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present which the god had made him。 Then； as soon as he had
satisfied himself with looking at it； he said to his mother；
〃Mother； the god has given me armour； meet handiwork for an
immortal and such as no…one living could have fashioned； I will
now arm； but I much fear that flies will settle upon the son of
Menoetius and breed worms about his wounds； so that his body； now
he is dead； will be disfigured and the flesh will rot。〃
Silver…footed Thetis answered； 〃My son； be not disquieted about
this matter。 I will find means to protect him from the swarms of
noisome flies that prey on the bodies of men who have been killed
in battle。 He may lie for a whole year； and his flesh shall still
be as sound as ever； or even sounder。 Call； therefore； the
Achaean heroes in assembly； unsay your anger against Agamemnon；
arm at once； and fight with might and main。〃
As she spoke she put strength and courage into his heart； and she
then dropped ambrosia and red nectar into the wounds of
Patroclus； that his body might suffer no change。
Then Achilles went out upon the seashore； and with a loud cry
called on the Achaean heroes。 On this even those who as yet had
stayed always at the ships； the pilots and helmsmen； and even the
stewards who were about the ships and served out rations； all
came to the place of assembly because Achilles had shown himself
after having held aloof so long from fighting。 Two sons of Mars；
Ulysses and the son of Tydeus； came limping； for their wounds
still pained them； nevertheless they came； and took their seats
in the front row of the assembly。 Last of all came Agamemnon；
king of men； he too wounded； for Coon son of Antenor had struck
him with a spear in battle。
When the Achaeans were got together Achilles rose and said； 〃Son
of Atreus； surely it would have been better alike for both you
and me； when we two were in such high anger about Briseis； surely
it would have been better； had Diana's arrow slain her at the
ships on the day when I took her after having sacked Lyrnessus。
For so； many an Achaean the less would have bitten dust before
the foe in the days of my anger。 It has been well for Hector and
the Trojans； but the Achaeans will long indeed remember our
quarrel。 Now； however； let it be； for it is over。 If we have been
angry； necessity has schooled our anger。 I put it from me： I dare
not nurse it for ever； therefore； bid the Achaeans arm forthwith
that I may go out against the Trojans； and learn whether they
will be in a mind to sleep by the ships or no。 Glad； I ween； will
he be to rest his knees who may fly my spear when I wield it。〃
Thus did he speak； and the Achaeans rejoiced in that he had put
away his anger。
Then Agamemnon spoke； rising in his place； and not going into the
middle of the assembly。 〃Danaan heroes；〃 said he； 〃servants of
Mars； it is well to listen when a man stands up to speak； and it
is not seemly to interrupt him； or it will go hard even with a
practised speaker。 Who can either hear or speak in an uproar？
Even the finest orator will be disconcerted by it。 I will expound
to the son of Peleus； and do you other Achaeans heed me and mark
me well。 Often have the Achaeans spoken to me of this matter and
upbraided me； but it was not I that did it： Jove； and Fate； and
Erinys that walks in darkness struck me mad when we were
assembled on the day that I took from Achilles the meed that had
been awarded to him。 What could I do？ All things are in the hand
of heaven； and Folly； eldest of Jove's daughters； shuts men's
eyes to their destruction。 She walks delicately； not on the solid
earth； but hovers over the heads of men to make them stumble or
to ensnare them。
〃Time was when she fooled Jove himself； who they say is greatest
whether of gods or men； for Juno； woman though she was； beguiled
him on the day when Alcmena was to bring forth mighty Hercules in
the fair city of Thebes。 He told it out among the gods saying；
'Hear me； all gods and goddesses； that I may speak even as I am
minded； this day shall an Ilithuia； helper of women who are in
labour； bring a man child into the world who shall be lord over
all that dwell about him who are of my blood and lineage。' Then
said Juno all crafty and full of guile； 'You will play false； and
will not hold to your word。 Swear me； O Olympian； swear me a
great oath； that he who shall this day fall between the feet of a
woman； shall be lord over all that dwell about him who are of
your blood and lineage。'
〃Thus she spoke； and Jove suspected her not； but swore the great
oath； to his much ruing thereafter。 For Juno darted down from the
high summit of Olympus； and went in haste to Achaean Argos where
she knew that the noble wife of Sthenelus son of Perseus then
was。 She being with child and in her seventh month； Juno brought
the child to birth though there was a month still wanting； but
she stayed the offspring of Alcmena； and kept back the Ilithuiae。
Then she went to tell Jove the son of Saturn； and said； 'Father
Jove； lord of the lightningI have a word for your ear。 There is
a fine child born this day； Eurystheus； son to Sthenelus the son
of Perseus； he is of your lineage； it is well； therefore； that he
should reign over the Argives。'
〃On this Jove was stung to the very quick； and in his rage he
caught Folly by the hair； and swore a great oath that never
should she again invade starry heaven and Olympus； for she was
the bane of all。 Then he whirled her round with a twist of his
hand； and flung her down from heaven so that she fell on to the
fields of mortal men； and he was ever angry with her when he saw
his son groaning under the cruel labours that Eurystheus laid
upon him。 Even so did I grieve when mighty Hector was killing the
Argives at their ships； and all the time I kept thinking of Folly
who had so baned me。 I was blind； and Jove robbed me of my
reason； I will now make atonement； and will add much treasure by
way of amends。 Go； therefore； into battle； you and your people
with you。 I will give you all that Ulysses offered you yesterday
in your tents： or if it so please you； wait； though you would
fain fight at once； and my squires shall bring the gifts fr