The Iliad
BOOK I
How Agamemnon and Achilles fell out at the siege of Troy; and
Achilles withdrew himself from battle, and won from Zeus a pledge
that his wrong should be avenged on Agamemnon and the Achaians.
Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles Peleus' son, the ruinous wrath
that brought on the Achaians woes innumerable, and hurled down into
Hades many strong souls of heroes, and gave their bodies to be a prey
to dogs and all winged fowls; and so the counsel of Zeus wrought out
its accomplishment from the day when first strife parted Atreides king
of men and noble Achilles.
Who among the gods set the twain at strife and variance? Apollo, the
son of Leto and of Zeus; for he in anger at the king sent a sore plague
upon the host, so that the folk began to perish, because Atreides had
done dishonour to Chryses the priest. For the priest had come to the
Achaians' fleet ships to win his daughter's freedom, and brought a
ransom beyond telling; and bare in his hands the fillet of Apollo the
Far-darter upon a golden staff; and made his prayer unto all the
Achaians, and most of all to the two sons of Atreus, orderers of the
host; "Ye sons of Atreus and all ye well-greaved Achaians, now may the
gods that dwell in the mansions of Olympus grant you to lay waste the
city of Priam, and to fare happily homeward; only set ye my dear child
free, and accept the ransom in reverence to the son of Zeus,
far-darting Apollo."
Then all the other Achaians cried assent, to reverence the priest and
accept his goodly ransom; yet the thing pleased not the heart of
Agamemnon son of Atreus, but he roughly sent him away, and laid stern
charge upon him, saying: "Let me not find thee, old man, amid the
hollow ships, whether tarrying now or returning again hereafter, lest
the staff and fillet of the god avail thee naught. And her will I not
set free; nay, ere that shall old age come on her in our house, in
Argos, far from her native land, where she shall ply the loom and serve
my couch. But depart, provoke me not, that thou mayest the rather go in
peace."
So said he, and the old man was afraid and obeyed his word, and fared
silently along the shore of the loud-sounding sea. Then went that aged
man apart and prayed aloud to king Apollo, whom Leto of the fair locks
bare: "Hear me, god of the silver bow, that standest over Chryse and
holy Killa, and rulest Tenedos with might, O Smintheus! If ever I built
a temple gracious in thine eyes, or if ever I burnt to thee fat flesh
of thighs of bulls or goats, fulfil thou this my desire; let the
Danaans pay by thine arrows for my tears."
So spake he in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him, and came down from
the peaks of Olympus wroth at heart, bearing on his shoulders his bow
and covered quiver. And the arrows clanged upon his shoulders in wrath,
as the god moved; and he descended like to night. Then he sate him
aloof from the ships, and let an arrow fly; and there was heard a dread
clanging of the silver bow. First did the assail the mules and fleet
dogs, but afterward, aiming at the men his piercing dart, he smote; and
the pyres of the dead burnt continually in multitude.
Now for nine days ranged the god's shafts through the host; but on the
tenth Achilles summoned the folk to assembly, for in his mind did
goddess Hera of white arms put the thought, because she had pity on the
Danaans when she beheld them perishing. Now when they had gathered and
were met in assembly, then Achilles fleet of foot stood up and spake
among them: "Son of Atreus, now deem I that we shall return wandering
home again--if verily we might escape death--if war at once and
pestilence must indeed ravage the Achaians. But come, let us now
inquire of some soothsayer or priest, yea, or an interpreter of
dreams--seeing that a dream too is of Zeus--who shall say wherefore
Phoebus Apollo is so wroth, whether he blame us by reason of vow or
hecatomb; if perchance he would accept the savour of lambs or
unblemished goats, and so would take away the pestilence from us."
So spake he and sate him down; and there stood up before them Kalchas
son of Thestor, most excellent far of augurs, who knew both things that
were and that should be and that had been before, and guided the ships
of the Achaians to Ilios by his soothsaying that Phoebus Apollo
bestowed on him. He of good intent made harangue and spake amid them:
"Achilles, dear to Zeus, thou biddest me tell the wrath of Apollo, the
king that smiteth afar. Therefore will I speak; but do thou make
covenant with me, and swear that verily with all thy heart thou wilt
aid me both by word and deed. For of a truth I deem that I shall
provoke one that ruleth all the Argives with might, and whom the
Achaians obey. For a king is more of might when he is wroth with a
meaner man; even though for the one day he swallow his anger, yet doth
he still keep his displeasure thereafter in his breast till he
accomplish it. Consider thou, then, if thou wilt hold me safe."
And Achilles fleet of foot made answer and spake to him: "Yea, be of
good courage, speak whatever soothsaying thou knowest; for by Apollo
dear to Zeus, him by whose worship thou, O Kalchas, declarest thy
soothsaying to the Danaans, not even if thou mean Agamemnon, that now
avoweth him to be greatest far of the Achaians."
Then was the noble seer of good courage, and spake: "Neither by reason
of a vow is he displeased, nor for any hecatomb, but for his priest's
sake to whom Agamemnon did despite, and set not his daughter free and
accepted not the ransom; therefore hath the Far-darter brought woes
upon us, yea, and will bring. Nor will he ever remove the loathly
pestilence from the Danaans till we have given the bright-eyed damsel
to her father, unbought, unransomed, and carried a holy hecatomb to
Chryse; then might we propitiate him to our prayer."
So said he and sate him down, and there stood up before them the hero
son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, sore displeased; and his dark
heart within him was greatly filled with anger, and his eyes were like
flashing fire. To Kalchas first spake he with look of ill: "Thou seer
of evil, never yet hast thou told me the thing that is pleasant. Evil
is ever the joy of thy heart to prophesy, but never yet didst thou tell
any good matter nor bring to pass. And now with soothsaying thou makest
harangue among the Danaans, how that the Far-darter bringeth woes upon
them because, forsooth, I would not take the goodly ransom of the
damsel Chryseis, seeing I am the rather fain to keep her own self
within mine house. Yea, I prefer her before Klytaimnestra my wedded
wife; in no wise is she lacking beside her, neither in favour nor
stature, nor wit nor skill. Yet for all this will I give her back, if
that is better; rather would I see my folk whole than perishing. Only
make ye me ready a prize of honour forthwith, lest I alone of all the
Argives be disprized, which thing beseemeth not; for ye all behold how
my prize is departing from me."
To him then made answer fleet-footed goodly Achilles: "Most noble son
of Atreus, of all men most covetous, how shall the great-hearted
Achaians give thee a meed of honour? We know naught of any wealth of
common store, but what spoil soe'er we took from captured cities hath
been apportioned, and it beseemeth not to beg all this back from the
folk. Nay, yield thou the damsel to the god, and we Achaians will pay
thee back threefold and fourfold, if ever Zeus grant us to sack some
well-walled town of Troy-land."
To him lord Agamemnon made answer and said: "Not in this wise, strong
as thou art, O godlike Achilles, beguile thou me by craft; thou shalt
not outwit me nor persuade me. Dost thou wish, that thou mayest keep
thy meed of honour, for me to sit idle in bereavement, and biddest me
give her back? Nay, if the great-hearted Achaians will give me a meed
suited to my mind, that the recompense be equal--but if they give it
not, then I myself will go and take a meed of honour, thine be it or
Aias', or Odysseus' that I will take unto me; wroth shall he be to
whomsoever I come. But for this we will take counsel hereafter; now let
us launch a black ship on the great sea, and gather picked oarsmen, and
set therein a hecatomb, and embark Chryseis of the fair cheeks herself,
and let one of our counsellors be captain, Aias or Idomeneus or goodly
Odysseus, or thou, Peleides, most redoubtable of men, to do sacrifice
for us and propitiate the Far-darter."
Then Achilles fleet of foot looked at him scowling and said: "Ah me,
thou clothed in shamelessness, thou of crafty mind, how shall any
Achaian hearken to thy bidding with all his heart, be it to go a
journey or to fight the foe amain? Not by reason of the Trojan spearmen
came I hither to fight, for they have not wronged me; never did they
harry mine oxen nor my horses, nor ever waste my harvest in deep-soiled
Phthia, the nurse of men; seeing there lieth between us long space of
shadowy mountains and sounding sea; but thee, thou shameless one,
followed we hither to make thee glad, by earning recompense at the
Trojans' hands for Menelaos and for thee, thou dog-face! All this thou
threatenest thyself to take my meed of honour, wherefor I travailed
much, and the sons of the Achaians gave it me. Never win I meed like
unto thine, when the Achaians sack any populous citadel of Trojan men;
my hands bear the brunt of furious war, but when the apportioning
cometh then is thy meed far ampler, and I betake me to the ships with
some small thing, yet my own, when I have fought to weariness. Now will
I depart to Phthia, seeing it is far better to return home on my beaked
ships; nor am I minded here in dishonour to draw thee thy fill of
riches and wealth."
Then Agamemnon king of men made answer to him "yea, flee, if thy soul
be set thereon. It is not I that beseech thee to tarry for my sake; I
have others by my side that shall do me honour, and above all Zeus,
lord of counsel. Most hateful art thou to me of all kings, fosterlings
of Zeus; thou ever lovest strife and wars and fightings. Though thou be
very strong, yet that I ween is a gift to thee of God. Go home with thy
ships and company and lord it among thy Myrmidons.; I reck not aught of
thee nor care I for thine indignation; and all this shall be my threat
to thee: seeing Phoebus Apollo bereaveth me of Chryseis, her with my
ship and my company will I send back; and mine own self will I go to
thy hut and take Briseis of the fair cheeks, even that thy meed of
honour, that thou mayest well know how far greater I am than thou, and
so shall another hereafter abhor to match his words with mine and rival
me to my face."
So said he, and grief came upon Peleus' son, and his heart within his
shaggy breast was divided in counsel, whether to draw his keen blade
from his thigh and set the company aside and so slay Atreides, or to
assuage his anger and curb his soul. While yet he doubted thereof in
heart and soul, and was drawing his great sword from his sheath, Athene
came to him from heaven, sent forth of the white-armed goddess Hera,
whose heart loved both alike and had care for them. She stood behind
Peleus' son and caught him by his golden hair, to him only visible, and
of the rest no man beheld her. [Jaynes, p. 72] Then Achilles marvelled, and turned him
about, and straightway knew Pallas Athene; and terribly shone her eyes.
He spake to her winged words, and said: "Why now art thou come hither,
thou daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus? Is it to behold the insolence of
Agamemnon, son of Atreus. Yea, I will tell thee that I deem shall even
be brought to pass: by his own haughtinesses shall he soon lose his
life."
Then the bright-eyed goddess Athene spake to him again: "I came from
heaven to stay thine anger, if perchance thou wilt hearken to me, being
sent forth if the white-armed goddess Hera, that loveth you twain alike
and careth for you. Go to now, cease from strife, and let not thine
hand draw the sword; yet with words indeed revile him, even as it shall
come to pass. For thus will I say to thee, and so it shall be
fulfilled; hereafter shall goodly gifts come to thee, yea in threefold
measure, by reason of this despite; hold thou thine hand, and hearken
to us."
And Achilles fleet of foot made answer and said to her: "Goddess, needs
must a man observe the saying of you twain, even though he be very
wroth at heart; for so is the better way. Whosoever obeyeth the gods,
to him they gladly hearken."
He said, and stayed his heavy hand on the silver hilt, and thrust the
great Sword back into the sheath, and was not disobedient to the saying
of Athene; and she forthwith was departed to Olympus, to the other gods
in the palace of aegis-bearing Zeus.
Then Peleus' son spake again with bitter words to Atreus' son, and in
no wise ceased from anger: "Thou heavy with wine, thou with face of dog
and heart of deer, never didst thou take courage to arm for battle
among thy folk or to lay ambush with the princes of the Achaians; that
to thee were even as death. Far better booteth it, for sooth, to seize
for thyself the meed of honour of every man through the wide host of
the Achaians that speaketh contrary to thee. Folk-devouring king!
seeing thou rulest men of naught; else were this despite, thou son of
Atreus, thy last. But I will speak my word to thee, and swear a mighty
oath therewith: verily by this staff that shall no more put forth leaf
or twig, seeing it hath for ever left its trunk among the hills,
neither shall it grow green again, because the axe hath stripped it of
leaves and bark; and now the sons of the Achaians that exercise
judgment bear it in their hands, even they that by Zeus' command watch
over the traditions--so shall this be a mighty oath in thine
eyes--verily shall longing for Achilles come hereafter upon the sons of
the Achaians one and all; and then wilt thou in no wise avail to save
them, for all thy grief, when multitudes fall dying before manslaying
Hector. Then shalt thou tear thy heart within thee for anger that thou
didst in no wise honour the best of the Achaians."
So said Peleides and dashed to earth the staff studded with golden
nails, and himself sat down; and over against him Atreides waxed
furious. Then in their midst rose up Nestor, pleasant of speech, the
clear-voiced orator of the Pylians, he from whose tongue flowed
discourse sweeter than honey. Two generations of mortal men already had
he seen perish, that had been of old time born and nurtured with him in
goodly Pylos, and he was king among the third. He of good intent made
harangue to them and said: "Alas, of a truth sore lamentation cometh
upon the land of Achaia. Verily Priam would be glad and Priam's sons,
and all the Trojans would have great joy of heart, were they to hear
all this tale of strife between you twain that are chiefest of the
Danaans in counsel and chiefest in battle. Nay, hearken to me; ye are
younger both than I. Of old days held I converse with better men even
than you, and never did they make light of me. Yea, I never beheld such
warriors, nor shall behold, as were Peirithoos and Dryas shepherd of
the host and Kaineus and Exadios and godlike Polyphemos [and Theseus
son of Aigeus, like to the Immortals]. Mightiest of growth were they of
all men upon the earth; mightiest they were and with the mightiest
fought they, even the wild tribes of the Mountain caves, and destroyed
them utterly. And with these held I converse, being come from Pylos,
from a distant land afar; for of themselves they summoned me. So I
played my part in fight; and with them could none of men that are now
on earth do battle. And they laid to heart my counsels and hearkened to
my voice. Even so hearken ye also, for better is it to hearken. Neither
do thou, though thou art very great, seize from him his damsel, but
leave her as she was given at the first by the sons of the Achaians to
be a meed of honour; nor do thou, son of Peleus, think to strive with a
king, might against might; seeing that no common honour pertaineth to a
sceptred king to whom Zeus apportioneth glory. Though thou be strong,
and a goddess mother bare thee, yet his is the greater place, for he is
king over more. And thou, Atreides, abate thy fury; nay, it is even I
that beseech thee to let go thine anger with Achilles, who is made unto
all the Achaians a mighty bulwark of evil war." [Jaynes, p.82]
Then lord Agamemnon answered and said: "Yea verily, old man, all this
thou sayest is according unto right. But this fellow would be above all
others, he would be lord of all and king among all and captain to all;
wherein I deem none will hearken to him. Though the immortal gods made
him a spearman, do they therefore put revilings in his mouth for him to
utter?"
Then goodly Achilles brake in on him and answered: "Yea, for I should
be called coward and man of naught, if I yield to thee in every matter,
howsoe'er thou bid. To others give now thine orders, not to me [play
master; for thee I deem that I shall no more obey]. This, moreover,
will I say to thee, and do thou lay it to thy heart. Know that not by
violence will I strive for the damsel's sake, neither with thee nor any
other; ye gave and ye have taken away. But of all else that is mine
beside my fleet black ship, thereof shalt thou not take anything or
bear it away against my will. Yea, go to now, make trial, that all
these may see; forthwith thy dark blood shall gush about my spear."
Now when the twain had thus finished the battle of violent words, they
stood up and dissolved the assembly beside the Achaian ships. Peleides
went his way to his huts and trim ships with Menoitios' son [Patroklos]
and his company; and Atreides launched a fleet ship on the sea, and
picked twenty oarsmen therefor, and embarked the hecatomb for the god,
and brought Chryseis of the fair cheeks and set her therein; and
Odysseus of many devices went to be their captain.
So these embarked and sailed over the wet ways; and Atreides bade the
folk purify themselves. So they purified themselves, and cast the
defilements into the sea and did sacrafice to Apollo, even unblemished
hecatombs of bulls and goats, along the shore of the unvintaged sea;
and the sweet savour arose to heaven eddying amid the smoke.
Thus were they busied throughout the host; but Agamemnon ceased not
from the strife wherewith he threatened Achilles at the first; he spake
to Talthybios and Eurybates that were his heralds and nimble squires:
"Go ye to the tent of Achilles Peleus' son, and take Briseis of the
fair cheeks by the hand and lead her hither; and if he give her not,
then will I myself go, and more with me, and seize her; and that will
be yet more grievous for him."
So saying he sent them forth, and laid stern charge upon them.
Unwillingly went they along the beach of the unvintaged sea, and came
to the huts and ships of the Myrmidons. Him found they sitting beside
his hut and black ship; nor when he saw them was Achilles glad. So they
in dread and reverence of the king stood, and spake to him no word, nor
questioned him. But he knew in his heart, and spake to them: "All hail,
ye heralds, messengers of Zeus and men, come near; ye are not guilty in
my sight, but Agamemnon that sent you for the sake of the damsel
Briseis. Go now, heaven-sprung Patroklos, bring forth the damsel, and
give them her to lead away. Moreover, let the twain themselves be my
witnesses before the face of the blessed gods and mortal men, yea and
of him, that king untoward, against the day when there cometh need of
me hereafter to save them all from shameful wreck. Of a truth he raveth
with baleful mind, and hath not knowledge to look before and after,
that so his Achaians might battle in safety beside their ships."
So said he, and Patroklos hearkened to his dear comrade, and led forth
from the hut Briseis of the fair cheeks, and gave them her to lead
away. So these twain took their way back along the Achaians' ships, and
with them went the woman all unwilling. Then Achilles wept anon, and
sat him down apart, aloof from his comrades on the beach of the grey
sea, gazing across the boundless main; he stretched forth his hands and
prayed instantly to his dear mother: "Mother, seeing thou didst of a
truth bear me to so brief span of life, honour at the least ought the
Olympian to have granted me, even Zeus that thundereth on high; but now
doth he not honour me, no, not one whit. Verily Atreus' son,
wide-ruling Agamemnon, hath done me dishonour; for he hath taken away
my meed of honour and keepeth her of his own violent deed."
So spake he weeping, and his lady mother heard him as she sate in the
sea-depths beside her aged sire. With speed arose she from the grey
sea, like a mist, and sate her before the face of her weeping son, and
stroked him with her hand, and spake and called on his name: "My child,
why weepest thou? What sorrow hath entered into they heart? Speak it
forth, hide it not in thy mind, that both may know it."
Then with heavy moan Achilles fleet of foot spake to her: "Thou knowest
it; why should I tell this to thee that knowest all! We had fared to
Thebe, the holy city of Eetion, and laid it waste and carried hither
all the spoils. So the sons of the Achaians divided among them all
aright; and for Atreides they set apart Chryseis of the fair cheeks.
But Chryses, priest of Apollo the Far-darter, came unto the fleet ships
of the mail-clad Achaians to win his daughter's freedom, and brought a
ransom beyond telling, and bare in his hands the fillet of Apollo the
Far-darter upon a golden staff, and made his prayer unto all the
Achaians, and most of all to the two sons of Atreus, orderers of the
host. Then all the other Achaians cried assent, to reverence the priest
and accept his goodly ransom; yet the thing pleased not the heart of
Agamemnon son of Atreus, but he roughly sent him away and laid stern
charge upon him. So the old man went back in anger; and Apollo heard
his prayers, seeing he loved him greatly, and he aimed against the
Argives his deadly darts. So the people began to perish in multitudes,
and the god's shafts ranged everywhither throughout the wide host of
the Achaians. Then of full knowledge the seer declared to us the oracle
of the Far-darter. Forthwith I first bade propitiate the god; but wrath
gat hold upon Atreus' son thereat, and anon he stood up and spake a
threatening word, that hath now been accomplished. Her the glancing-
eyed Achaians are bringing on their fleet ship to Chryse, and bear with
them offerings to the king; and the other but now the heralds went and
took from my hut, even the daughter of Briseus, whom the sons of the
Achaians gave me. Thou therefore, if indeed thou canst, guard thine own
son; betake thee to Olympus and beseech Zeus by any word whereby thou
ever didst make glad his heart. For oft have I heard thee proclaiming
in my father's halls and telling that thou alone amid the immortals
didst save the son of Kronos, lord of the storm-cloud, from shameful
wreck, when all the other Olympians would have bound him, even Hera and
Poseidon and Pallas Athene. Then didst thou, O goddess, enter in and
loose him from his bonds, having with speed summoned to high Olympus
him of the hundred arms whom gods call Briareus, but all men call
Aigaion; for he is mightier even than his father--so he sate him by
Kronion's side rejoicing in his triumph, and the blessed gods feared
him withal and bound not Zeus. This bring thou to his remembrance and
sit by him and clasp his knees, if perchance he will give succour to
the Trojans; and for the Achaians, hem them among their ships' sterns
about the bay, given over to slaughter; that they may make trial of
their king, and that even Atreides, wide-ruling Agamemnon, may perceive
his blindness, in that he honoured not at all the best of the
Achaians."
Then Thetis weeping made answer to him: "Ah me, my child, why reared I
thee, cursed in my motherhood? Would thou hadst been left tearless and
griefless amid the ships, seeing thy lot is very brief and endureth no
long while; but now art thou made short-lived alike and lamentable
beyond all men; in an evil hour I bare thee in our halls. But I will go
myself to snow-clad Olympus to tell this thy saying to Zeus, whose joy
is in the thunder, [perhaps rather, "hurler of the thunderbolt."] if
perchance he may hearken to me. But tarry thou now amid thy
fleet-faring ships, and continue wroth with the Achaians, and refrain
utterly from battle: for Zeus went yesterday to Okeanos, unto the noble
Ethiopians for a feast, and all the gods followed with him; but on the
twelfth day will he return to Olympus, and then will I fare to Zeus'
palace of the bronze threshold, and will kneel to him and think to win
him."
So saying she went her way and left him there, vexed in spirit for the
fair-girdled woman's sake, whom they had taken perforce despite his
will: and meanwhile Odysseus came to Chryse with the holy hecatomb.
When they were now entered within the deep haven, they furled their
sails and laid them in the black ship, and lowered the mast by the
forestays and brought it to the crutch with speed, and rowed her with
oars to the anchorage. Then they cast out the mooring stones and made
fast the hawsers, and so themselves went forth on to the sea-beach, and
forth they brought the hecatomb for the Far-darter Apollo, and forth
came Chryseis withal from the seafaring ship. Then Odysseus of many
counsels brought her to the altar and gave her into her father's arms,
and spake unto him: "Chryses, Agamemnon king of men sent me hither to
bring thee thy daughter, and to offer to Phoebus a holy hecatomb on the
Danaans' behalf, wherewith to propitiate the king that hath now brought
sorrow and lamentation on the Argives."
So saying he gave her to his arms, and he gladly took his dear child;
and anon they set in order for the god the holy hecatomb about his
well-builded altar; next washed they their hands and took up the barley
meal. Then Chryses lifted up his hands and prayed aloud for them:
"Hearken to me, god of the silver bow that standest over Chryse and
holy Killa, and rulest Tenedos with might; even as erst thou heardest
my prayer, and didst me honour, and mightily afflictest the people of
the Achaians, even so now fulfil me this my desire: remove thou from
the Danaans forthwith the loathly pestilence."
So spake he in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him. Now when they had
prayed and sprinkled the barley meal, first they drew back the victims'
heads and slaughtered them and flayed them, and cut slices from the
thighs and wrapped them in fat, making a double fold, and laid raw
collops thereon, and the old man burnt them on cleft wood and made
libation over them of gleaming wine; and at his side the young men in
their hands held five-pronged forks. Now when the thighs were burnt and
they had tasted the vitals, then sliced they all the rest and pierced
it through with spits, and roasted it carefully, and drew all off
again. So when they had rest from the task and had made ready the
banquet, they feasted, nor was their heart aught stinted of the fair
banquet. But when they had put away from them the desire of meat and
drink, the young men crowned the bowls with wine, and gave each man his
portion after the drink-offering had been poured into the cups. So all
day long worshipped they the god with music, singing the beautiful
paean, the sons of the Achaians making music to the Far-darter [or,
"the Averter" (of pestilence)]; and his heart was glad to hear. And
when the sun went down and darkness came on them, they laid them to
sleep beside the ship's hawsers; and when rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
the child of morning, then set they sail for the wide camp of the
Achaians; and Apollo the Far-darter sent them a favouring gale. They
set up their mast and spread the white sails forth, and the wind filled
the sail's belly and the dark wave sang loud about the stem as the ship
made way, and she sped across the wave, accomplishing her journey. So
when they were now come to the wide camp of the Achaians, they drew up
their black ship to land high upon the sands, and set in line the long
props beneath her; and themselves were scattered amid their huts and
ships.
But he sat by his swift-faring ships, still wroth, even the heaven-
sprung son of Peleus, Achilles fleet of foot; he betook him neither to
the assembly that is the hero's glory, neither to war, but consumed his
heart in tarrying in his place, and yearned for the war-cry and for
battle.
Now when the twelfth morn thereafter was come, then the gods that are
for ever fared to Olympus all in company, led of Zeus. And Thetis
forgat not her son's charge, but rose up from the sea-wave, and at
early morn mounted up to great heaven and Olympus. There found she
Kronos' son of the far-sounding voice sitting apart from all on the
topmost peak of many-ridged Olympus. So she sat before his face and
with her left hand clasped his knees, and with her right touched him
beneath his chin, and spake in prayer to king Zeus son of Kronos:
"Father Zeus, if ever I gave thee aid amid the immortal gods, whether
by word or deed, fulfil thou this my desire: do honour to my son, that
is doomed to earliest death of all men: now hath Agamemnon king of men
done him dishonour, for he hath taken away his meed of honour and
keepeth her of his own violent deed. But honour thou him, Zeus of
Olympus, lord of counsel; grant thou victory to the Trojans the while
until the Achaians do my son honour and exalt him with recompense."
So spake she; but Zeus the cloud-gatherer said no word to her, and sat
long time in silence. But even as Thetis had clasped his knees, so held
she by him clinging, and questioned him yet a second time: "Promise me
now this thing verily, and bow thy head thereto; or else deny me,
seeing there is naught for thee to fear; that I may know full well how
I among all gods am least in honour."
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer, sore troubled, spake to her: "Verily it
is a sorry matter, if thou wilt set me at variance with Hera, whene'er
she provoketh me with taunting words. Even now she upbraideth me ever
amid the immortal gods, and saith that I aid the Trojans in battle. But
do thou now depart again, lest Hera mark aught; and I will take thought
for these things to fulfil them. Come now, I will bow my head to thee,
that thou mayest be of good courage; for that, of my part, is the
surest token amid the immortals; no word of mine is revocable nor false
nor unfulfilled when the bowing of my head hath pledged it."
Kronion spake, and bowed his dark brow, and the ambrosial locks waved
from the king's immortal head; and he made great Olympus quake.
Thus the twain took counsel and parted; she leapt therewith into the
deep sea from glittering Olympus, and Zeus fared to his own palace. All
the gods in company arose from their seats before their father's face;
neither ventured any to await his coming, but stood up all before him.
So he sate him there upon his throne; but Hera saw, and was not
ignorant how that the daughter of the Ancient of the sea, Thetis the
silver-footed, had devised counsel with him. Anon with taunting words
spake she to Zeus the son of Kronos: "Now who among the gods, thou
crafty of mind, hath devised counsel with thee? It is ever thy good
pleasure to hold aloof from me and in secret meditation to give thy
judgments, nor of thine own good will hast thou ever brought thyself to
declare unto me the thing thou purposest."
Then the father of gods and men made answer her: "Hera, think not thou
to know all my sayings; hard they are for thee, even though thou art my
wife. But whichsoever it is seemly for thee to hear, none sooner than
thou shall know, be he god or man. Only when I will to take thought
aloof from the gods, then do not thou ask of every matter nor make
question."
Then Hera the ox-eyed queen made answer to him. "Most dread son of
Kronos, what word is this thou hast spoken? Yea, surely of old I have
not asked thee nor made question, but in my heart sore afraid lest thou
have been won over by silver-footed Thetis, daughter of the Ancient of
the sea, for she at early morn sat by thee and clasped thy knees. To
her I deem thou gavest a sure pledge that thou wilt do honour to
Achilles, and lay many low beside the Achaians' ships."
To her made answer Zeus the cloud-gatherer: "Lady, Good lack! ever art
thou imagining, nor can I escape thee; yet shalt thou in no wise have
power to fulfil, but wilt be the further from my heart; that shall be
even the worse for thee. And if it be so, then such must my good
pleasure be. Abide thou in silence and hearken to my bidding, lest all
the gods that are in Olympus keep not off from thee my visitation, when
I put forth my hands unapproachable against thee."
He said, and Hera the ox-eyed queen was afraid, and sat in silence,
curbing her heart; but throughout Zeus' palace the gods of heaven were
troubled. Then Hephaistos the famed craftsman began to make harangue
among them, to do kindness to his mother, white-armed Hera: "Verily
this will be a sorry matter, neither any more endurable, if ye twain
thus fight for mortals' sakes, and bring wrangling among the gods;
neither will there any more be joy of the goodly feast, seeing that
evil triumpheth. So I give counsel to my mother, though herself is
wise, to do kindness to our dear father Zeus, that our father upbraid
us not again and cast the banquet in confusion. What if the Olympian,
the lord of the lightning, will to dash us from our seats! for he is
strongest far. Nay, approach thou him with gentle words, then will the
Olympian forthwith be gracious unto us."
So speaking he rose up and sat in his dear mother's hand the
twy-handled cup, and spake to her: "Be of good courage, mother mine,
and endure, though thou art vexed, lest I behold thee, thou art so
dear, chastised before mine eyes, and then shall I not be able for all
my sorrow to save thee; for the Olympian is a hard foe to face. Yea,
once ere this, when I was fain to save thee, he caught me by my foot
and hurled me from the heavenly threshold; all day I flew, and at the
set of sun I fell in Lemnos, and little life was in me. There did the
Sintian folk forthwith tend me for my fall."
He spake, and the white-armed goddess Hera smiled, and smiling took the
cup at her son's hand. Then he poured wine to all the other gods from
right to left, ladling the sweet nectar from the bowl. And laughter
unquenchable arose amid the blessed gods to see Hephaistos bustling
through the palace.
So feasted they al day till the setting of the sun; nor was their soul
aught stinted of the fair banquet, nor of the beauteous lyre that
Apollo held, and the Muses singing alternately with sweet voice.
Now when the bright light of the sun was set, these went each to his
own house to sleep, where each one had his palace made with cunning
device by famed Hephaistos the lame god; and Zeus the Olympian, the
lord of lightning, departed to his couch where he was wont of old to
take his rest, whenever sweet sleep visited him. There went he up and
slept, and beside him was Hera of the golden throne.
