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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 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 sh