The Iliad, Homer [librera reader .TXT] 📗

men I lay:

Then, Agamemnon, thou thy part perform; For thou art King supreme; the Elders all, As meet and seemly, to the feast invite: Thy tents are full of wine, which Grecian ships O’er the wide sea bring day by day from Thrace; Nor lack’st thou aught thy guests to entertain, And many own thy sway; when all are met, His counsel take, who gives the best advice; Great need we have of counsel wise and good, When close beside our ships the hostile fires Are burning: who can this unmov’d behold?

This night our ruin or our safety sees.”

 

He said; and they, assenting, heard his speech.

Forth with their followers went th’ appointed guards, The princely Thrasymedes, Nestor’s son, Ascalaphus, and bold Ialmenus,

Two valiant sons of Mars; Meriones,

And Aphareus, and brave Deipyrus,

And godlike Lycomedes, Creon’s son.

Sev’n were the leaders; and with each went forth A hundred gallant youths, with lances arm’d.

Between the ditch and wall they took their post; There lit their fires, and there the meal prepar’d.

 

Then for th’ assembled Elders in his tent An ample banquet Agamemnon spread;

They on the viands, set before them, fell: The rage of thirst and hunger satisfied, The aged Nestor first his mind disclos’d He who, before, the sagest counsel gave, Now thus with prudent words began, and said: “Most mighty Agamemnon, King of men,

With thee, Atrides, my discourse shall end, With thee begin: o’er many nations thou Hold’st sov’reign sway; since Jove to thee hath giv’n The sceptre, and the high prerogative, To be thy people’s judge and counsellor, ‘Tis thine to speak the word, ‘tis thine to hear And to determine, when some other chief Suggestions offers in the gen’ral cause: What counsel shall prevail, depends on thee: Yet will I say what seems to me the best.

Sounder opinion none can hold than this, Which I maintain, and ever have maintain’d, Ev’n from the day when thou, great King, didst bear The fair Briseis from Achilles’ tent

Despite his anger—not by my advice:

I fain would have dissuaded thee, but thou, Following the dictates of thy wrathful pride, Didst to our bravest wrong, dishon’ring him Whom ev’n th’ Immortals honour’d; for his prize Thou took’st and still retain’st; but let us now Consider, if ev’n yet, with costly gifts And soothing words, we may his wrath appease.”

 

To whom the monarch Agamemnon thus:

“Father, too truly thou recall’st my fault: I err’d, nor will deny it; as a host

Is he whom Jove in honour holds, as now Achilles hon’ring, he confounds the Greeks, But if I err’d, by evil impulse led,

Fain would I now conciliate him, and pay An ample penalty; before you all

I pledge myself rich presents to bestow.

Sev’n tripods will I give, untouch’d by fire; Of gold, ten talents, twenty caldrons bright, Twelve pow’rful horses, on the course renown’d, Who by their speed have many prizes won.

Not empty-handed could that man be deem’d, Nor poor in gold, who but so much possess’d As by those horses has for me been won.

Sev’n women too, well skill’d in household cares, Lesbians, whom I selected for myself,

That day he captur’d Lesbos’ goodly isle, In beauty far surpassing all their sex: These will I give; and with them will I send The fair Briseis, her whom from his tent I bore away; and add a solemn oath,

I ne’er approach’d her bed, nor held with her Such intercourse as man with woman holds.

All these shall now be his: but if the Gods Shall grant us Priam’s city to destroy, Of gold and brass, when we divide the spoil, With countless heaps he shall a vessel freight, And twenty captives he himself shall choose, All only less than Argive Helen fair.

And if it be our fate to see again

The teeming soil of Argos, he shall be My son by marriage; and in honour held As is Orestes, who, my only son,

Is rear’d at home in luxury and ease.

Three daughters fair I have, Chrysothemis, Iphianassa, and Laodice;

Of these, whiche’er he will, to Peleus’ house, No portion ask’d for, he shall take to wife; And with her will I add such wedding gifts, As never man before to daughter gave.

Sev’n prosp’rous towns besides; Cardamyle, And Enope, and Ira’s grassy plains;

And Pherae, and Antheia’s pastures deep, AEpeia fair, and vine-clad Pedasus;

All by the sea, by sandy Pylos’ bounds.

The dwellers there in flocks and herds are rich, And, as a God, shall honour him with gifts, And to his sceptre ample tribute pay.

This will I do, so he his wrath remit: Then let him yield (Pluto alone remains Unbending and inexorable; and thence

Of all the Gods is most abhorr’d of men), To me submitting, as in royal pow’r

Superior far, and more advanc’d in age.”

 

To whom Gerenian Nestor thus replied:

“Most mighty Agamemnon, King of men,

Atrides, not unworthy are the gifts,

Which to Achilles thou design’st to send: Then to the tent of Peleus’ son in haste Let us our chosen messengers despatch: Whom I shall choose, let them consent to go.

Then first of all let Phoenix lead the way, Beloved of Jove; the mighty Ajax next: With them, Ulysses sage; and let them take, Of heralds, Hodius and Eurybates.

Bring now the hallowing water for our hands; And bid be silent, while to Saturn’s son, That he have mercy, we address our pray’r.”

 

He said, and well his counsel pleas’d them all; The heralds pour’d the water on their hands; The youths, attending, crown’d the bowls with wine, And in due order serv’d the cups to all.

Then, their libations made, when each with wine Had satisfied his soul, from out the tent Of Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, they pass’d; And many a caution aged Nestor gave,

With rapid glance to each, Ulysses chief, How best to soften Peleus’ matchless son.

 

Beside the many-dashing ocean’s shore

They mov’d along; and many a pray’r address’d To Neptune, Ocean’s Earth-surrounding God, That he to gentle counsels would incline The haughty soul of great AEacides.

When to the ships and tents they came, where lay The warlike Myrmidons, their chief they found His spirit soothing with a sweet-ton’d lyre, Of curious work, with silver band adorn’d; Part of the spoil he took, when he destroy’d Eetion’s wealthy town; on this he play’d, Soothing his soul, and sang of warriors’ deeds.

Before the chief, in silence and alone Patroclus sat, upon Achilles fix’d

His eyes, awaiting till the song should cease.

The envoys forward stepp’d, Ulysses first, And stood before him; from his couch, amaz’d, And holding still his lyre, Achilles sprang, Leaving the seat whereon they found him plac’d; And at their entrance rose Patroclus too: Waving his hand, Achilles, swift of foot, Addressed them: “Welcome, friends! as friends ye come: Some great occasion surely to my tent

Hath brought the men who are, of all the Greeks, Despite my anger, dearest to my heart.”

 

Thus as he spoke, he led them in, and plac’d On couches spread with, purple carpets o’er, Then thus address’d Patroclus at his side: “Son of Menoetius, set upon the board

A larger bowl, and stronger mix the wine, And serve a cup to each: beneath my roof This night my dearest friends I entertain.”

He said; Patroclus his commands obey’d; And in the fire-light plac’d an ample tray, And on it laid of goat’s flesh and of sheep’s A saddle each; and with them, rich in fat, A chine of well-fed hog; Automedon

Held fast, while great Achilles carv’d the joints.

The meat, prepar’d, he fix’d upon the spits: Patroclus kindled then a blazing fire; And when the fire burnt hotly, and the flame Subsided, spread the glowing embers out, And hung the spits above; then sprinkled o’er The meat with salt, and lifted from the stand.

The viands cook’d and plac’d upon the board, From baskets fair Patroclus portion’d out The bread to each; the meat Achilles shar’d.

Facing the sage Ulysses, sat the host

On th’ other side the tent; and bade his friend, Patroclus, give the Gods their honours due: He in the fire the wonted off’rings burnt: They on the viands set before them fell.

The rage of thirst and hunger satisfied, Ajax to Phoenix sign’d: Ulysses saw

The sign, and rising, fill’d a cup with wine, And pledg’d Achilles thus: “To thee I drink, Achilles! nobly is thy table spread,

As heretofore in Agamemnon’s tent,

So now in thine; abundant is the feast: But not the pleasures of the banquet now We have in hand: impending o’er our arms Grave cause of fear, illustrious chief, we see; Grave doubts, to save, or see destroy’d our ships, If thou, great warrior, put not forth thy might.

For close beside the ships and wall are camp’d The haughty Trojans and renown’d allies: Their watchfires frequent burn throughout the camp; And loud their boast that nought shall stay their hands, Until our dark-ribb’d ships be made their prey.

Jove too for them, with fav’ring augury Sends forth his lightning; boastful of his strength, And firmly trusting in the aid of Jove, Hector, resistless, rages; nought he fears Or God or man, with martial fury fir’d.

He prays, impatient, for th’ approach of morn; Then, breaking through the lofty sterns, resolv’d To the devouring flames to give the ships, And slay the crews, bewilder’d in the smoke.

And much my mind misgives me, lest the Gods His threats fulfil, and we be fated here To perish, far from Argos’ grassy plains.

Up then! if in their last extremity

Thy spirit inclines, though late, to save the Greeks Sore press’d by Trojan arms: lest thou thyself Hereafter feel remorse; the evil done

Is past all cure; then thou reflect betimes How from the Greeks to ward the day of doom.

Dear friend, remember now thy father’s words, The aged Peleus, when to Atreus’ son

He sent thee forth from Phthia, how he said, ‘My son, the boon of strength, if so they will, Juno or Pallas have the pow’r to give; But thou thyself thy haughty spirit must curb.

For better far is gentle courtesy:

And cease from angry strife, that so the Greeks The more may honour thee, both young and old.’

Such were the words thine aged father spoke, Which thou hast now forgotten; yet, e’en now, Pause for awhile, and let thine anger cool; And noble gifts, so thou thy wrath remit, From Agamemnon shalt thou bear away.

Listen to me, while I recount the gifts Which in his tent he pledg’d him to bestow.

Sev’n tripods promis’d he, untouch’d by fire, Of gold, ten talents, twenty caldrons bright, Twelve pow’rful horses, in the course renown’d.

Who by their speed have many prizes won.

Not empty-handed could that man be deem’d, Nor poor in gold, who but so much possess’d As by those horses has for him been won.

Sev’n women too, well skill’d in household cares, Lesbians, whom he selected for himself, That day thou captur’dst Lesbos’ goodly isle, In beauty far surpassing all their sex.

These will he give; and with them will he send The fair Briseis, her whom from thy tent He bore away; and add a solemn oath,

He ne’er approach’d her bed, nor held with her Such intercourse as man with woman holds.

All these shall now be thine: but if the Gods Shall grant us Priam’s city to destroy, Of gold and brass, when we divide the spoil, With countless heaps a vessel shalt thou freight, And twenty captives thou thyself shalt choose, All only less than Argive Helen fair.

And if it be our fate to see again

The teeming soil of Argos, thou mayst be His son by marriage, and in honour held As is Orestes, who, his only son,

Is rear’d