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Then he broke up the assembly, and every man went back to his own ship. The Myrmidons attended to the presents and took them away to the ship of godlike Achilles. [280] They placed them in his tents, while the attendants [ therapontes] drove the horses in among the others.

282 Then Brisēis, looking like golden Aphrodite, 283 saw Patroklos all cut apart by the sharp bronze, and, when she saw him, 284 she poured herself all over him in tears and wailed with a voice most clear, and with her hands she tore at [285] her breasts and her tender neck and her beautiful face. 286 And then she spoke, weeping, this woman who looked like the goddesses: 287 “O Patroklos, you have been most gracious to me in my terrible state and most gratifying to my heart. 288 You were alive when I last saw you on my way out from the shelter 289 —and now I come back to find you dead, you, the protector of your people [290] —that is what I come back to find. Oh, how I have one misfortune after the next to welcome me. 291 The man to whom I was given away by my father and by my mother the queen 292 —I saw that man lying there in front of the city, all cut apart by the sharp bronze, 293 and lying near him were my three brothers— all of us were born of one mother— 294 they are all a cause for my sorrow, since they have all met up with their time of destruction. [295] No, you [= Patroklos] did not let me—back when my husband was killed by swift-footed Achilles, 296 killed by him, and when the city of my godlike Mynes [= my husband] was destroyed by him 297 —you did not let me weep, back then, but you told me that godlike Achilles 298 would have me as a properly courted wife, that you would make that happen, and that you would take me on board the ships, 299 taking me all the way to Phthia, and that you would arrange for a wedding feast among the Myrmidons. [300] So now I cannot stop crying for you, now that you are dead, you who were always so sweet and gentle.”

301 So she [= Brisēis] spoke, weeping, and the women kept on mourning in response. 302 They mourned for Patroklos, that was their pretext, but they were all mourning, each and every one of them, for what they really cared for in their sorrow. The elders of the Achaeans gathered round Achilles and prayed him to take food, but he groaned and would not do so. [305] “I pray you,” said he, “if any comrade will hear me, bid me neither eat nor drink, for I am in great heaviness, and will stay fasting even to the going down of the sun.”

Iliad. Homer. Samuel Butler (Translator). London. 1898.

Current edition Experimental

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ἰλιάς Perseus (Homer. Homeri Opera, Volumes 1-2. Monro, D. B. (David Binning), editor; Allen, Thomas W. (Thomas William), editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908-1920.) — 19.276 focus

ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, λῦσεν δʼ ἀγορὴν αἰψηρήν.

οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐσκίδναντο ἑὴν ἐπὶ νῆα ἕκαστος,

δῶρα δὲ Μυρμιδόνες μεγαλήτορες ἀμφεπένοντο,

βὰν δʼ ἐπὶ νῆα φέροντες Ἀχιλλῆος θείοιο.

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν κλισίῃσι θέσαν, κάθισαν δὲ γυναῖκας,

280

ἵππους δʼ εἰς ἀγέλην ἔλασαν θεράποντες ἀγαυοί.

Βρισηῒς δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτʼ ἰκέλη χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ

ὡς ἴδε Πάτροκλον δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγʼ ἐκώκυε, χερσὶ δʼ ἄμυσσε

στήθεά τʼ ἠδʼ ἁπαλὴν δειρὴν ἰδὲ καλὰ πρόσωπα.

285

εἶπε δʼ ἄρα κλαίουσα γυνὴ ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσι·

Πάτροκλέ μοι δειλῇ πλεῖστον κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ

ζωὸν μέν σε ἔλειπον ἐγὼ κλισίηθεν ἰοῦσα,

νῦν δέ σε τεθνηῶτα κιχάνομαι ὄρχαμε λαῶν

ἂψ ἀνιοῦσʼ· ὥς μοι δέχεται κακὸν ἐκ κακοῦ αἰεί.

290

ἄνδρα μὲν ᾧ ἔδοσάν με πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ

εἶδον πρὸ πτόλιος δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

τρεῖς τε κασιγνήτους, τούς μοι μία γείνατο μήτηρ,

κηδείους, οἳ πάντες ὀλέθριον ἦμαρ ἐπέσπον.

οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδέ μʼ ἔασκες, ὅτʼ ἄνδρʼ ἐμὸν ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς

295

ἔκτεινεν, πέρσεν δὲ πόλιν θείοιο Μύνητος,

κλαίειν, ἀλλά μʼ ἔφασκες Ἀχιλλῆος θείοιο

κουριδίην ἄλοχον θήσειν, ἄξειν τʼ ἐνὶ νηυσὶν

ἐς Φθίην, δαίσειν δὲ γάμον μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι.

τώ σʼ ἄμοτον κλαίω τεθνηότα μείλιχον αἰεί.

300

ὣς ἔφατο κλαίουσʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ στενάχοντο γυναῖκες

Πάτροκλον πρόφασιν, σφῶν δʼ αὐτῶν κήδεʼ ἑκάστη.

αὐτὸν δʼ ἀμφὶ γέροντες Ἀχαιῶν ἠγερέθοντο

λισσόμενοι δειπνῆσαι· ὃ δʼ ἠρνεῖτο στεναχίζων·

λίσσομαι, εἴ τις ἔμοιγε φίλων ἐπιπείθεθʼ ἑταίρων,

305

μή με πρὶν σίτοιο κελεύετε μηδὲ ποτῆτος

ἄσασθαι φίλον ἦτορ, ἐπεί μʼ ἄχος αἰνὸν ἱκάνει·

δύντα δʼ ἐς ἠέλιον μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι ἔμπης.

Translations (8)

Iliad Perseus (Homer. The Iliad, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), translator. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1924-1925.) — 19.276 focus

So spake he, and hastily brake up the gathering. Then the others scattered, each to his own ship, but the great-hearted Myrmidons busied themselves about the gifts, and bare them forth to the ship of godlike Achilles. 280 And they bestowed them in the huts, and set the women there, and the horses proud squires drave off to the herd. But Briseis, that was like unto golden Aphrodite, when she had sight of Patroclus mangled with the sharp bronze, flung herself about him and shrieked aloud, 285 and with her hands she tore her breast and tender neck and beautiful face. And amid her wailing spake the woman like unto the goddesses:

Patroclus, dearest to my hapless heart, alive I left thee when I went from the hut, and now I find thee dead, thou leader of hosts, 290 as I return thereto: thus for me doth evil ever follow hard on evil. My husband, unto whom my father and queenly mother gave me, I beheld mangled with the sharp bronze before our city, and my three brethren whom mine own mother bare, brethren beloved, all these met their day of doom. 295 But thou, when swift Achilles slew my husband, and laid waste the city of godlike Mynes, wouldst not even suffer me to weep, but saidest that thou wouldst make me the wedded wife of Achilles,¹ and that he would bear me in his ships to Phthia, and make me a marriage-feast among the Myrmidons. 300 Wherefore I wail for thee in thy death and know no ceasing, for thou wast ever kind.

So spake she wailing, and thereto the women added their laments; Patroclus indeed they mourned,² but therewithal each one her own sorrows. But around Achilles gathered the elders of the Achaeans, beseeching him that he would eat; but he refused them, moaning the while: 305

I beseech you, if any of my dear comrades will hearken unto me, bid me not before the time sate my heart with food or drink, seeing dread grief is come upon me. Till set of sun will I abide, and endure even as I am.

Iliad Perseus (Homer. The Iliad of Homer, rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902, translator. London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1898.) — 19.249 focus

249 Agamemnon then rose, and Talthybios whose voice was like that of a god came to him with the boar. The son of Atreus drew the knife which he wore by the scabbard of his mighty sword, and began by cutting off some bristles from the boar, lifting up his hands in prayer as he did so. The other Achaeans sat where they were all silent and orderly to hear the king, and Agamemnon looked into the vault of heaven and prayed saying, "I call Zeus the first and mightiest of all gods to witness, I call also Earth and Sun and the Erinyes who dwell below and take vengeance on him who shall swear falsely, that I have laid no hand upon the girl Briseis, neither to take her to my bed nor otherwise, but that she has remained in my tents inviolate. If I swear falsely may heaven visit me with all the penalties which it metes out to those who perjure themselves."

266 He cut the boar's throat as he spoke, whereon Talthybios whirled it round his head, and flung it into the wide sea to feed the fishes. Then Achilles also rose and said to the Argives, "Father Zeus, truly you give atê to men and bane them. The son of Atreus had not else stirred me to so fierce an anger, nor so stubbornly taken Briseis from me against my will. Surely Zeus must have counseled the destruction of many an Argive . Go, now, and take your food that we may begin fighting."

276 On this he broke up the assembly, and every man went back to his own ship. The Myrmidons attended to the presents and took them away to the ship of Achilles. They placed them in his tents, while the stable-men [therapontes] drove the horses in among the others.

282 Briseis, fair as Aphrodite, when she saw the mangled body of Patroklos, flung herself upon it and cried aloud, tearing her breast, her neck, and her lovely face with both her hands. Beautiful as a goddess she wept and said, "Patroklos, dearest friend, when I went hence I left you living; I return, O prince, to find you dead; thus do fresh sorrows multiply upon me one after the other. I saw him to whom my father and mother married me, cut down before our city, and my three own dear brothers perished with him on the self-same day; but you, Patroklos, even when Achilles slew my husband and sacked the city of noble Mynes, told me that I was not to weep, for you said you would make Achilles marry me, and take me back with him to Phthia , we should have a wedding feast among the Myrmidons. You were always kind to me and I shall never cease to grieve for you."

301 She wept as she spoke, and the women joined in her lament-making as though their tears were for Patroklos, but in truth each was weeping for her own sorrows. The elders of the Achaeans gathered round Achilles and prayed him to take food, but he groaned and would not do so. "I pray you," said he, "if any comrade will hear me, bid me neither eat nor drink, for I am in great heaviness, and will stay fasting even to the going down of the sun."

309 On this he sent the other princes away, save only the two sons of Atreus and Odysseus, Nestor, Idomeneus, and the horseman Phoenix, who stayed behind and tried to comfort him in the bitterness of his sorrow [ akhos]: but he would not be comforted till he should have flung himself into the jaws of battle, and he fetched sigh on sigh, thinking ever of Patroklos. Then he said-

315 "Hapless and dearest comrade, you it was who would get a good dinner ready for me at once and without delay when the Achaeans were hastening to fight the Trojans; now, therefore, though I have meat and drink in my tents, yet will I fast for sorrow. Grief greater than this I could not know, not even though I were to hear of the death of my father, who is now in Phthia weeping for the loss of me his son, who am here fighting the Trojans in a strange land [ dêmos] for the accursed sake of Helen, nor yet though I should hear that my son is no more - he who is being brought up in Skyros - if indeed Neoptolemos is still living. Till now I made sure that I alone was to fall here at Troy away from Argos , while you were to return to Phthia , bring back my son with you in your own ship, and show him all my property, my bondsmen, and the greatness of my house - for Peleus must surely be either dead, or what little life remains to him is oppressed alike with the infirmities of age and ever present fear lest he should hear the sad tidings of my death."

337 He wept as he spoke, and the elders sighed in concert as each thought on what he had left at home behind him. The son of Kronos looked down with pity upon them, and said presently to Athena, "My child, you have quite deserted your hero; is he then gone so clean out of your recollection? There he sits by the ships all desolate for the loss of his dear comrade, and though the others are gone to their dinner he will neither eat nor drink. Go then and drop nectar and ambrosia into his breast, that he may know no hunger."

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870)) — 19.276 focus

So spake Achilles, and at once dissolved

The assembly, each repairing to his ship

335

Save the large-hearted Myrmidons, who still

Were busy with the gifts, and carried them

Toward their great general's galley. These they laid

Carefully in the tents, and seated there

The women, while the attentive followers drave

340

The coursers to the stables. When the maid

Briseis, beautiful as Venus, saw

Patroclus lying gashed with wounds, she sprang

And threw herself upon the dead, and tore

Her bosom, her fair cheeks and delicate neck;

345

And thus the graceful maiden, weeping, said: -

"Patroclus, dear to my unhappy heart!

I left thee in full life, when from this tent

They led me; I return and find thee dead,

O chieftain of the people! Thus it is

350

That sorrow upon sorrow is my lot.

Him to whose arms my father, in my youth,

And gracious mother gave me as a bride,

I saw before our city pierced and slain,

And the three brothers whom my mother bore

355

Slain also, -brothers whom I dearly loved.

Yet thou, when swift Achilles struck to earth

My hapless husband, and laid waste the town

Of godlike Mynes, wouldst not suffer me

To weep despairingly; for thou didst give

360

Thy word to make me yet the wedded wife

Of great Achilles, bear me in the fleet

To Phthia, and prepare the wedding feast

Among the Myrmidons. O ever kind!

I mourn thy death, and cannot be consoled."

365

Weeping she spake; the women wept with her,

Seemingly for the dead, but each, in truth,

For her own griefs. Meanwhile the elders came

Around Achilles, praying him to join

The banquet, but the chief, with sighs, refused.

370

"Dear comrades, if ye love me, do not thus

Press me to sit and feast. A mighty woe.

Weighs down my spirit; it is my resolve

To wait and bear until the setting sun."

English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857)) — 19.276 focus

The speedy council at his word adjourn'd;

To their black vessels all the Greeks return'd:

290

Achilles sought his tent. His train before

March'd onward, bending with the gifts they bore.

Those in the tents the squires industrious spread;

The foaming coursers to the stalls they led.

To their new seats the female captives move:

295

Briseïs, radiant as the queen of love,

Slow as she pass'd, beheld with sad survey

Where, gash'd with cruel wounds, Patroclus lay.

Prone on the body fell the heavenly fair,

Beat her sad breast, and tore her golden hair;

300

All-beautiful in grief, her humid eyes,

Shining with tears, she lifts, and thus she cries:

‘Ah youth! for ever dear, for ever kind,¹

‘Once tender friend of my distracted mind!

‘I left thee fresh in life, in beauty gay;

305

‘Now find thee cold, inanimated clay!

‘What woes my wretched race of life attend!

‘Sorrows on sorrows, never doomed to end!

‘The first lov'd consort of my virgin bed

‘Before these eyes in fatal battle bled:²

310

‘My three brave brothers in one mournful day

‘All trod the dark irremeable way:

‘Thy friendly arm uprear'd me from the plain,

‘And dried my sorrows for a husband slain;

‘Achilles' care you promis'd I should prove,

315

‘The first, the dearest partner of his love;

‘That rites divine should ratify the band,

‘And make me empress in his native land.

‘Accept these grateful tears! for thee they flow,

‘For thee, that ever felt another's woe!’

320

Her sister captives echoed groan for groan,

Nor mourn'd Patroclus' fortunes, but their own.

The leaders press'd the chief³ on every side;

Unmov'd he heard them, and with sighs denied:

‘If yet Achilles have a friend, whose care

325

‘Is bent to please him, this request forbear:

‘Till yonder sun descend, ah, let me pay

‘To grief and anguish one abstemious day.’

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 19.276 focus

This said, the council he dissolv'd, and sent

Tli' Achaeans to their ships to break their fast.

Then ev'ry man unto his own ship went,

255

And busy were about their short repast.

Meanwhile the Myrmidons the presents bear

T' Achilles' ships, and laid them in his tent,

And thither also brought the women were.

But th' horses to the field his servants sent.

260

Briseis, when she saw Patroclus lie

With many ghastly wounds dead on the bier,

She flung her arms about him and did cry,

And her white neck, and face, and breast did tear,

And weeping over him did thus complain.

265

O dear Patroclus, whom alive I left,

Now when I to you am return'd again,

Ah me, I find you of your life bereft.

How fast my woes on one another fall!

The husband which my parents made me wed,

270

And three good brothers of one mother all,

I saw before Lyrnessus massacred.

And then, Patroclus, you to comfort me,

Told me that I should be Achilles' wife,

And to him married in Pthia be.

275

But now since you have also lost your life,

I never of my woe shall see an end.

And then the other women wept and roar'd,

All for Patroclus, as they did pretend,

But inwardly their own fate they deplor'd.

280

The Greeks again about Achilles stood,

And urged him, ere he to battle went,

Himself to strengthen with a little food,

But could by no means get him to consent.

My friends, said he, importune me no more

285

To eat or drink before we go to fight.

My heart within me now is vexed sore;

Fear not, I shall endure from morn to night.

English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 19.276 focus

Thus he rais'd the court, and all took way

To several ships, The Myrmidons the presents did convey

270

T' Achilles' fleet, and in his tents dispos'd them, doing grace

Of seat and all rites to the dames, the horses put in place

With others of Aeacides. When, like love's golden Queen,

Briseis all in ghastly wounds had dead Patroclus seen,

She fell about him, shrieking out, and with her white hands tore

275

Her hair, breasts, radiant cheeks, and, drown'd in warm tears, did deplore

His cruel destiny. At length she gat pow'r to express

Her violent passion, and thus spake this like-the-goddesses.

"O good Patroclus, to my life the dearest grace it had,

I, wretched dame, departing hence, enforc'd, and dying sad,

280

Left thee alive, when thou hadst cheer'd my poor captivity,

And now return'd I find thee dead; misery on misery

Ever increasing with my steps. The lord to whom my sire

And dearest mother gave my life in nuptials, his life's fire

¹²

I saw before our city gates extinguish'd, and his fate

285

Three of my worthy brothers' lives, in one womb generate,

Felt all in that black day of death. And when Achilles' hand

Had slain all these, and rac't the town Mynetes did command,

(All cause of never-ending griefs presented) thou took'st all

On thy endeavour to convert to joy as general,

290

Affirming, he that hurt should heal, and thou wouldst make thy friend,

Brave captain that thou wert, supply my vowed husband's end,

And in rich Phthia celebrate, amongst his Myrmidons,

Our nuptial banquets; for which grace with these most worthy moans

I never shall be satiate, thou ever being kind,

295

Ever delightsome, one sweet grace fed still with one sweet mind."

Thus spake she weeping, and with her did th' other ladies moan

Patroclus' fortunes in pretext, but in sad truth their own.

About Aeacides himself the kings of Greece were plac'd,

Entreating him to food; and he entreated them as fast,

300

Still intermixing words and sighs, if any friend were there

Of all his dearest, they would cease, and offer him no cheer

But his due sorrows, for before the sun hath left that sky

He would not eat, but of that day sustain th' extremity.

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 19.276 focus

So saying, Achilles suddenly dissolved

The hasty council, and all flew dispersed

335

To their own ships. Then took the Myrmidons

Those splendid gifts which in the tent they lodged

Of swift Achilles, and the damsels led

Each to a seat, while others of his train

Drove forth the steeds to pasture with his herd.

340

But when Brisëis, bright as Venus, saw

Patroclus lying mangled by the spear,

Enfolding him around, she shriek'd and tore

Her bosom, her smooth neck and beauteous cheeks.

Then thus, divinely fair, with tears she said.

345

Ah, my Patroclus! dearest friend of all

To hapless me, departing from this tent

I left thee living, and now, generous Chief!

Restored to it again, here find thee dead.

How rapid in succession are my woes!

350

I saw, myself, the valiant prince to whom

My parents had betroth'd me, slain before

Our city walls; and my three brothers, sons

Of my own mother, whom with long regret

I mourn, fell also in that dreadful field.

355

But when the swift Achilles slew the prince

Design'd my spouse, and the fair city sack'd

Of noble Mynes, thou by every art

Of tender friendship didst forbid my tears,

Promising oft that thou would'st make me bride

360

Of Peleus' godlike son, that thy own ship

Should waft me hence to Phthia, and that thyself

Would'st furnish forth among the Myrmidons

Our nuptial feast. Therefore thy death I mourn

Ceaseless, for thou wast ever kind to me.

365

She spake, and all her fellow-captives heaved

Responsive sighs, deploring each, in show,

The dead Patroclus, but, in truth, herself.

Then the Achaian Chiefs gather'd around

Achilles, wooing him to eat, but He

370

Groan'd, and still resolute, their suit refused—

If I have here a friend on whom by prayers

I may prevail, I pray that ye desist,

Nor longer press me, mourner as I am,

To eat or drink, for till the sun go down

375

I am inflexible, and will abstain.

English (F. W. Newman, 1856) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (F. W. Newman, 1856)) — 19 focus

BOOK XIX

Just then the saffron-vested Dawn rose from the streams of Ocean,

To carry unto mortals light and eke to gods immortal,

When Thetis to the galleys came, bearing her heav'nly present,

And found her own beloved son around Patroclus lying,

Wailing aloud; and at his side a troop of gather'd comrades

Were weeping. Then amidst them stood the goddess, pride of heaven;

And closely did she press his hand, and spake, his name pronouncing:

"My child! him let us now endure, albeit keen our sorrow,

So as he is, to lie; sith he by will of God is fallen.

But thou, out of my hands receive these noble arms from Vulcan,

Right beauteous: such never yet man on his shoulders carried."

After such word, before her son the goddess laid the armour.

Aloud the crafty fabric clang'd: the Myrmidons in terror

Shrank from its dazzling radiance, nor dar'd to eye the goddess.

But Achileus, the more he look'd, the more did rage possess him,

And, neath his eyelids, direful shot, like flame, his glance of eyen:

Yet joy'd he in his hands to hold the brilliant gifts of heaven.

But when the wondrous handicraft his eyes with joy had sated,

He to his mother instantly did winged accents utter:

"My mother! arms, the god hath sent, such as from work immortal

Befitteth: vainly mortal man would vie in such achievement.

Gird me for fight forthwith will I, in sooth: yet direly dread I,

Lest flies, the meanwhile, entering the brass-imprinted gashes,

Breed worms within my valiant friend, and do his corpse dishonour:

(For all the life is gone from it:) so would his flesh be rotted."

Then Thetis of the silver foot reciprocal address'd him:

"My child! let not such things as this be burden on thy spirit.

The flies, these savage tribes, that eat heroes in battle fallen,

My care it be, aloof to keep. If, the full year, Patroclus

Here lie, his flesh shall alway be still firm, or even better.

But unto public mote do thou the Achaian heroes summon,

And there to Atreus' royal son renounce thy mood of anger:

Then instant for emprize of war accoutred, don thy valour."

Thus having spoken, thro' his frame she breath'd intrepid vigour;

Then to Patroclus, stooping low, distill'd she thro' the nostrils

Ambrosia and nectar red, to keep his flesh in firmness.

Meanwhile along the shingly strand divine Achilles hied him,

With shout of horrible upróar, and rous'd the Achaian heroes.

Yea, those who formerly would stay within the naval precinct,

Who pilots only were, and kept the rudders of the galleys,

Or held the public bread in store, — distributors and stewards;

Now even these to mote came forth, enhearten'd; sith Achilles,

Long absent from distressful fight, did now appear among them.

Amid the Achaians, limping came two ministers of Ares,

The war-abiding Tydeus' son and lofty-soul'd Ulysses,

Leaning upon the spear; for still the bitter wounds distress'd them:

These mid the foremost of the mote did hie, and soon were seated.

But Agamemnon, prince of men, was latest of arriving,

He too disabled by a wound; for in the hardy struggle

Koön, Antenor's son, his arm with brazen spear had pierced.

When therefore in full gathering the Achaians were assembled,

Thus did Achilles, fleet of foot, uprising, speak among them:

"Atrides! troth, for thee and me far earlier was better

This present work to do; when we, with grief of bosom pierced,

Did for a damsel's sake flame out in soul-devouring quarrel.

Would that the shaft of Artemis had slain her in the galleys,

Upon the selfsame day, when I Lyrnessus took and ravag'd.

Then of Achaians fewer far beneath the hands of foemen

Had strown the immeasurable field thro' my relentless anger.

To Hector and the Troians that was gainful; but the Achaians

Will long remembrance hold, I deem, of mine and thy contention.

But leave we these things, past and gone, — albeit keen our sorrow,

And the fond fancies of the heart by stern constraint subdue we.

Here then an end I make of wrath: nor verily behov'd it

Me alway obstinate in heart to boil; but come! and quickly

Enhearten to emprize of war the streaming-hair'd Achaians;

So I, with Troians once again confronted, shall assure me,

Whether beside the ships to sleep delight them: but I reckon

That of their army more than one his limbs will rest full gladly,

If safely from our spear he scape in shock of foes' encounter."

So spake he, and with gladness fill'd the dappergreav'd Achaians,

That mighty-hearted Peleus' son renounc'd his mood of anger.

Then Agamemnon, prince of men, responsive to Achilles,

Address'd them, seated as he was, not rising in the middle:

"Friends, heroes of the Danaï, and ministers of Ares,

When any riseth for harangue, to him 'tis well to listen,

Nor interrupt; — which worrieth even a skilful speaker.

For in the hurly of a crowd what ears avail for hearing?

What voice for speaking? fluent tongues and ready hearts are crippled.

Now I to Peleus' son reply straight open: but the others,—

Ye Argives! ponder well my word, and each of you discern it.

Oft time the Achaians spake to me advice, and oft revil'd me,

Who am not guilty. Jove, and Fate, and the dusk-roaming Fury,—

'Tis these, who in assembly fir'd my breast with savage frenzy,

Upon the selfsame day, when I Achilles' prize invaded.

What else to do avail'd I? God doth throughly all accomplish.

Jove's eldest child is Frenesy, who all men doth enfrenzy,

Accursed. Tender are her feet, nor toucheth she the pavement,

But trampeth heads of men, with bale; and one or other tangleth.

Yea, once she frenzied Jupiter, whom amid gods and mortals

Chiefest they call; yet him with guile Juno, a female, cheated;

What time Alcmena's hour was ripe in turret-fretted Thebe

For birth of Héracles: then he before all heaven vaunted:

100

'Oh all ye gods and goddesses! to my announcement hearken,

That I the counsel may declare which in my bosom swayeth.

A hero from my breed and blood outsprung, — him Eileithuia,

Who painful travail softeneth, shall show to light of heaven

This day, for lordship far and wide o'er all surrounding peoples.'

105

Then guileful-heartedly to him spake venerable Juno:

'Thou wilt the liar play, nor crown thy saying with fulfilment.

Or else, come now, Olympian! a hardy oath I tender.

Swear thou, that he shall lordship hold o'er all surrounding peoples,

Who, from thy breed and blood, this day shall drop of woman's travail.'

110

When thus she challeng'd, Jupiter her guilefulness discern'd not,

But sware the dreadful oath: therefrom a mighty mischief reap'd he:

But Juno, hasting on her path, Olympus' margin quitted

And to Achaian Argos reach'd right quickly, where did habit

115

The valiant wife of Sthenelus, son unto Joveborn Perseus,

Who counted seven months (she knew) in hope of tender offspring.

Her did the goddess forward bring, tho' in her months untoward,

And stopt Alcmena's travailing, and held the Eileithuias.

Then she, on errand self-despatch'd, Saturnius accosted:

120

'Sire of the shining thunderbolt! a word, O Jove! I bring thee.

Now is a noble hero born, for lordship o'er the Argives,

Eurystheus, child of Sthenelus, son unto Joveborn Perseus,

Thy issue: not unfitly he will o'er the Argives lord it.'

So spake she; but his soul profound was smit with piercing anguish.

125

Quick by her dainty-braided head on Frenesy he seized,

And raging sware a hardy oath, that never to Olympus

And starry heaven back should wend she, who doth all enfrenzy.

He, after such avowal stern, from starry heav'n toss'd her,

130

Whirling her with his hand; and quick she reach'd the works of mortals.

And her he alway curs'd, whene'er he saw his own dear offspring

By contumely of toil distraught beneath Eurystheus' taskings.

Nor yet the more was I, what time great motley-helmed Hector

Dire ravage of the Argives made beside their outmost galleys,—

135

Able from Frenesy to part, who once had wrought me mischief.

But tho' enfrenzied I have been, and Jove my wits hath emptied,

Again to win thee fain am I, and pay thee countless ransom.

But up! for enterprize of war, and rouse the other peoples.

And pledg'd I hold myself to pay, whate'er divine Ulysses

140

Before thy presence yester-eve, as gifts from me, behighted.

Or come! an so will please thee, stay, albeit press'd to battle;

And hither shall forthwith my squires, out of my galley taking,

Bring thee the gifts; so mayest thou see my heart-soothing presents."

But him Achilles, fleet of foot, reciprocal accosted:

145

"O Agamemnon, prince of men, most glorious Atrides!

The gifts (an so thou wilt,) to give, as seemly is, or keep them,—

With thee it resteth. Instant now let battle-glee concern us,

Nor toy, nor shuffle: still is left a mighty work to compass.

150

As each may Peleus' son behold again among the foremost

Wide wasting with the brazen spear the Troïan battalions,

So eke let every man give heed to quit himself in combat."

Thereat responsive spake to him Ulysses much-devising:

"Achilles! image of the gods! do not, howe'er intrepid,

155

Hurry to drive on Ilium Achaia's children fasting,

For combat with the Troians; sith no short-enduring warcry

Shall greet us, when for bargain once the companies encounter

Of armed heroes, both alive with heaven-breathed fierceness.

But bid the Achaians food to taste, at the sharp-pointed galleys,

160

Of pleasant bread and wine: for this to weary men is vigour.

— For, man may nowise all the day until the shades of sunset

From gifts of Ceres abstinent confront the work of Ares.

For tho' his spirit eager be for enterprize of battle,

Yet heaviness by stealth his limbs o'erhend him, and his knees beneath

165

Are palsied in his goings. But whoso with the foe may fight,

Even the livelong day, his soul is hearty in his bosom,

Nor faint his limbs, ere every man retireth him from battle.

170

But come! disperse the people; bid, that they to dinner gird them;

And Agamemnon, prince of men, shall bring his gifts before us:

So with their eyes the Achaians all shall see, and thou be gladden'd.

And let him swear the mighty oath, among the Argives rising,

175

That never did he touch her bed with tenderness and passion,

As is the ordinance, O prince! to man and woman sacred:

So be thy spirit satisfied and sooth'd within thy bosom!

Thereafter shall the prince of men within his tents delight thee

By a rich banquet, leaving naught unfinish'd of thy honour.

180

Thou, son of Atreus! wilt alsó hereafter be more rightful

In other men's esteem: for none can blame it, that a monarch,

Who did in anger take the lead, again beseecheth friendship."

Him Agamemnon, prince of men, reciprocal accosted:

"Son of Laërtes! much I joy to hear the word thou sayest;

185

For duly hast thou every thing distinguish'd and recounted.

The oath thou namest, this I wish to swear by mighty power;

Nor shall I perjur'd be: my soul doth urge me: but Achilles

Must here that little while await, albeit press'd to battle;

And stay, assembled, ye the rest, until the presents hither

190

May from my tent arrive, and I by faithful oaths may bind me.

But to thyself this deed in charge entrust I: — youths selecting,

Chieftains of Panachaia, bear the gifts from out my galley,

Whate'er we yester-eve behote; and lead with them the women.

And, for the Sun and Jove, amid Achaia's ample army,

195

Talthybius a boar shall bring to consecrate our treaties."

But him Achilles, fleet of foot, address'd in words responsive:

"O Agamemnon, prince of men, most glorious Atrides!

Rather at otherwhile on this be busy, if the battle

Shall after flag, when in my breast the fire may burn less fiercely.

200

But now our comrades prostrate lie and mangled, who were vanquish'd

By Hector, son of Priamus, when Jove to glory rais'd him.

But ye to feeding urge us. Troth! all abstinent and fasting

205

Achaia's children spur would I to war, and then with sunset

To meet in solemn supper, when we had the outrage punish'd.

But neither food nor drink to me may earlier be pleasant

Adown my tender throat to pass, now as my friend is perish'd,

210

Who prostrate lieth in my tent, by the sharp weapon mangled,

Turn'd to the threshold. Round him weep my comrades. Hence I ponder

Not food, but carnage now and gore and noisome groans of heroes."

To him then spake reciprocal Ulysses much devising:

215

"Mighty Achilles! Peleus' son! exalted of the Achaians!

Thou with the spear (I wis) than me art better, not a little,

And stronger; yet in intellect might I in turn surpass thee

By far; sith I am elderborn, and wider is my knowledge.

Therefore command thy heart to bear the pressure of my counsel.

220

Satiety of battle-cry to mortals speedy cometh,

Wherein the sickle reapeth crop too small, but straw in plenty,

When Jove, high arbiter of war, the scale of prowess tilteth.

But nowise may the Achaians mourn the dead man with their belly;

225

For, every day, successive fall too many. When may respite

Of sorrow be? Whoso is slain, him ever must we bury

Steeling our hearts, but weeping still; and whoso yet surviveth

From hateful warfare, him the care of drink and food behoveth:

230

So may we more incessant fight against the foeman alway,

In brass unweariable clad. Let none among the peoples

Stop, waiting fresh commandment; (thence would evil come;) while any

Be at the Argive galleys left. But, sallying together

235

Against the courser-taming Troians rouse we eager Ares."

So spake he, and beside him took the sons of famous Nestor,

And Thoas and Meriones and Meges son of Phyleus,

And Lycomedes, Creion's son, and lastly Melanippus;

240

Who hied to speed them to the tent of royal Agamemnon.

There, scarcely spoken was the word, and lo! the deed was ended.

They from the tent the tripods brought, — the seven which he promis'd, —

The coursers twelve for racing fam'd, and twenty shining cauldrons.

Then women quickly led they forth, with blameless work acquainted,

245

Seven; but after them the eighth, — the dainty-cheek'd Briseïs.

Thereat Ulysses, weighing-out of gold ten perfect talents,

Led forward: other youths behind in train the presents bearing

In mid assembly ranged them: and up rose Agamemnon.

Then by the people's shepherd stood Talthybius the herald, —

250

Whose voice with voice of god might vie, and brought the boar before them.

But Atreus' son with ready hand his hunting-knife unfasten'd,

Which by his sword's great scabbard hung, companion never absent, —

Clipt the first bristles of the boar, his hands to Jove uplifted,

And prayed. All the Argives sat in silence at their places,

255

Duly to reverence compos'd, attentive to the monarch.

So he invoking spake his pray'r, to vasty heaven looking:

"Of this let Jove be witness first, of gods the Best and Highest,

And Earth, and Sun, and Furies all, who in the world beneath us

Do punish men deceas'd — whoe'er a perjur'd oath has utter'd; —

260

That never did I lay my hand upon the maid Briseïs,

Neither with purpose of the couch, nor otherwise accosting,

But in my tents she aye abode inviolate, unsullied.

If aught hereof be falsely sworn, then may the gods bestray me

With whatsoe'er of woe they send, when man in oath offendeth."

265

He spake, and thro' the victim's throat deep drove the heartless weapon.

The corpse, as fodder to the fish, Talthybius flung whirling

Into the vasty hoary sheet of ocean. But Achilles

Uprising spake his word among the battle-loving Argives:

"O Father Jove! great frenesies to men thou truly sendest.

270

Never in sooth would Atreus' son so throughly have bestirred

The spirit in my bosom, nor have ta'en away the damsel

Despite my will, intractable; but Jupiter, methinketh,

Was minded, bale and death to send to many of Achaia.

But now to dinner hasten ye; so may we mingle battle."

275

Such words he utter'd, and at once brake up the hasty meeting.

Thereat asunder wended they, each to his proper galley;

But the high-hearted Myrmidons were with the presents busied,

And hied to set them on the ship of Achileus their leader:

Meanwhile, some in the tents they plac'd, and seated there the women;

280

The racers, these his stately squires into the herd had driven.

Thereat Briseïs, like in mien to golden Aphrodite,

When she Patroclus' corpse beheld by the sharp weapon mangled,

Pouring herself around him, wail'd right shrill, and rent with gashes

Her bosom and her tender neck and eke her dainty visage.

285

Then, brilliant as the goddesses, forth spake the woman wailing:

"Alas, Patroclus, thou who wast to wretched me most pleasing!

Thee verily alive I left, when from the tent they led me:

But now, returning, here I find, O captain of the peoples!

Thy corpse unburied. How doth aye woe after woe receive me!

290

The man, into whose arms my sire and queenly mother gave me,

Before our city him I saw by the sharp weapon mangled.

And eke three warriours belov'd, own children of my mother,

My tender kinsmen, all of them their deadly day encounter'd.

And when swift Achileus had slain my husband, and had ravag'd

295

The town of godlike Mynes, thou forbaddest me to sorrow,

Trusting to make me wife of youth to Achileus, and bear me

To Phthia, and with all the folk to celebrate my wedding.

Then measureless thy death I wail, O thou who aye wast gentle!"

300

So spake she weeping; after her with moans the women answer'd:

Patroclus gave them but pretext to mourn their proper sorrows.

But round Achilles gather'd now the councillors of Argos

Imploring, that he dinner taste; but he with moans refus'd them:

"If any of my comrades dear will listen, I implore him, —

305

With food and drinking bid me not my inner heart to surfeit:

Grim sorrows pierce me: any gait I stay and dure till sunset."

When he refusal spake outright, the other kings departed;

But still the two Atridæ stay'd, — old charioteering Phenix,

310

And Nestor and Idomeneus and the divine Ulysses,

Sagely beguiling him from grief. Yet nowise would his spirit

Beguiled be, ere that he face the jaws of gory battle.

But he incessant heav'd, and spake, in piteous remembrance:

"Dearest ill-fated friend! of old how quick and earnest wast thou

315

A dainty dinner in my tent to range, whene'er the Achaians

Hurried to tearful war, against the courser-taming Troians!

Now, thus thou liest mangled; but, albeit here be plenty,

In emptiness of thee, my heart from food and drink abstaineth.

320

Naught can I suffer worse; not if my father's death afflict me,

Who, as I ween, in Phthia now a tender tear distilleth,

Widow'd of such a son; (who here for horror-striking Helen,

Upon a soil of foreigners against the Troians warreth;)

325

Or, if I heard the death of him, my offspring, rear'd in Skyros, —

If haply Neoptolemus the godlike yet be living.

For formerly my heart this hope did cherish in my bosom,

That only I should perish, far from courser-feeding Argos,

Here on the spot, in Troy; but thou shouldest to Phthia wend thee,

330

That thou from Skyros mightest lead on the sharp dusky galley

My child unto his father's home, and shouldest all things show him,

My servants and my wide estate and lofty-roofed palace.

For, as to Peleus, he, I bode, outright is either perish'd,

Or, with a little life mayhap, by hateful Eld is worried,

335

Aye waiting for my mournful tale, — the tiding of my slaughter."

Wailing he spake, and to his moans the councillors responded,

Each one remembering all, that he in his own chambers quitted.

But lofty-thron'd Saturnius with pity saw their weeping,

340

And instantly with winged words address'd him to Athene:

"My child! but hast thou utterly thy bonny hero jilted?

No longer hath Achilles then a share within thy bosom?

Lo! there he sitteth, fixt before his lofty crested galleys,

Beweeping his companion dear. The others are departed

345

For care of dinner: he alone is abstinent, untasting.

But come! lest famine him distress, distil thou thro' his bosom

The sweetness of ambrosia and drops of ruddy nectar."

He by such charge Athene spurr'd, herself already eager;

Who plung'd in semblance of a bird, the lengthy-feather'd osprey,

350

Shrill-screaming, down from upper sky, thro' heaven: but the Achaians

Forthwith were arming in the host. The goddess to Achilles

Dropt sweetness of ambrosia and nectar thro' his bosom,

Lest-that unlovely famine loose the toughness of his sinews;

Then she herself departing sought the tightly-builded mansion

355

Of her much-mighty sire: but they far from the ships were pouring.

Thick as from Jupiter may fly the drops of sleety shower,

Chill'd by the gust of Boreas, whom sky serene doth gender;

So from the galleys thickly pour'd the helmets brightly joyous,

With bossy bucklers, ashen spears, and stoutly-jointed corslets.

360

The blaze to heaven reach'd; the earth by brazen flashes stricken

Laugh'd all around, and underneath from feet of men was rising

Dire rumble; and in midst of them divine Achilles arm'd him.

His teeth did gnash; his eyen shone, as though with fiery sparkle:

365

His heart in grief unbearable was clad; but he, enfrenzied

Against the Troians, donn'd the gifts, which toilsome Vulcan fashion'd.

First on his shins the dapper greaves, with silver anklets clever,

He fasten'd; then, to guard his chest, enwrapt him in the corslet:

370

About his shoulders next he slung the sword with silver studded,

Brazen; but after it he took the buckler great and stubborn,

From which a moony radiance shot forth to far beholders.

As when to sailors out at sea a burning fire appeareth

375

Flaring afar; and it aloft on solitary station

Is kindled by the mountaineer: but them tornadoes carry

Far from their friends, despite their will, over the fishful ocean:

So, from Achilles' buckler, then, all gorgeous and artful,

²³

The flare to heaven shot: and he, his triplecrested helmet

380

Upraising, plac'd upon his head its load. With starry splendour

From the thick horsetail shone the casque; for, hairs of gold around it

Wav'd plenteous along the ridge by handicraft of Vulcan.

Divine Achilles thereupon would prove him in the armour,

Whether his glossy limbs had ease for movement sharp and nimble;

385

But it, as wings, did lift from earth the shepherd of the people.

Then from the flutings in his tent his father's spear he plucked,

Huge, weighty, sturdy; which not one of all Achaian chieftains

Beside might brandish: he alone, Achilles, knew to wield it:

An ash of Pelion the shaft, which, from the mountain's summit,

390

For his dear father Cheiron cut, to be the death of heroes.

Around the steeds Automedon and Alkimus were busy:

Already round their breasts was plac'd the harness; then, the bridles

Thro' their compliant jaws they pass'd, and strung the reins behind them

Unto the well-glued chariot. Automedon, assuming

395

The shining hand-adapted scourge, above the horses mounted,

And, full accoutred, Achileus came leaping up behind him,

All-radiant in panoply, like to the amber day-god.

Terrific then he shouted loud to his own father's horses:

" Chesnut and Spotted, noble pair! far-famous brood of Spry-foot!

400

In other guise now ponder ye your charioteer to rescue

Back to the troop of Danaï, when we have done with battle:

Nor leave him dead upon the field, as late ye left Patroclus."

But him the dapplefooted steed under the yoke accosted,

And droop'd his auburn head aside straightway; and thro' the yoke-strap

405

His full mane falling by the yoke unto the ground was streaming:

(Him Juno, whitearm'd goddess, now with voice of man endowed:)

"Now and again we verily will save, and more than save thee,

Dreadful Achilles! yet on thee the deadly day o'erhangeth.

Not ours the guilt; but mighty God and stubborn Fate are guilty.

410

Not by the slowness of our feet or dulness of our spirit

The Troians did thy armour strip from shoulders of Patroclus;

But the exalted god, for whom brighthair'd Latona travail'd,

Slew him amid the foremost ranks, and glory gave to Hector.

Now we, in scudding, pace would keep even with breeze of Zephyr,

415

Which speediest they say to be: but for thyself 'tis fated

By hand of hero and of god in mighty strife to perish."

So much he said: thereon, his voice was by the Furies stopped.

To him Achilles fleet of foot, responded, sore disdainful:

" Chesnut! why bodest death to me? from thee this was not needed.

420

Myself right surely know alsó, that 'tis my doom to perish,

Apart from mother and from father dear, in Troy; but never

Pause will I make of war, until the Troïans be glutted."

He spake, and yelling, held afront the singlehoofed horses.

⁴

New Alexandria Commentaries

Gregory Nagy

The time has come for Achilles to re-enter the war against the Trojans. For this to happen, Agamemnon must first settle with Achilles. But the over-king feels the need to say more than simply to formulate his proposed terms of settlement. His aim is to excuse himself from responsibility for dishonoring Achilles, and the story that he tells in order to achieve this aim is a retelling of a cosmic atē ‘aberration’ that resulted in the Labors of Hēraklēs. Such a retelling, however, is destined to backfire: it will result in further damage to Agamemnon’s own royal status and in further advancement for the heroic prestige of Achilles, for whom Hēraklēs now becomes a perfect model.

draft js image error Herakles at the tree of the Hesperides, holding three of the golden apples in his left hand. Behind him is the apple tree with the guardian serpent clinging around it. Bronze, 104.5cm (Roman, 1st century C.E.). Image via The British Museum.

source

Homer Iliad 19.276

Samuel Butler (Translator)

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