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oath； to his much ruing thereafter。 For Juno darted down from the high
summit of Olympus； and went in haste to Achaean Argos where she knew
that the noble wife of Sthenelus son of Perseus then was。 She being
with child and in her seventh month； Juno brought the child to birth
though there was a month still wanting； but she stayed the offspring
of Alcmena； and kept back the Ilithuiae。 Then she went to tell Jove
the son of Saturn； and said； 'Father Jove； lord of the lightning… I
have a word for your ear。 There is a fine child born this day；
Eurystheus； son to Sthenelus the son of Perseus； he is of your
lineage； it is well； therefore； that he should reign over the
Argives。'
〃On this Jove was stung to the very quick； and in his rage he caught
Folly by the hair； and swore a great oath that never should she
again invade starry heaven and Olympus； for she was the bane of all。
Then he whirled her round with a twist of his hand； and flung her down
from heaven so that she fell on to the fields of mortal men； and he
was ever angry with her when he saw his son groaning under the cruel
labours that Eurystheus laid upon him。 Even so did I grieve when
mighty Hector was killing the Argives at their ships； and all the time
I kept thinking of Folly who had so baned me。 I was blind； and Jove
robbed me of my reason； I will now make atonement； and will add much
treasure by way of amends。 Go； therefore； into battle； you and your
people with you。 I will give you all that Ulysses offered you
yesterday in your tents： or if it so please you； wait； though you
would fain fight at once； and my squires shall bring the gifts from my
ship； that you may see whether what I give you is enough。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃Son of Atreus； king of men Agamemnon； you
can give such gifts as you think proper； or you can withhold them：
it is in your own hands。 Let us now set battle in array； it is not
well to tarry talking about trifles； for there is a deed which is as
yet to do。 Achilles shall again be seen fighting among the foremost；
and laying low the ranks of the Trojans： bear this in mind each one of
you when he is fighting。〃
Then Ulysses said； 〃Achilles； godlike and brave； send not the
Achaeans thus against Ilius to fight the Trojans fasting； for the
battle will be no brief one； when it is once begun； and heaven has
filled both sides with fury； bid them first take food both bread and
wine by the ships； for in this there is strength and stay。 No man
can do battle the livelong day to the going down of the sun if he is
without food； however much he may want to fight his strength will fail
him before he knows it； hunger and thirst will find him out； and his
limbs will grow weary under him。 But a man can fight all day if he
is full fed with meat and wine； his heart beats high； and his strength
will stay till he has routed all his foes； therefore； send the
people away and bid them prepare their meal； King Agamemnon will bring
out the gifts in presence of the assembly； that all may see them and
you may be satisfied。 Moreover let him swear an oath before the
Argives that he has never gone up into the couch of Briseis； nor
been with her after the manner of men and women； and do you； too； show
yourself of a gracious mind； let Agamemnon entertain you in his
tents with a feast of reconciliation； that so you may have had your
dues in full。 As for you； son of Atreus； treat people more righteously
in future； it is no disgrace even to a king that he should make amends
if he was wrong in the first instance。〃
And King Agamemnon answered； 〃Son of Laertes； your words please me
well； for throughout you have spoken wisely。 I will swear as you would
have me do； I do so of my own free will； neither shall I take the name
of heaven in vain。 Let； then； Achilles wait； though he would fain
fight at once； and do you others wait also； till the gifts come from
my tent and we ratify the oath with sacrifice。 Thus； then； do I charge
you： take some noble young Achaeans with you； and bring from my
tents the gifts that I promised yesterday to Achilles； and bring the
women also； furthermore let Talthybius find me a boar from those
that are with the host； and make it ready for sacrifice to Jove and to
the sun。〃
Then said Achilles； 〃Son of Atreus； king of men Agamemnon； see to
these matters at some other season； when there is breathing time and
when I am calmer。 Would you have men eat while the bodies of those
whom Hector son of Priam slew are still lying mangled upon the
plain？ Let the sons of the Achaeans； say I； fight fasting and
without food； till we have avenged them； afterwards at the going
down of the sun let them eat their fill。 As for me； Patroclus is lying
dead in my tent； all hacked and hewn； with his feet to the door； and
his comrades are mourning round him。 Therefore I can take thought of
nothing save only slaughter and blood and the rattle in the throat
of the dying。〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Achilles； son of Peleus； mightiest of all the
Achaeans； in battle you are better than I； and that more than a
little； but in counsel I am much before you； for I am older and of
greater knowledge。 Therefore be patient under my words。 Fighting is
a thing of which men soon surfeit； and when Jove； who is wars steward；
weighs the upshot； it may well prove that the straw which our
sickles have reaped is far heavier than the grain。 It may not be
that the Achaeans should mourn the dead with their bellies； day by day
men fall thick and threefold continually； when should we have
respite from our sorrow？ Let us mourn our dead for a day and bury them
out of sight and mind； but let those of us who are left eat and
drink that we may arm and fight our foes more fiercely。 In that hour
let no man hold back； waiting for a second summons； such summons shall
bode ill for him who is found lagging behind at our ships； let us
rather sally as one man and loose the fury of war upon the Trojans。〃
When he had thus spoken he took with him the sons of Nestor； with
Meges son of Phyleus； Thoas； Meriones； Lycomedes son of Creontes；
and Melanippus； and went to the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus。 The
word was not sooner said than the deed was done： they brought out
the seven tripods which Agamemnon had promised； with the twenty
metal cauldrons and the twelve horses； they also brought the women
skilled in useful arts； seven in number； with Briseis； which made
eight。 Ulysses weighed out the ten talents of gold and then led the
way back； while the young Achaeans brought the rest of the gifts；
and laid them in the middle of the assembly。
Agamemnon then rose； and Talthybius whose voice was like that of a
god came to him with the boar。 The son of Atreus drew the knife
which he wore by the scabbard of his mighty sword； and began by
cutting off some bristles from the boar； lifting up his hands in
prayer as he did so。 The other Achaeans sat where they were all silent
and orderly to hear the king； and Agamemnon looked into the vault of
heaven and prayed saying； 〃I call Jove the first and mightiest of
all gods to witness； I call also Earth and Sun and the Erinyes who
dwell below and take vengeance on him who shall swear falsely； th