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Achaeans； and hold aloof from fight。 For Jove went yesterday to
Oceanus； to a feast among the Ethiopians； and the other gods went
with him。 He will return to Olympus twelve days hence； I will
then go to his mansion paved with bronze and will beseech him；
nor do I doubt that I shall be able to persuade him。〃
On this she left him； still furious at the loss of her that had
been taken from him。 Meanwhile Ulysses reached Chryse with the
hecatomb。 When they had e inside the harbour they furled the
sails and laid them in the ship's hold； they slackened the
forestays； lowered the mast into its place； and rowed the ship to
the place where they would have her lie； there they cast out
their mooring…stones and made fast the hawsers。 They then got out
upon the sea…shore and landed the hecatomb for Apollo； Chryseis
also left the ship； and Ulysses led her to the altar to deliver
her into the hands of her father。 〃Chryses；〃 said he； 〃King
Agamemnon has sent me to bring you back your child； and to offer
sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaans； that we may
propitiate the god； who has now brought sorrow upon the Argives。〃
So saying he gave the girl over to her father； who received her
gladly； and they ranged the holy hecatomb all orderly round the
altar of the god。 They washed their hands and took up the
barley…meal to sprinkle over the victims； while Chryses lifted up
his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf。 〃Hear me；〃 he cried；
〃O god of the silver bow； that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla；
and rulest Tenedos with thy might。 Even as thou didst hear me
aforetime when I prayed； and didst press hardly upon the
Achaeans； so hear me yet again； and stay this fearful pestilence
from the Danaans。〃
Thus did he pray； and Apollo heard his prayer。 When they had done
praying and sprinkling the barley…meal； they drew back the heads
of the victims and killed and flayed them。 They cut out the
thigh…bones； wrapped them round in two layers of fat； set some
pieces of raw meat on the top of them； and then Chryses laid them
on the wood fire and poured wine over them； while the young men
stood near him with five…pronged spits in their hands。 When the
thigh…bones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats；
they cut the rest up small； put the pieces upon the spits；
roasted them till they were done； and drew them off： then； when
they had finished their work and the feast was ready； they ate
it； and every man had his full share； so that all were satisfied。
As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink； pages filled the
mixing…bowl with wine and water and handed it round； after giving
every man his drink…offering。
Thus all day long the young men worshipped the god with song；
hymning him and chaunting the joyous paean； and the god took
pleasure in their voices； but when the sun went down； and it came
on dark； they laid themselves down to sleep by the stern cables
of the ship； and when the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn；
appeared they again set sail for the host of the Achaeans。 Apollo
sent them a fair wind； so they raised their mast and hoisted
their white sails aloft。 As the sail bellied with the wind the
ship flew through the deep blue water； and the foam hissed
against her bows as she sped onward。 When they reached the
wide…stretching host of the Achaeans； they drew the vessel
ashore； high and dry upon the sands； set her strong props beneath
her； and went their ways to their own tents and ships。
But Achilles abode at his ships and nursed his anger。 He went not
to the honourable assembly； and sallied not forth to fight； but
gnawed at his own heart； pining for battle and the war…cry。
Now after twelve days the immortal gods came back in a body to
Olympus； and Jove led the way。 Thetis was not unmindful of the
charge her son had laid upon her； so she rose from under the sea
and went through great heaven with early morning to Olympus；
where she found the mighty son of Saturn sitting all alone upon
its topmost ridges。 She sat herself down before him； and with her
left hand seized his knees； while with her right she caught him
under the chin； and besought him； saying：
〃Father Jove； if I ever did you service in word or deed among the
immortals； hear my prayer； and do honour to my son； whose life is
to be cut short so early。 King Agamemnon has dishonoured him by
taking his prize and keeping her。 Honour him then yourself；
Olympian lord of counsel； and grant victory to the Trojans； till
the Achaeans give my son his due and load him with riches in
requital。〃
Jove sat for a while silent； and without a word； but Thetis still
kept firm hold of his knees； and besought him a second time。
〃Incline your head；〃 said she； 〃and promise me surely； or else
deny mefor you have nothing to fearthat I may learn how
greatly you disdain me。〃
At this Jove was much troubled and answered； 〃I shall have
trouble if you set me quarrelling with Juno； for she will provoke
me with her taunting speeches； even now she is always railing at
me before the other gods and accusing me of giving aid to the
Trojans。 Go back now； lest she should find out。 I will consider
the matter； and will bring it about as you wish。 See； I incline
my head that you may believe me。 This is the most solemn promise
that I can give to any god。 I never recall my word； or deceive；
or fail to do what I say； when I have nodded my head。〃
As he spoke the son of Saturn bowed his dark brows； and the
ambrosial locks swayed on his immortal head； till vast Olympus
reeled。
When the pair had thus laid their plans； they partedJove to his
house； while the goddess quitted the splendour of Olympus； and
plunged into the depths of the sea。 The gods rose from their
seats； before the ing of their sire。 Not one of them dared to
remain sitting； but all stood up as he came among them。 There；
then； he took his seat。 But Juno； when she saw him； knew that he
and the old merman's daughter； silver…footed Thetis； had been
hatching mischief； so she at once began to upbraid him。
〃Trickster；〃 she cried； 〃which of the gods have you been taking
into your counsels now？ You are always settling matters in secret
behind my back； and have never yet told me； if you could help it；
one word of your intentions。〃
〃Juno；〃 replied the sire of gods and men； 〃you must not expect to
be informed of all my counsels。 You are my wife； but you would
find it hard to understand them。 When it is proper for you to
hear； there is no one； god or man； who will be told sooner； but
when I mean to keep a matter to myself； you must not pry nor ask
questions。〃
〃Dread son of Saturn；〃 answered Juno； 〃what are you talking
about？ I？ Pry and ask questions？ Never。 I let you have your own
way in everything。 Still； I have a strong misgiving that the old
merman's daughter Thetis has been talking you over； for she was
with you and had hold of your knees this self…same morning。 I
believe； therefore； that you have been promising her to give
glory to Achilles； and to kill much people at the ships of the
Achaeans。〃
〃Wife；〃 said Jove； 〃I can do nothing but you suspect me and find
it out。 You will take nothing by it； for I shall only dislike you
the more；