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remorseless； he is cruel； and cares nothing for the love his
rades lavished upon him more than on all the others。 He is
implacableand yet if a man's brother or son has been slain he
will accept a fine by way of amends from him that killed him； and
the wrong…doer having paid in full remains in peace among his own
people； but as for you； Achilles； the gods have put a wicked
unforgiving spirit in your heart； and this； all about one single
girl； whereas we now offer you the seven best we have； and much
else into the bargain。 Be then of a more gracious mind； respect
the hospitality of your own roof。 We are with you as messengers
from the host of the Danaans； and would fain he held nearest and
dearest to yourself of all the Achaeans。〃
〃Ajax；〃 replied Achilles； 〃noble son of Telamon； you have spoken
much to my liking； but my blood boils when I think it all over；
and remember how the son of Atreus treated me with contumely as
though I were some vile tramp； and that too in the presence of
the Argives。 Go； then； and deliver your message； say that I will
have no concern with fighting till Hector； son of noble Priam；
reaches the tents of the Myrmidons in his murderous course； and
flings fire upon their ships。 For all his lust of battle； I take
it he will be held in check when he is at my own tent and ship。〃
On this they took every man his double cup； made their
drink…offerings； and went back to the ships； Ulysses leading the
way。 But Patroclus told his men and the maid…servants to make
ready a fortable bed for Phoenix； they therefore did so with
sheepskins； a rug； and a sheet of fine linen。 The old man then
laid himself down and waited till morning came。 But Achilles
slept in an inner room； and beside him the daughter of Phorbas
lovely Diomede； whom he had carried off from Lesbos。 Patroclus
lay on the other side of the room； and with him fair Iphis whom
Achilles had given him when he took Scyros the city of Enyeus。
When the envoys reached the tents of the son of Atreus； the
Achaeans rose； pledged them in cups of gold； and began to
question them。 King Agamemnon was the first to do so。 〃Tell me；
Ulysses；〃 said he； 〃will he save the ships from burning； or did
he refuse； and is he still furious？〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Most noble son of Atreus； king of men；
Agamemnon； Achilles will not be calmed； but is more fiercely
angry than ever； and spurns both you and your gifts。 He bids you
take counsel with the Achaeans to save the ships and host as you
best may； as for himself； he said that at daybreak he should draw
his ships into the water。 He said further that he should advise
every one to sail home likewise； for that you will not reach the
goal of Ilius。 'Jove；' he said； 'has laid his hand over the city
to protect it； and the people have taken heart。' This is what he
said； and the others who were with me can tell you the same
storyAjax and the two heralds； men； both of them； who may be
trusted。 The old man Phoenix stayed where he was to sleep； for so
Achilles would have it； that he might go home with him in the
morning if he so would； but he will not take him by force。〃
They all held their peace； sitting for a long time silent and
dejected； by reason of the sternness with which Achilles had
refused them； till presently Diomed said； 〃Most noble son of
Atreus； king of men； Agamemnon； you ought not to have sued the
son of Peleus nor offered him gifts。 He is proud enough as it is；
and you have encouraged him in his pride still further。 Let him
stay or go as he will。 He will fight later when he is in the
humour； and heaven puts it in his mind to do so。 Now； therefore；
let us all do as I say； we have eaten and drunk our fill； let us
then take our rest； for in rest there is both strength and stay。
But when fair rosy…fingered morn appears； forthwith bring out
your host and your horsemen in front of the ships； urging them
on； and yourself fighting among the foremost。〃
Thus he spoke； and the other chieftains approved his words。 They
then made their drink…offerings and went every man to his own
tent； where they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep。
BOOK X
Ulysses and Diomed go out as spies； and meet Dolon； who gives
them information： they then kill him； and profiting by what
he had told them； kill Rhesus king of the Thracians and take
his horses。
NOW the other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly the whole
night through； but Agamemnon son of Atreus was troubled； so that
he could get no rest。 As when fair Juno's lord flashes his
lightning in token of great rain or hail or snow when the
snow…flakes whiten the ground； or again as a sign that he will
open the wide jaws of hungry war； even so did Agamemnon heave
many a heavy sigh； for his soul trembled within him。 When he
looked upon the plain of Troy he marvelled at the many watchfires
burning in front of Ilius； and at the sound of pipes and flutes
and of the hum of men； but when presently he turned towards the
ships and hosts of the Achaeans； he tore his hair by handfuls
before Jove on high； and groaned aloud for the very disquietness
of his soul。 In the end he deemed it best to go at once to Nestor
son of Neleus； and see if between them they could find any way of
the Achaeans from destruction。 He therefore rose； put on his
shirt； bound his sandals about his ely feet； flung the skin of
a huge tawny lion over his shouldersa skin that reached his
feetand took his spear in his hand。
Neither could Menelaus sleep； for he； too； boded ill for the
Argives who for his sake had sailed from far over the seas to
fight the Trojans。 He covered his broad back with the skin of a
spotted panther； put a casque of bronze upon his head； and took
his spear in his brawny hand。 Then he went to rouse his brother；
who was by far the most powerful of the Achaeans； and was
honoured by the people as though he were a god。 He found him by
the stern of his ship already putting his goodly array about his
shoulders； and right glad was he that his brother had e。
Menelaus spoke first。 〃Why；〃 said he； 〃my dear brother； are you
thus arming？ Are you going to send any of our rades to exploit
the Trojans？ I gr