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For so； many an Achaean the less would have bitten dust before
the foe in the days of my anger。 It has been well for Hector and
the Trojans； but the Achaeans will long indeed remember our
quarrel。 Now； however； let it be； for it is over。 If we have been
angry； necessity has schooled our anger。 I put it from me： I dare
not nurse it for ever； therefore； bid the Achaeans arm forthwith
that I may go out against the Trojans； and learn whether they
will be in a mind to sleep by the ships or no。 Glad； I ween； will
he be to rest his knees who may fly my spear when I wield it。〃
Thus did he speak； and the Achaeans rejoiced in that he had put
away his anger。
Then Agamemnon spoke； rising in his place； and not going into the
middle of the assembly。 〃Danaan heroes；〃 said he； 〃servants of
Mars； it is well to listen when a man stands up to speak； and it
is not seemly to interrupt him； or it will go hard even with a
practised speaker。 Who can either hear or speak in an uproar？
Even the finest orator will be disconcerted by it。 I will expound
to the son of Peleus； and do you other Achaeans heed me and mark
me well。 Often have the Achaeans spoken to me of this matter and
upbraided me； but it was not I that did it： Jove； and Fate； and
Erinys that walks in darkness struck me mad when we were
assembled on the day that I took from Achilles the meed that had
been awarded to him。 What could I do？ All things are in the hand
of heaven； and Folly； eldest of Jove's daughters； shuts men's
eyes to their destruction。 She walks delicately； not on the solid
earth； but hovers over the heads of men to make them stumble or
to ensnare them。
〃Time was when she fooled Jove himself； who they say is greatest
whether of gods or men； for Juno； woman though she was； beguiled
him on the day when Alcmena was to bring forth mighty Hercules in
the fair city of Thebes。 He told it out among the gods saying；
'Hear me； all gods and goddesses； that I may speak even as I am
minded； this day shall an Ilithuia； helper of women who are in
labour； bring a man child into the world who shall be lord over
all that dwell about him who are of my blood and lineage。' Then
said Juno all crafty and full of guile； 'You will play false； and
will not hold to your word。 Swear me； O Olympian； swear me a
great oath； that he who shall this day fall between the feet of a
woman； shall be lord over all that dwell about him who are of
your blood and lineage。'
〃Thus she spoke； and Jove suspected her not； but swore the great
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 lightningI 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 e 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 rades 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 war's 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