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Trojan women； the loveliest after Helen herself。 Then； when we
reach Achaean Argos； wealthiest of all lands； you shall be his
son…in…law； and he will show you like honour with his own dear
son Orestes； who is being nurtured in all abundance。 Agamemnon
has three daughters； Chrysothemis； Laodice； and Iphianassa； you
may take the one of your choice； freely and without gifts of
wooing； to the house of Peleus； he will add such dower to boot as
no man ever yet gave his daughter； and will give you seven
well…established cities； Cardamyle； Enope； and Hire where there
is grass； holy Pheras 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 you with gifts as though were
a god； and be obedient to your fortable ordinances。 All this
will he do if you will now forgo your anger。 Moreover； though you
hate both him and his gifts with all your heart； yet pity the
rest of the Achaeans who are being harassed in all their host；
they will honour you as a god； and you will earn great glory at
their hands。 You might even kill Hector； he will e within your
reach； for he is infatuated； and declares that not a Danaan whom
the ships have brought can hold his own against him。〃
Achilles answered； 〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； I should give
you formal notice plainly and in all fixity of purpose that there
be no more of this cajoling； from whatsoever quarter it may e。
Him do I hate even as the gates of hell who says one thing while
he hides another in his heart； therefore I will say what I mean。
I will be appeased neither by Agamemnon son of Atreus nor by any
other of the Danaans； for I see that I have no thanks for all my
fighting。 He that fights fares no better than he that does not；
coward and hero are held in equal honour； and death deals like
measure to him who works and him who is idle。 I have taken
nothing by all my hardshipswith my life ever in my hand； as a
bird when she has found a morsel takes it to her nestlings； and
herself fares hardly； even so many a long night have I been
wakeful； and many a bloody battle have I waged by day against
those who were fighting for their women。 With my ships I have
taken twelve cities； and eleven round about Troy have I stormed
with my men by land； I took great store of wealth from every one
of them； but I gave all up to Agamemnon son of Atreus。 He stayed
where he was by his ships； yet of what came to him he gave
little； and kept much himself。
〃Nevertheless he did distribute some meeds of honour among the
chieftains and kings； and these have them still； from me alone of
the Achaeans did he take the woman in whom I delightedlet him
keep her and sleep with her。 Why； pray； must the Argives needs
fight the Trojans？ What made the son of Atreus gather the host
and bring them？ Was it not for the sake of Helen？ Are the sons of
Atreus the only men in the world who love their wives？ Any man of
mon right feeling will love and cherish her who is his own； as
I this woman； with my whole heart； though she was but a fruitling
of my spear。 Agamemnon has taken her from me； he has played me
false； I know him； let him tempt me no further； for he shall not
move me。 Let him look to you； Ulysses； and to the other princes
to save his ships from burning。 He has done much without me
already。 He has built a wall； he has dug a trench deep and wide
all round it； and he has planted it within with stakes； but even
so he stays not the murderous might of Hector。 So long as I
fought the Achaeans Hector suffered not the battle range far from
the city walls； he would e to the Scaean gates and to the oak
tree； but no further。 Once he stayed to meet me and hardly did he
escape my onset： now； however； since I am in no mood to fight
him； I will to…morrow offer sacrifice to Jove and to all the
gods； I will draw my ships into the water and then victual them
duly； to…morrow morning； if you care to look； you will see my
ships on the Hellespont； and my men rowing out to sea with might
and main。 If great Neptune vouchsafes me a fair passage； in three
days I shall be in Phthia。 I have much there that I left behind
me when I came here to my sorrow； and I shall bring back still
further store of gold； of red copper； of fair women； and of iron；
my share of the spoils that we have taken； but one prize； he who
gave has insolently taken away。 Tell him all as I now bid you；
and tell him in public that the Achaeans may hate him and beware
of him should he think that he can yet dupe others for his
effrontery never fails him。
〃As for me； hound that he is； he dares not look me in the face。
I will take no counsel with him； and will undertake nothing in
mon with him。 He has wronged me and deceived me enough； he
shall not cozen me further； let him go his own way； for Jove has
robbed him of his reason。 I loathe his presents； and for himself
care not one straw。 He may offer me ten or even twenty times what
he has now done； naynot though it be all that he has in the
world； both now or ever shall have； he may promise me the wealth
of Orchomenus or of Egyptian Thebes； which is the richest city in
the whole world； for it has a hundred gates through each of which
two hundred men may drive at once with their chariots and horses；
he may offer me gifts as the sands of the sea or the dust of the
plain in multitude； but even so he shall not move me till I have
been revenged in full for the bitter wrong he has done me。 I will
not marry his daughter； she may be fair as Venus； and skilful as
Minerva； but I will have none of her： let another take her； who
may be a good match for her and who rules a larger kingdom。 If
the gods spare me to return home； Peleus will find me a wife；
there are Achaean women in Hellas and Phthia； daughters of kings
that have cities under them； of these I can take whom I will and
marry her。 Many a time was I minded when at home in Phthia to woo
and wed a woman who would make me a suitable wife； and to enjoy
the riches of my old father Peleus。 My life is more to me than
all the wealth of Ilius while it was yet at peace before the
Achaeans went there； or than all the treasure that lies on the
stone floor of Apollo's temple beneath the cliffs of Pytho。
Cattle and sheep are to be had for harrying； and a man buy both
tripods and horses if he wants them； but when his life has once
left him it can neither be bought nor harried back again。
〃My mother Thetis tells me that there are two ways in which I may
meet my end。 If I stay here and fight； I shall not return alive
but my name will live for ever： whereas if I go home my name will
die； but it will be long ere death shall take me。 To the rest of
you； then； I say； 'Go home； for you will not take Ilius。' Jove
has held his hand over her to protect her； and her people have
taken heart。 Go； therefore； as in duty bound； and tell the
princes of the Achaeans the message that I have sent them； tell
them to find some other plan for the saving of their ships and
people； for so long as my displeasure lasts the one that they
have now hit upon may not be。 As for Phoen