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is being nurtured in all abundance。 I have three daughters；
Chrysothemis； Laodice； and Iphianassa； let him take the one of
his choice； freely and without gifts of wooing； to the house of
Peleus； I will add such dower to boot as no man ever yet gave his
daughter； and will give him seven well established cities；
Cardamyle； Enope； and Hire； where there is grass； holy Pherae and
the rich meadows of Anthea； Aepea also； and the vine…clad slopes
of Pedasus； all near the sea； and on the borders of sandy Pylos。
The men that dwell there are rich in cattle and sheep； they will
honour him with gifts as though he were a god； and be obedient to
his fortable ordinances。 All this will I do if he will now
forgo his anger。 Let him then yield； it is only Hades who is
utterly ruthless and unyieldingand hence he is of all gods the
one most hateful to mankind。 Moreover I am older and more royal
than himself。 Therefore； let him now obey me。〃
Then Nestor answered； 〃Most noble son of Atreus； king of men；
Agamemnon。 The gifts you offer are no small ones； let us then
send chosen messengers； who may go to the tent of Achilles son of
Peleus without delay。 Let those go whom I shall name。 Let
Phoenix； dear to Jove； lead the way； let Ajax and Ulysses follow；
and let the heralds Odius and Eurybates go with them。 Now bring
water for our hands； and bid all keep silence while we pray to
Jove the son of Saturn； if so be that he may have mercy upon us。〃
Thus did he speak； and his saying pleased them well。
Men…servants poured water over the hands of the guests； while
pages filled the mixing…bowls with wine and water； and handed it
round after giving every man his drink…offering； then； when they
had made their offerings； and had drunk each as much as he was
minded； the envoys set out from the tent of Agamemnon son of
Atreus； and Nestor； looking first to one and then to another； but
most especially at Ulysses； was instant with them that they
should prevail with the noble son of Peleus。
They went their way by the shore of the sounding sea； and prayed
earnestly to earth…encircling Neptune that the high spirit of the
son of Aeacus might incline favourably towards them。 When they
reached the ships and tents of the Myrmidons； they found Achilles
playing on a lyre； fair； of cunning workmanship； and its
cross…bar was of silver。 It was part of the spoils which he had
taken when he sacked the city of Eetion； and he was now diverting
himself with it and singing the feats of heroes。 He was alone
with Patroclus； who sat opposite to him and said nothing； waiting
till he should cease singing。 Ulysses and Ajax now came in
Ulysses leading the wayand stood before him。 Achilles sprang
from his seat with the lyre still in his hand； and Patroclus；
when he saw the strangers； rose also。 Achilles then greeted them
saying； 〃All hail and weleyou must e upon some great
matter； you； who for all my anger are still dearest to me of the
Achaeans。〃
With this he led them forward； and bade them sit on seats covered
with purple rugs； then he said to Patroclus who was close by him；
〃Son of Menoetius； set a larger bowl upon the table； mix less
water with the wine； and give every man his cup； for these are
very dear friends； who are now under my roof。〃
Patroclus did as his rade bade him； he set the chopping…block
in front of the fire； and on it he laid the loin of a sheep； the
loin also of a goat； and the chine of a fat hog。 Automedon held
the meat while Achilles chopped it； he then sliced the pieces and
put them on spits while the son of Menoetius made the fire burn
high。 When the flame had died down； he spread the embers； laid
the spits on top of them； lifting them up and setting them upon
the spit…racks； and he sprinkled them with salt。 When the meat
was roasted； he set it on platters； and handed bread round the
table in fair baskets； while Achilles dealt them their portions。
Then Achilles took his seat facing Ulysses against the opposite
wall； and bade his rade Patroclus offer sacrifice to the gods；
so he cast the offerings into the fire； and they laid their hands
upon the good things that were before them。 As soon as they had
had enough to eat and drink； Ajax made a sign to Phoenix； and
when he saw this； Ulysses filled his cup with wine and pledged
Achilles。
〃Hail；〃 said he； 〃Achilles； we have had no scant of good cheer；
neither in the tent of Agamemnon； nor yet here； there has been
plenty to eat and drink； but our thought turns upon no such
matter。 Sir； we are in the face of great disaster； and without
your help know not whether we shall save our fleet or lose it。
The Trojans and their allies have camped hard by our ships and by
the wall； they have lit watchfires throughout their host and deem
that nothing can now prevent them from falling on our fleet。
Jove； moreover； has sent his lightnings on their right； Hector；
in all his glory； rages like a maniac； confident that Jove is
with him he fears neither god nor man； but is gone raving mad；
and prays for the approach of day。 He vows that he will hew the
high sterns of our ships in pieces； set fire to their hulls； and
make havoc of the Achaeans while they are dazed and smothered in
smoke； I much fear that heaven will make good his boasting； and
it will prove our lot to perish at Troy far from our home in
Argos。 Up； then； and late though it be； save the sons of the
Achaeans who faint before the fury of the Trojans。 You will
repent bitterly hereafter if you do not； for when the harm is
done there will be no curing it； consider ere it be too late； and
save the Danaans from destruction。
〃My good friend； when your father Peleus sent you from Phthia to
Agamemnon； did he not charge you saying； 'Son； Minerva and Juno
will make you strong if they choose； but check your high temper；
for the better part is in goodwill。 Eschew vain quarrelling； and
the Achaeans old and young will respect you more for doing so。'
These were his words； but you have forgotten them。 Even now；
however； be appeased； and put away your anger from you。 Agamemnon
will make you great amends if you will forgive him； listen； and I
will tell you what he has said in his tent that he will give you。
He will give you seven tripods that have never yet been on the
fire； and ten talents of gold； twenty iron cauldrons； and twelve
strong horses that have won races and carried off prizes。 Rich
indeed both in land and gold is he who has as many prizes as
these horses have won for Agamemnon。 Moreover he will give you
seven excellent workwomen； Lesbians； whom he chose for himself；
when you took Lesbosall of surpassing beauty。 He will give you
these； and with them her whom he erewhile took from you； the
daughter of Briseus； and he will swear a great oath； he has never
gone up into her couch nor been with her after the manner of men
and women。 All these things will he give you now down； and if
hereafter the gods vouchsafe him to sack the city of Priam； you
can e when we Achaeans are dividing the spoil； and load your
ship with gold and bronze to your liking。 You can take twenty
Trojan women； the loveliest after Helen herself。 Then； when we
reach Achaean Argos； wealthiest of all lands； y