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Rendered into English Prose for
the use of those who cannot
read the original
by Samuel Butler
BOOK I
The quarrel between Agamemnon and AchillesAchilles withdraws
from the war; and sends his mother Thetis to ask Jove to help
the TrojansScene between Jove and Juno on Olympus。
Sing; O goddess; the anger of Achilles son of Peleus; that
brought countless ills upon the Achaeans。 Many a brave soul did
it send hurrying down to Hades; and many a hero did it yield a
prey to dogs and vultures; for so were the counsels of Jove
fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus; king of men;
and great Achilles; first fell out with one another。
And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel? It was
the son of Jove and Leto; for he was angry with the king and sent
a pestilence upon the host to plague the people; because the son
of Atreus had dishonoured Chryses his priest。 Now Chryses had
e to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter; and had
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。
〃Sons of Atreus;〃 he cried; 〃and all other Achaeans; may the gods
who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam; and to
reach your homes in safety; but free my daughter; and accept a
ransom for her; in reverence to Apollo; son of Jove。〃
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。 〃Old man;〃 said he; 〃let me not find you tarrying about our
ships; nor yet ing hereafter。 Your sceptre of the god and your
wreath shall profit you nothing。 I will not free her。 She shall
grow old in my house at Argos far from her own home; busying
herself with her loom and visiting my couch; so go; and do not
provoke me or it shall be the worse for you。〃
The old man feared him and obeyed。 Not a word he spoke; but went
by the shore of the sounding sea and prayed apart to King Apollo
whom lovely Leto had borne。 〃Hear me;〃 he cried; 〃O god of the
silver bow; that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest
Tenedos with thy might; hear me oh thou of Sminthe。 If I have
ever decked your temple with garlands; or burned your thigh…bones
in fat of bulls or goats; grant my prayer; and let your arrows
avenge these my tears upon the Danaans。〃
Thus did he pray; and Apollo heard his prayer。 He came down
furious from the summits of Olympus; with his bow and his quiver
upon his shoulder; and the arrows rattled on his back with the
rage that trembled within him。 He sat himself down away from the
ships with a face as dark as night; and his silver bow rang death
as he shot his arrow in the midst of them。 First he smote their
mules and their hounds; but presently he aimed his shafts at the
people themselves; and all day long the pyres of the dead were
burning。
For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people; but upon
the tenth day Achilles called them in assemblymoved thereto by
Juno; who saw the Achaeans in their death…throes and had
passion upon them。 Then; when they were got together; he rose
and spoke among them。
〃Son of Atreus;〃 said he; 〃I deem that we should now turn roving
home if we would escape destruction; for we are being cut down by
war and pestilence at once。 Let us ask some priest or prophet; or
some reader of dreams (for dreams; too; are of Jove) who can tell
us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry; and say whether it is for some
vow that we have broken; or hecatomb that we have not offered;
and whether he will accept the savour of lambs and goats without
blemish; so as to take away the plague from us。〃
With these words he sat down; and Calchas son of Thestor; wisest
of augurs; who knew things past present and to e; rose to
speak。 He it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to
Ilius; through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had
inspired him。 With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed them
thus:
〃Achilles; loved of heaven; you bid me tell you about the anger
of King Apollo; I will therefore do so; but consider first and
swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed; for I
know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might; to
whom all the Achaeans are in subjection。 A plain man cannot stand
against the anger of a king; who if he swallow his displeasure
now; will yet nurse revenge till he has wreaked it。 Consider;
therefore; whether or no you will protect me。〃
And Achilles answered; 〃Fear not; but speak as it is borne in
upon you from heaven; for by Apollo; Calchas; to whom you pray;
and whose oracles you reveal to us; not a Danaan at our ships
shall lay his hand upon you; while I yet live to look upon the
face of the earthno; not though you name Agamemnon himself; who
is by far the foremost of the Achaeans。〃
Thereon the seer spoke boldly。 〃The god;〃 he said; 〃is angry
neither about vow nor hecatomb; but for his priest's sake; whom
Agamemnon has dishonoured; in that he would not free his daughter
nor take a ransom for her; therefore has he sent these evils upon
us; and will yet send others。 He will not deliver the Danaans
from this pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl without
fee or ransom to her father; and has sent a holy hecatomb to
Chryse。 Thus we may perhaps appease him。〃
With these words he sat down; and Agamemnon rose in anger。 His
heart was black with rage; and his eyes flashed fire as he
scowled on Calchas and said; 〃Seer of evil; you never yet
prophesied smooth things concerning me; but have ever loved to
foretell that which was evil。 You have brought me neither fort
nor performance; and now you e seeing among Danaans; and
saying that Apollo has plagued us because I would not take a
ransom for this girl; the daughter of Chryses。 I have set my
heart on keeping her in my own house; for I love her better even
than my own wife Clytemnestra; whose peer she is alike in form
and feature; in understanding and acplishments。 Still I will
give her up if I must; for I would have the people live; not die;
but you must find me a prize instead; or I alone among the
Argives shall be without one。 This is not well; for you behold;
all of you; that my prize is to go elsewhither。〃
And Achilles answered; 〃Most noble son of Atreus; covetous beyond
all mankind; how shall the Achaeans find you another prize? We
have no mon store from which to take one。 Those we took from
the cities have been awarded; we cannot disallow the awards that
have been made already。 Give this girl; therefore; to the god;
and if ever Jove grants us to sack the city of Troy we will
requite you three and fourfold。〃
Then Agamemnon said; 〃Achilles; valiant though you be; you shall
not thus outwit me。 You shall not overreach and you shall not
persuade me。 Are you to keep your own prize; while I sit tamely
under my loss and give up the girl at your bidding? Let the
Achaeans find me a prize in fair exchange to my liking; or I will
e and take your own; or that of Ajax or of Ulysses; and he to
whomsoever I may e shall rue my ing。 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 mand; either Ajax; or Idomeneus; or
yourself; son of Peleus; mighty warrior that you are; that we may
offer sacrifice and appease 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 oursto gain satisfaction from the Trojans for
your