按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Rendered into English Prose for
the use of those who cannot
read the original
by Samuel Butler
BOOK I
The quarrel between Agamemnon and AchillesAchilles withdraws
from the war； and sends his mother Thetis to ask Jove to help
the TrojansScene between Jove and Juno on Olympus。
Sing； O goddess； the anger of Achilles son of Peleus； that
brought countless ills upon the Achaeans。 Many a brave soul did
it send hurrying down to Hades； and many a hero did it yield a
prey to dogs and vultures； for so were the counsels of Jove
fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus； king of men；
and great Achilles； first fell out with one another。
And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel？ It was
the son of Jove and Leto； for he was angry with the king and sent
a pestilence upon the host to plague the people； because the son
of Atreus had dishonoured Chryses his priest。 Now Chryses had
e to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter； and had
brought with him a great ransom： moreover he bore in his hand the
sceptre of Apollo wreathed with a suppliant's wreath； and he
besought the Achaeans； but most of all the two sons of Atreus；
who were their chiefs。
〃Sons of Atreus；〃 he cried； 〃and all other Achaeans； may the gods
who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam； and to
reach your homes in safety； but free my daughter； and accept a
ransom for her； in reverence to Apollo； son of Jove。〃
On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for
respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered； but
not so Agamemnon； who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly
away。 〃Old man；〃 said he； 〃let me not find you tarrying about our
ships； nor yet ing hereafter。 Your sceptre of the god and your
wreath shall profit you nothing。 I will not free her。 She shall
grow old in my house at Argos far from her own home； busying
herself with her loom and visiting my couch； so go； and do not
provoke me or it shall be the worse for you。〃
The old man feared him and obeyed。 Not a word he spoke； but went
by the shore of the sounding sea and prayed apart to King Apollo
whom lovely Leto had borne。 〃Hear me；〃 he cried； 〃O god of the
silver bow； that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest
Tenedos with thy might； hear me oh thou of Sminthe。 If I have
ever decked your temple with garlands； or burned your thigh…bones
in fat of bulls or goats； grant my prayer； and let your arrows
avenge these my tears upon the Danaans。〃
Thus did he pray； and Apollo heard his prayer。 He came down
furious from the summits of Olympus； with his bow and his quiver
upon his shoulder； and the arrows rattled on his back with the
rage that trembled within him。 He sat himself down away from the
ships with a face as dark as night； and his silver bow rang death
as he shot his arrow in the midst of them。 First he smote their
mules and their hounds； but presently he aimed his shafts at the
people themselves； and all day long the pyres of the dead were
burning。
For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people； but upon
the tenth day Achilles called them in assemblymoved thereto by
Juno； who saw the Achaeans in their death…throes and had
passion upon them。 Then； when they were got together； he rose
and spoke among them。
〃Son of Atreus；〃 said he； 〃I deem that we should now turn roving
home if we would escape destruction； for we are being cut down by
war and pestilence at once。 Let us ask some priest or prophet； or
some reader of dreams （for dreams； too； are of Jove） who can tell
us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry； and say whether it is for some
vow that we have broken； or hecatomb that we have not offered；
and whether he will accept the savour of lambs and goats without
blemish； so as to take away the plague from us。〃
With these words he sat down； and Calchas son of Thestor； wisest
of augurs； who knew things past present and to e； rose to
speak。 He it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to
Ilius； through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had
inspired him。 With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed them
thus：
〃Achilles； loved of heaven； you bid me tell you about the anger
of King Apollo； I will therefore do so； but consider first and
swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed； for I
know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might； to
whom all the Achaeans are in subjection。 A plain man cannot stand
against the anger of a king； who if he swallow his displeasure
now； will yet nurse revenge till he has wreaked it。 Consider；
therefore； whether or no you will protect me。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃Fear not； but speak as it is borne in
upon you from heaven； for by Apollo； Calchas； to whom you pray；
and whose oracles you reveal to us； not a Danaan at our ships
shall lay his hand upon you； while I yet live to look upon the
face of the earthno； not though you name Agamemnon himself； who
is by far the foremost of the Achaeans。〃
Thereon the seer spoke boldly。 〃The god；〃 he said； 〃is angry
neither about vow nor hecatomb； but for his priest's sake； whom
Agamemnon has dishonoured； in that he would not free his daughter
nor take a ransom for her； therefore has he sent these evils upon
us； and will yet send others。 He will not deliver the Danaans
from this pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl without
fee or ransom to her father； and has sent a holy hecatomb to
Chryse。 Thus we may perhaps appease him。〃
With these words he sat down； and Agamemnon rose in anger。 His
heart was black with rage； and his eyes flashed fire as he
scowled on Calchas and said； 〃Seer of evil； you never yet
prophesied smooth things concerning me； but have ever loved to
foretell that which was evil。 You have brought me neither fort
nor performance； and now you e seeing among Danaans； and
saying that Apollo has plagued us because I would not take a
ransom for this girl； the daughter of Chryses。 I have set my
heart on keeping her in my own house； for I love her better even
than my own wife Clytemnestra； whose peer she is alike in form
and feature； in understanding and acplishments。 Still I will
give her up if I must； for I would have the people live； not die；
but you must find me a prize instead； or I alone among the
Argives shall be without one。 This is not well； for you behold；
all of you； that my prize is to go elsewhither。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃Most noble son of Atreus； covetous beyond
all mankind； how shall the Achaeans find you another prize？ We
have no mon store from which to take one。 Those we took from
the cities have been awarded； we cannot disallow the awards that
have been made already。 Give this girl； therefore； to the god；
and if ever Jove grants us to sack the city of Troy we will
requite you three and fourfold。〃
Then Agamemnon said； 〃Achilles； valiant though you be； you shall
not thus outwit me。 You shall not overreach and you shall not
persuade me。 Are you to keep your own prize； while I sit tamely
under my loss and give up the girl at your bidding？ Let the
Achaeans find me a prize in fair exchange to my liking； or I will
e and take your own； or that of Ajax or of U