Complete Works of Homer

by Homer

  Obeying, I have err'd, behold me, now,

  Prepared to soothe him with atonement large

  Of gifts inestimable, which by name

  I will propound in presence of you all.

  Seven tripods, never sullied yet with fire;

  Of gold ten talents; twenty cauldrons bright;

  Twelve coursers, strong, victorious in the race;

  No man possessing prizes such as mine

  Which they have won for me, shall feel the want

  Of acquisitions splendid or of gold.

  Seven virtuous female captives will I give

  Expert in arts domestic, Lesbians all,

  Whom, when himself took Lesbos, I received

  My chosen portion, passing womankind

  In perfect loveliness of face and form.

  These will I give, and will with these resign

  Her whom I took, Briseïs, with an oath

  Most solemn, that unconscious as she was

  Of my embraces, such I yield her his.

  All these I give him now; and if at length

  The Gods vouchsafe to us to overturn

  Priam's great city, let him heap his ships

  With gold and brass, entering and choosing first

  When we shall share the spoil. Let him beside

  Choose twenty from among the maids of Troy,

  Helen except, loveliest of all their sex.

  And if once more, the rich milk-flowing land

  We reach of Argos, he shall there become

  My son-in-law, and shall enjoy like state

  With him whom I in all abundance rear,

  My only son Orestes. At my home

  I have three daughters; let him thence conduct

  To Phthia, her whom he shall most approve.

  Chrysothemis shall be his bride, or else

  Laodice; or if she please him more,

  Iphianassa; and from him I ask

  No dower; myself will such a dower bestow

  As never father on his child before.

  Seven fair well-peopled cities I will give

  Cardamyle and Enope, and rich

  In herbage, Hira; Pheræ stately-built,

  And for her depth of pasturage renown'd

  Antheia; proud Æpeia's lofty towers,

  And Pedasus impurpled dark with vines.

  All these are maritime, and on the shore

  They stand of Pylus, by a race possess'd

  Most rich in flocks and herds, who tributes large,

  And gifts presenting to his sceptred hand,

  Shall hold him high in honor as a God.

  These will I give him if from wrath he cease.

  Let him be overcome. Pluto alone

  Is found implacable and deaf to prayer,

  Whom therefore of all Gods men hate the most.

  My power is greater, and my years than his

  More numerous, therefore let him yield to me.

  To him Gerenian Nestor thus replied.

  Atrides! glorious sovereign! King of men!

  No sordid gifts, or to be view'd with scorn,

  Givest thou the Prince Achilles. But away!

  Send chosen messengers, who shall the son

  Of Peleus, instant, in his tent address.

  Myself will choose them, be it theirs to obey.

  Let Phœnix lead, Jove loves him. Be the next

  Huge Ajax; and the wise Ulysses third.

  Of heralds, Odius and Eurybates

  Shall them attend. Bring water for our hands;

  Give charge that every tongue abstain from speech

  Portentous, and propitiate Jove by prayer.

  He spake, and all were pleased. The heralds pour'd

  Pure water on their hands; attendant youths

  The beakers crown'd, and wine from right to left

  Distributed to all. Libation made,

  All drank, and in such measure as they chose,

  Then hasted forth from Agamemnon's tent.

  Gerenian Nestor at their side them oft

  Instructed, each admonishing by looks

  Significant, and motion of his eyes,

  But most Ulysses, to omit no means

  By which Achilles likeliest might be won.

  Along the margin of the sounding deep

  They pass'd, to Neptune, compasser of earth,

  Preferring vows ardent with numerous prayers,

  That they might sway with ease the mighty mind

  Of fierce Æacides. And now they reach'd

  The station where his Myrmidons abode.

  Him solacing they found his heart with notes

  Struck from his silver-framed harmonious lyre;

  Among the spoils he found it when he sack'd

  Eëtion's city; with that lyre his cares

  He sooth'd, and glorious heroes were his theme.

  Patroclus silent sat, and he alone,

  Before him, on Æacides intent,

  Expecting still when he should cease to sing.

  The messengers advanced (Ulysses first)

  Into his presence; at the sight, his harp

  Still in his hand, Achilles from his seat

  Started astonish'd; nor with less amaze

  Patroclus also, seeing them, arose.

  Achilles seized their hands, and thus he spake.

  Hail friends! ye all are welcome. Urgent cause

  Hath doubtless brought you, whom I dearest hold

  (Though angry still) of all Achaia's host.

  So saying, he introduced them, and on seats

  Placed them with purple arras overspread,

  Then thus bespake Patroclus standing nigh.

  Son of Menætius! bring a beaker more

  Capacious, and replenish it with wine

  Diluted less; then give to each his cup;

  For dearer friends than these who now arrive

  My roof beneath, or worthier, have I none.

  He ended, and Patroclus quick obey'd,

  Whom much he loved. Achilles, then, himself

  Advancing near the fire an ample tray,

  Spread goats' flesh on it, with the flesh of sheep

  And of a fatted brawn; of each a chine.

  Automedon attending held them fast,

  While with sharp steel Achilles from the bone

  Sliced thin the meat, then pierced it with the spits.

  Meantime the godlike Menætiades

  Kindled fierce fire, and when the flame declined,

  Raked wide the embers, laid the meat to roast,

  And taking sacred salt from the hearth-side

  Where it was treasured, shower'd it o'er the feast.

  When all was finish'd, and the board set forth,

  Patroclus furnish'd it around with bread

  In baskets, and Achilles served the guests.

  Beside the tent-wall, opposite, he sat

  To the divine Ulysses; first he bade

  Patroclus make oblation; he consign'd

  The consecrated morsel to the fire,

  And each, at once, his savoury mess assail'd.

  When neither edge of hunger now they felt

  Nor thirsted longer, Ajax with a nod

  Made sign to Phœnix, which Ulysses mark'd,

  And charging high his cup, drank to his host.

  Health to Achilles! hospitable cheer

  And well prepared, we want not at the board

  Of royal Agamemnon, or at thine,

  For both are nobly spread; but dainties now,

  Or plenteous boards, are little our concern.

  Oh godlike Chief! tremendous ills we sit

  Contemplating with fear, doubtful if life

  Or death, with the destruction of our fleet,

  Attend us, unless thou put on thy might.

  For lo! the haughty Trojans, with their friends

  Call'd from afar, at the fleet-side encamp,

  Fast by the wall, where they have kindled fires

  Numerous,
and threaten that no force of ours

  Shall check their purposed inroad on the ships.

  Jove grants them favorable signs from heaven,

  Bright lightnings; Hector glares revenge, with rage

  Infuriate, and by Jove assisted, heeds

  Nor God nor man, but prays the morn to rise

  That he may hew away our vessel-heads,

  Burn all our fleet with fire, and at their sides

  Slay the Achaians struggling in the smoke.

  Horrible are my fears lest these his threats

  The Gods accomplish, and it be our doom

  To perish here, from Argos far remote.

  Up, therefore! if thou canst, and now at last

  The weary sons of all Achaia save

  From Trojan violence. Regret, but vain,

  Shall else be thine hereafter, when no cure

  Of such great ill, once suffer'd, can be found.

  Thou therefore, seasonably kind, devise

  Means to preserve from such disast'rous fate

  The Grecians. Ah, my friend! when Peleus thee

  From Phthia sent to Agamemnon's aid,

  On that same day he gave thee thus in charge.

  "Juno, my son, and Pallas, if they please,

  Can make thee valiant; but thy own big heart

  Thyself restrain. Sweet manners win respect.

  Cease from pernicious strife, and young and old

  Throughout the host shall honor thee the more."

  Such was thy father's charge, which thou, it seems,

  Remember'st not. Yet even now thy wrath

  Renounce; be reconciled; for princely gifts

  Atrides gives thee if thy wrath subside.

  Hear, if thou wilt, and I will tell thee all,

  How vast the gifts which Agamemnon made

  By promise thine, this night within his tent.

  Seven tripods never sullied yet with fire;

  Of gold ten talents; twenty cauldrons bright;

  Twelve steeds strong-limb'd, victorious in the race;

  No man possessing prizes such as those

  Which they have won for him, shall feel the want

  Of acquisitions splendid, or of gold.

  Seven virtuous female captives he will give,

  Expert in arts domestic, Lesbians all,

  Whom when thou conquer'dst Lesbos, he received

  His chosen portion, passing woman-kind

  In perfect loveliness of face and form.

  These will he give, and will with these resign

  Her whom he took, Briseïs, with an oath

  Most solemn, that unconscious as she was

  Of his embraces, such he yields her back.

  All these he gives thee now! and if at length

  The Gods vouchsafe to us to overturn

  Priam's great city, thou shalt heap thy ships

  With gold and brass, entering and choosing first,

  When we shall share the spoil; and shalt beside

  Choose twenty from among the maids of Troy,

  Helen except, loveliest of all their sex.

  And if once more the rich milk-flowing land

  We reach of Argos, thou shalt there become

  His son-in-law, and shalt enjoy like state

  With him, whom he in all abundance rears,

  His only son Orestes. In his house

  He hath three daughters; thou may'st home conduct

  To Phthia, her whom thou shalt most approve.

  Chrysothemis shall be thy bride; or else

  Laodice; or if she please thee more

  Iphianassa; and from thee he asks

  No dower; himself will such a dower bestow

  As never father on his child before.

  Seven fair well-peopled cities will he give;

  Cardamyle and Enope; and rich

  In herbage, Hira; Pheræ stately-built,

  And for her depth of pasturage renown'd,

  Antheia; proud Æpeia's lofty towers,

  And Pedasus impurpled dark with vines.

  All these are maritime, and on the shore

  They stand of Pylus, by a race possess'd

  Most rich in flocks and herds, who tribute large

  And gifts presenting to thy sceptred hand,

  Shall hold thee high in honor as a God.

  These will he give thee, if thy wrath subside.

  But should'st thou rather in thine heart the more

  Both Agamemnon and his gifts detest,

  Yet oh compassionate the afflicted host

  Prepared to adore thee. Thou shalt win renown

  Among the Grecians that shall never die.

  Now strike at Hector. He is here; — himself

  Provokes thee forth; madness is in his heart,

  And in his rage he glories that our ships

  Have hither brought no Grecian brave as he.

  Then thus Achilles matchless in the race.

  Laertes' noble son, for wiles renown'd!

  I must with plainness speak my fixt resolve

  Unalterable; lest I hear from each

  The same long murmur'd melancholy tale.

  For I abhor the man, not more the gates

  Of hell itself, whose words belie his heart.

  So shall not mine. My judgment undisguised

  Is this; that neither Agamemnon me

  Nor all the Greeks shall move; for ceaseless toil

  Wins here no thanks; one recompense awaits

  The sedentary and the most alert,

  The brave and base in equal honor stand,

  And drones and heroes fall unwept alike.

  I after all my labors, who exposed

  My life continual in the field, have earn'd

  No very sumptuous prize. As the poor bird

  Gives to her unfledged brood a morsel gain'd

  After long search, though wanting it herself,

  So I have worn out many sleepless nights,

  And waded deep through many a bloody day

  In battle for their wives. I have destroy'd

  Twelve cities with my fleet, and twelve, save one,

  On foot contending in the fields of Troy.

  From all these cities, precious spoils I took

  Abundant, and to Agamemnon's hand

  Gave all the treasure. He within his ships

  Abode the while, and having all received,

  Little distributed, and much retained;

  He gave, however, to the Kings and Chiefs

  A portion, and they keep it. Me alone

  Of all the Grecian host he hath despoil'd;

  My bride, my soul's delight is in his hands,

  And let him, couch'd with her, enjoy his fill

  Of dalliance. What sufficient cause, what need

  Have the Achaians to contend with Troy?

  Why hath Atrides gather'd such a host,

  And led them hither? Was't not for the sake

  Of beauteous Helen? And of all mankind

  Can none be found who love their proper wives

  But the Atridæ? There is no good man

  Who loves not, guards not, and with care provides

  For his own wife, and, though in battle won,

  I loved the fair Briseïs at my heart.

  But having dispossess'd me of my prize

  So foully, let him not essay me now,

  For I am warn'd, and he shall not prevail.

  With thee and with thy peers let him advise,

  Ulysses! how the fleet may likeliest 'scape

  Yon hostile fires; full many an arduous task

  He hath accomplished without aid of mine;

  So hath he now this rampart and the trench

  Which he hath digg'd around it, and with stakes

  Planted contiguous — puny barriers all

  To hero-slaughtering Hector's force opposed.

  While I the battle waged, present myself

  Among the Achaians, Hector never fought

 
Far from his walls, but to the Scæan gate

  Advancing and the beech-tree, there remain'd.

  Once, on that spot he met me, and my arm

  Escaped with difficulty even there.

  But, since I feel myself not now inclined

  To fight with noble Hector, yielding first

  To Jove due worship, and to all the Gods,

  To-morrow will I launch, and give my ships

  Their lading. Look thou forth at early dawn,

  And, if such spectacle delight thee aught,

  Thou shalt behold me cleaving with my prows

  The waves of Hellespont, and all my crews

  Of lusty rowers active in their task.

  So shall I reach (if Ocean's mighty God

  Prosper my passage) Phthia the deep-soil'd

  On the third day. I have possessions there,

  Which hither roaming in an evil hour

  I left abundant. I shall also hence

  Convey much treasure, gold and burnish'd brass,

  And glittering steel, and women passing fair

  My portion of the spoils. But he, your King,

  The prize he gave, himself resumed,

  And taunted at me. Tell him my reply,

  And tell it him aloud, that other Greeks

  May indignation feel like me, if arm'd

  Always in impudence, he seek to wrong

  Them also. Let him not henceforth presume,

  Canine and hard in aspect though he be,

  To look me in the face. I will not share

  His counsels, neither will I aid his works.

  Let it suffice him, that he wrong'd me once,

  Deceived me once, henceforth his glozing arts

  Are lost on me. But let him rot in peace

  Crazed as he is, and by the stroke of Jove

  Infatuate. I detest his gifts, and him

  So honor as the thing which most I scorn.

  And would he give me twenty times the worth

  Of this his offer, all the treasured heaps

  Which he possesses, or shall yet possess,

  All that Orchomenos within her walls,

  And all that opulent Egyptian Thebes

  Receives, the city with a hundred gates,

  Whence twenty thousand chariots rush to war,

  And would he give me riches as the sands,

  And as the dust of earth, no gifts from him

  Should soothe me, till my soul were first avenged

  For all the offensive license of his tongue.

  I will not wed the daughter of your Chief,

  Of Agamemnon. Could she vie in charms

  With golden Venus, had she all the skill

  Of blue-eyed Pallas, even so endow'd

  She were no bride for me. No. He may choose

  From the Achaians some superior Prince,

  One more her equal. Peleus, if the Gods

  Preserve me, and I safe arrive at home,

  Himself, ere long, shall mate me with a bride.