son… and Erinys that walks in darkness and knows
no ruth heard her from Erebus。
〃Then was heard the din of battle about the gates of Calydon； and
the dull thump of the battering against their walls。 Thereon the
elders of the Aetolians besought Meleager； they sent the chiefest of
their priests； and begged him to come out and help them； promising him
a great reward。 They bade him choose fifty plough…gates； the most
fertile in the plain of Calydon； the one…half vineyard and the other
open plough…land。 The old warrior Oeneus implored him； standing at the
threshold of his room and beating the doors in supplication。 His
sisters and his mother herself besought him sore； but he the more
refused them； those of his comrades who were nearest and dearest to
him also prayed him； but they could not move him till the foe was
battering at the very doors of his chamber； and the Curetes had scaled
the walls and were setting fire to the city。 Then at last his
sorrowing wife detailed the horrors that befall those whose city is
taken； she reminded him how the men are slain； and the city is given
over to the flames； whi