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pleasure； not oursto 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 es； 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 rades 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
e 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 parable 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 youand it shall surely behe shall pay for this
insolence with his life。〃
And Minerva said； 〃I e 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 youand it shall surely bethat 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 mand 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 oathnay； 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 mountainsfor 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 heavenso
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 e； 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 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 bee 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 sayand
lay my saying to your heartI 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
pany； 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
e with others and take herwhi