The Iliad of Homer

by Richmond Lattimore

  they drop and die. And then you will eat out the heart within you

  in sorrow, that you did no honor to the best of the Achaians.”

  245 Thus spoke Peleus’ son and dashed to the ground the scepter

  studded with golden nails, and sat down again. But Atreides

  raged still on the other side, and between them

  Nestor the fair-spoken rose up, the lucid speaker of Pylos,

  from whose lips the streams of words ran sweeter than honey.

  250 In his time two generations of mortal men had perished,

  those who had grown up with him and they who had been born to

  these in sacred Pylos, and he was king in the third age.

  He in kind intention toward both stood forth and addressed them:

  “Oh, for shame. Great sorrow comes on the land of Achaia.

  255 Now might Priam and the sons of Priam in truth be happy,

  and all the rest of the Trojans be visited in their hearts with gladness,

  were they to hear all this wherein you two are quarreling,

  you, who surpass all Danaäns in council, in fighting.

  Yet be persuaded. Both of you are younger than I am.

  260 Yes, and in my time I have dealt with better men than

  you are, and never once did they disregard me. Never

  yet have I seen nor shall see again such men as these were,

  men like Peirithoös, and Dryas, shepherd of the people,

  Kaineus and Exadios, godlike Polyphemos,

  265 or Theseus, Aigeus’ son, in the likeness of the immortals.

  These were the strongest generation of earth-born mortals,

  the strongest, and they fought against the strongest, the beast men

  living within the mountains, and terribly they destroyed them.

  I was of the company of these men, coming from Pylos,

  270 a long way from a distant land, since they had summoned me.

  And I fought single-handed, yet against such men no one

  of the mortals now alive upon earth could do battle. And also

  these listened to the counsels I gave and heeded my bidding.

  Do you also obey, since to be persuaded is better.

  275 You, great man that you are, yet do not take the girl away

  but let her be, a prize as the sons of the Achaians gave her

  first. Nor, son of Peleus, think to match your strength with

  the king, since never equal with the rest is the portion

  of honor of the scattered king to whom Zeus gives magnificence. Even

  280 though you are the stronger man, and the mother who bore you was immortal,

  yet is this man greater who is lord over more than you rule.

  Son of Atreus, give up your anger; even I entreat you

  to give over your bitterness against Achilleus, he who

  stands as a great bulwark of battle over all the Achaians.”

  285 Then in answer again spoke powerful Agamemnon:

  “Yes, old sir, all this you have said is fair and orderly.

  Yet here is a man who wishes to be above all others,

  who wishes to hold power over all, and to be lord of

  all, and give them their orders, yet I think one will not obey him.

  290 And if the everlasting gods have made him a spearman,

  yet they have not given him the right to speak abusively.”

  Then looking at him darkly brilliant Achilleus answered him:

  “So must I be called of no account and a coward

  if I must carry out every order you may happen to give me.

  295 Tell other men to do these things, but give me no more

  commands, since I for my part have no intention to obey you.

  And put away in your thoughts this other thing I tell you.

  With my hands I will not fight for the girl’s sake, neither

  with you nor any other man, since you take her away who gave her.

  300 But of all the other things that are mine beside my fast black

  ship, you shall take nothing away against my pleasure.

  Come, then, only try it, that these others may see also;

  instantly your own black blood will stain my spearpoint.”

  So these two after battling in words of contention

  305 stood up, and broke the assembly beside the ships of the Achaians.

  Peleus’ son went back to his balanced ships and his shelter

  with Patroklos, Menoitios’ son, and his own companions.

  But the son of Atreus drew a fast ship down to the water

  and allotted into it twenty rowers and put on board it

  310 the hecatomb for the god and Chryseis of the fair cheeks

  leading her by the hand. And in charge went crafty Odysseus.

  These then putting out went over the ways of the water

  while Atreus’ son told his people to wash off their defilement.

  And they washed it away and threw the washings into the salt sea.

  315 Then they accomplished perfect hecatombs to Apollo,

  of bulls and goats along the beach of the barren salt sea.

  The savor of the burning swept in circles up to the bright sky.

  Thus these were busy about the army. But Agamemnon

  did not give up his anger and the first threat he made to Achilleus,

  320 but to Talthybios he gave his orders and Eurybates

  who were heralds and hard-working henchmen to him: “Go now

  to the shelter of Peleus’ son Achilleus, to bring back

  Briseis of the fair cheeks leading her by the hand. And if he

  will not give her, I must come in person to take her

  325 with many men behind me, and it will be the worse for him.”

  He spoke and sent them forth with this strong order upon them.

  They went against their will beside the beach of the barren

  salt sea, and came to the shelters and the ships of the Myrmidons.

  The man himself they found beside his shelter and his black ship

  330 sitting. And Achilleus took no joy at all when he saw them.

  These two terrified and in awe of the king stood waiting

  quietly, and did not speak a word at all nor question him.

  But he knew the whole matter in his own heart, and spoke first:

  “Welcome, heralds, messengers of Zeus and of mortals.

  335 Draw near. You are not to blame in my sight, but Agamemnon

  who sent the two of you here for the sake of the girl Briseis.

  Go then, illustrious Patroklos, and bring the girl forth

  and give her to these to be taken away. Yet let them be witnesses

  in the sight of the blessed gods, in the sight of mortal

  340 men, and of this cruel king, if ever hereafter

  there shall be need of me to beat back the shameful destruction

  from the rest. For surely in ruinous heart he makes sacrifice

  and has not wit enough to look behind and before him

  that the Achaians fighting beside their ships shall not perish.”

  345 So he spoke, and Patroklos obeyed his beloved companion.

  He led forth from the hut Briseis of the fair cheeks and gave her

  to be taken away; and they walked back beside the ships of the Achaians,

  and the woman all unwilling went with them still. But Achilleus

  weeping went and sat in sorrow apart from his companions

  350 beside the beach of the gray sea looking out on the infinite water.

  Many times stretching forth his hands he called on his mother:

  “Since, my mother, you bore me to be a man with a short life,

  therefore Zeus of the loud thunder on Olympos should grant me

  honor at least. But now he has given me not even a little.

  355 Now the son of Atreus, powerful Agamemnon,

  has dishonored me, since
he has taken away my prize and keeps it.”

  So he spoke in tears and the lady his mother heard him

  as she sat in the depths of the sea at the side of her aged father,

  and lightly she emerged like a mist from the gray water.

  360 She came and sat beside him as he wept, and stroked him

  with her hand and called him by name and spoke to him: “Why then,

  child, do you lament? What sorrow has come to your heart now?

  Tell me, do not hide it in your mind, and thus we shall both know.”

  Sighing heavily Achilleus of the swift feet answered her:

  365 “You know; since you know why must I tell you all this?

  We went against Thebe, the sacred city of Eëtion,

  and the city we sacked, and carried everything back to this place,

  and the sons of the Achaians made a fair distribution

  and for Atreus’ son they chose out Chryseis of the fair cheeks.

  370 Then Chryses, priest of him who strikes from afar, Apollo,

  came beside the fast ships of the bronze-armored Achaians to ransom

  back his daughter, carrying gifts beyond count and holding

  in his hands wound on a staff of gold the ribbons of Apollo

  who strikes from afar, and supplicated all the Achaians,

  375 but above all Atreus’ two sons, the marshals of the people.

  Then all the rest of the Achaians cried out in favor

  that the priest be respected and the shining ransom be taken;

  yet this pleased not the heart of Atreus’ son Agamemnon,

  but harshly he sent him away with a strong order upon him.

  380 The old man went back again in anger, but Apollo

  listened to his prayer, since he was very dear to him, and let go

  the wicked arrow against the Argives. And now the people

  were dying one after another while the god’s shafts ranged

  everywhere along the wide host of the Achaians, till the seer

  385 knowing well the truth interpreted the designs of the archer.

  It was I first of all urged then the god’s appeasement;

  and the anger took hold of Atreus’ son, and in speed standing

  he uttered his threat against me, and now it is a thing accomplished.

  For the girl the glancing-eyed Achaians are taking to Chryse

  390 in a fast ship, also carrying to the king presents. But even

  now the heralds went away from my shelter leading

  Briseus’ daughter, whom the sons of the Achaians gave me.

  You then, if you have power to, protect your own son, going

  to Olympos and supplicating Zeus, if ever before now

  395 either by word you comforted Zeus’ heart or by action.

  Since it is many times in my father’s halls I have heard you

  making claims, when you said you only among the immortals

  beat aside shameful destruction from Kronos’ son the dark-misted,

  that time when all the other Olympians sought to bind him,

  400 Hera and Poseidon and Pallas Athene. Then you,

  goddess, went and set him free from his shackles, summoning

  in speed the creature of the hundred hands to tall Olympos,

  that creature the gods name Briareus, but all men

  Aigaios’ son, but he is far greater in strength than his father.

  405 He rejoicing in the glory of it sat down by Kronion,

  and the rest of the blessed gods were frightened and gave up binding him.

  Sit beside him and take his knees and remind him of these things

  now, if perhaps he might be willing to help the Trojans,

  and pin the Achaians back against the ships and the water,

  410 dying, so that thus they may all have profit of their own king,

  that Atreus’ son wide-ruling Agamemnon may recognize

  his madness, that he did no honor to the best of the Achaians.”

  Thetis answered him then letting the tears fall: “Ah me,

  my child. Your birth was bitterness. Why did I raise you?

  415 If only you could sit by your ships untroubled, not weeping,

  since indeed your lifetime is to be short, of no length.

  Now it has befallen that your life must be brief and bitter

  beyond all men’s. To a bad destiny I bore you in my chambers.

  But I will go to cloud-dark Olympos and ask this

  420 thing of Zeus who delights in the thunder. Perhaps he will do it.

  Do you therefore continuing to sit by your swift ships

  be angry at the Achaians and stay away from all fighting.

  For Zeus went to the blameless Aithiopians at the Ocean

  yesterday to feast, and the rest of the gods went with him.

  425 On the twelfth day he will be coming back to Olympos,

  and then I will go for your sake to the house of Zeus, bronze-founded,

  and take him by the knees and I think I can persuade him.”

  So speaking she went away from that place and left him

  sorrowing in his heart for the sake of the fair-girdled woman

  430 whom they were taking by force against his will. But Odysseus

  meanwhile drew near to Chryse conveying the sacred hecatomb.

  These when they were inside the many-hollowed harbor

  took down and gathered together the sails and stowed them in the black ship,

  let down mast by the forestays, and settled it into the mast crutch

  435 easily, and rowed her in with oars to the mooring.

  They threw over the anchor stones and made fast the stern cables

  and themselves stepped out onto the break of the sea beach,

  and led forth the hecatomb to the archer Apollo,

  and Chryseis herself stepped forth from the sea-going vessel.

  440 Odysseus of the many designs guided her to the altar

  and left her in her father’s arms and spoke a word to him:

  “Chryses, I was sent here by the lord of men Agamemnon

  to lead back your daughter and accomplish a sacred hecatomb

  to Apollo on behalf of the Danaäns, that we may propitiate

  445 the lord who has heaped unhappiness and tears on the Argives.”

  He spoke, and left her in his arms. And he received gladly

  his beloved child. And the men arranged the sacred hecatomb

  for the god in orderly fashion around the strong-founded altar.

  Next they washed their hands and took up the scattering barley.

  450 Standing among them with lifted arms Chryses prayed in a great voice:

  “Hear me, lord of the silver bow, who set your power about

  Chryse and Killa the sacrosanct, who are lord in strength over

  Tenedos; if once before you listened to my prayers

  and did me honor and smote strongly the host of the Achaians,

  455 so one more time bring to pass the wish that I pray for.

  Beat aside at last the shameful plague from the Danaäns.”

  So he spoke in prayer, and Phoibos Apollo heard him.

  And when all had made prayer and flung down the scattering barley

  first they drew back the victims’ heads and slaughtered them and skinned them,

  460 and cut away the meat from the thighs and wrapped them in fat,

  making a double fold, and laid shreds of flesh upon them.

  The old man burned these on a cleft stick and poured the gleaming

  wine over, while the young men with forks in their hands stood about him.

  But when they had burned the thigh pieces and tasted the vitals,

  465 they cut all the remainder into pieces and spitted them

  and roasted all carefully and took off the pieces.

  Then after they had finished the work and got the feast ready

  they feasted, nor was any man’s hung
er denied a fair portion.

  But when they had put away their desire for eating and drinking,

  470 the young men filled the mixing bowls with pure wine, passing

  a portion to all, when they had offered drink in the goblets.

  All day long they propitiated the god with singing,

  chanting a splendid hymn to Apollo, these young Achaians,

  singing to the one who works from afar, who listened in gladness.

  475 Afterward when the sun went down and darkness came onward

  they lay down and slept beside the ship’s stern cables.

  But when the young Dawn showed again with her rosy fingers,

  they put forth to sea toward the wide camp of the Achaians.

  And Apollo who works from afar sent them a favoring stern wind.

  480 They set up the mast again and spread on it the white sails,

  and the wind blew into the middle of the sail, and at the cutwater

  a blue wave rose and sang strongly as the ship went onward.

  She ran swiftly cutting across the swell her pathway.

  But when they had come back to the wide camp of the Achaians

  485 they hauled the black ship up on the mainland, high up

  on the sand, and underneath her they fixed the long props.

  Afterward they scattered to their own ships and their shelters.

  But that other still sat in anger beside his swift ships,

  Peleus’ son divinely born, Achilleus of the swift feet.

  490 Never now would he go to assemblies where men win glory,

  never more into battle, but continued to waste his heart out

  sitting there, though he longed always for the clamor and fighting.

  But when the twelfth dawn after this day appeared, the gods who

  live forever came back to Olympos all in a body

  495 and Zeus led them; nor did Thetis forget the entreaties

  of her son, but she emerged from the sea’s waves early

  in the morning and went up to the tall sky and Olympos.

  She found Kronos’ broad-browed son apart from the others

  sitting upon the highest peak of rugged Olympos.

  500 She came and sat beside him with her left hand embracing

  his knees, but took him underneath the chin with her right hand

  and spoke in supplication to lord Zeus son of Kronos:

  “Father Zeus, if ever before in word or action

  I did you favor among the immortals, now grant what I ask for.

  505 Now give honor to my son short-lived beyond all other

  mortals. Since even now the lord of men Agamemnon