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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 herwhich will press him harder。〃
He charged them straightly further and dismissed them； whereon
they went their way sorrowfully by the seaside； till they came to
the tents and ships of the Myrmidons。 They found Achilles sitting
by his tent and his ships； and ill…pleased he was when he beheld
them。 They stood fearfully and reverently before him； and never a
word did they speak； but he knew them and said； 〃Wele；
heralds； messengers of gods and men； draw near； my quarrel is not
with you but with Agamemnon who has sent you for the girl
Briseis。 Therefore； Patroclus； bring her and give her to them；
but let them be witnesses by the blessed gods； by mortal men； and
by the fierceness of Agamemnon's anger； that if ever again there
be need of me to save the people from ruin； they shall seek and
they shall not find。 Agamemnon is mad with rage and knows not how
to look before and after that the Achaeans may fight by their
ships in safety。〃
Patroclus did as his dear rade had bidden him。 He brought
Briseis from the tent and gave her over to the heralds； who took
her with them to the ships of the Achaeansand the woman was
loth to go。 Then Achilles went all alone by the side of the hoar
sea； weeping and looking out upon the boundless waste of waters。
He raised his hands in prayer to his immortal mother； 〃Mother；〃
he cried； 〃you bore me doomed to live but for a little season；
surely Jove； who thunders from Olympus； might have made that
little glorious。 It is not so。 Agamemnon； son of Atreus； has done
me dishonour； and has robbed me of my prize by force。〃
As he spoke he wept aloud； and his mother heard him where she was
sitting in the depths of the sea hard by the old man her father。
Forthwith she rose as it were a grey mist out of the waves； sat
down before him as he stood weeping； caressed him with her hand；
and said； 〃My son； why are you weeping？ What is it that grieves
you？ Keep it not from me； but tell me； that we may know it
together。〃
Achilles drew a deep sigh and said； 〃You