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In distribution, and it were unjust155

       To gather it from all the Greeks again.

       But send thou back this Virgin to her God,

       And when Jove's favor shall have given us Troy,

       A threefold, fourfold share shall then be thine.

      To whom the Sovereign of the host replied.160

       Godlike Achilles, valiant as thou art,

       Wouldst thou be subtle too? But me no fraud

       Shall overreach, or art persuade, of thine.

       Wouldst thou, that thou be recompensed, and I

       Sit meekly down, defrauded of my due?165

       And didst thou bid me yield her? Let the bold

       Achaians give me competent amends,

       Such as may please me, and it shall be well.

       Else, if they give me none, I will command

       Thy prize, the prize of Ajax, or the prize170

       It may be of Ulysses to my tent,

       And let the loser chafe. But this concern

       Shall be adjusted at convenient time.

       Come—launch we now into the sacred deep

       A bark with lusty rowers well supplied;175

       Then put on board Chrysëis, and with her

       The sacrifice required. Go also one

       High in authority, some counsellor,

       Idomeneus, or Ajax, or thyself,

       Thou most untractable of all mankind;180

       010 And seek by rites of sacrifice and prayer

       To appease Apollo on our host's behalf.

      Achilles eyed him with a frown, and spake.

       Ah! clothed with impudence as with a cloak,

       And full of subtlety, who, thinkest thou—185

       What Grecian here will serve thee, or for thee

       Wage covert war, or open? Me thou know'st,

       Troy never wronged; I came not to avenge

       Harm done to me; no Trojan ever drove

       My pastures, steeds or oxen took of mine,190

       Or plunder'd of their fruits the golden fields

       Of Phthia[13] the deep-soil'd. She lies remote, And obstacles are numerous interposed, Vale-darkening mountains, and the dashing sea. No, [14]Shameless Wolf! For thy good pleasure's sake195 We came, and, [15]Face of flint! to avenge the wrongs By Menelaus and thyself sustain'd, On the offending Trojan—service kind, But lost on thee, regardless of it all. And now—What now? Thy threatening is to seize200 Thyself, the just requital of my toils, My prize hard-earn'd, by common suffrage mine. I never gain, what Trojan town soe'er We ransack, half thy booty. The swift march And furious onset—these I largely reap,205 But, distribution made, thy lot exceeds Mine far; while I, with any pittance pleased, Bear to my ships the little that I win After long battle, and account it much. But I am gone, I and my sable barks210 (My wiser course) to Phthia, and I judge, 011 Scorn'd as I am, that thou shalt hardly glean Without me, more than thou shalt soon consume.[16]

      He ceased, and Agamemnon thus replied

       Fly, and fly now; if in thy soul thou feel215

       Such ardor of desire to go—begone!

       I woo thee not to stay; stay not an hour

       On my behalf, for I have others here

       Who will respect me more, and above all

       All-judging Jove. There is not in the host220

       King or commander whom I hate as thee,

       For all thy pleasure is in strife and blood,

       And at all times; yet valor is no ground

       Whereon to boast, it is the gift of Heaven

       Go, get ye back to Phthia, thou and thine!225

       There rule thy Myrmidons.[17] I need not thee, Nor heed thy wrath a jot. But this I say, Sure as Apollo takes my lovely prize Chrysëis, and I shall return her home In mine own bark, and with my proper crew,230 So sure the fair Brisëis shall be mine. I shall demand her even at thy tent. So shalt thou well be taught, how high in power I soar above thy pitch, and none shall dare Attempt, thenceforth, comparison with me.235

      He ended, and the big, disdainful heart

       Throbbed of Achilles; racking doubt ensued

       And sore perplex'd him, whether forcing wide

       A passage through them, with his blade unsheathed

       To lay Atrides breathless at his foot,240

       012 Or to command his stormy spirit down.

       So doubted he, and undecided yet

       Stood drawing forth his falchion huge; when lo!

       Down sent by Juno, to whom both alike

       Were dear, and who alike watched over both,245

       Pallas descended. At his back she stood

       To none apparent, save himself alone,

       And seized his golden locks. Startled, he turned,

       And instant knew Minerva. Flashed her eyes

       Terrific;[18] whom with accents on the wing250 Of haste, incontinent he questioned thus.

      Daughter of Jove, why comest thou? that thyself

       May'st witness these affronts which I endure

       From Agamemnon? Surely as I speak,

       This moment, for his arrogance, he dies.255

      To whom the blue-eyed Deity. From heaven

       Mine errand is, to sooth, if thou wilt hear,

       Thine anger. Juno the white-arm'd alike

       To him and thee propitious, bade me down:

       Restrain thy wrath. Draw not thy falchion forth.260

       Retort, and sharply, and let that suffice.

       For I foretell thee true. Thou shalt receive,

       Some future day, thrice told, thy present loss

       For this day's wrong. Cease, therefore, and be still.

      To whom Achilles. Goddess, although much265

       Exasperate, I dare not disregard

       Thy word, which to obey is always best.[19] Who hears the Gods, the Gods hear also him.

      He said; and on his silver hilt the force

       Of his broad hand impressing, sent the blade270

       Home to its rest, nor would the counsel scorn

       013 Of Pallas. She to heaven well-pleased return'd,

       And in the mansion of Jove Ægis[20]-armed Arriving, mingled with her kindred Gods. But though from violence, yet not from words275 Abstained Achilles, but with bitter taunt Opprobrious, his antagonist reproached.

      Oh charged with wine, in steadfastness of face

       Dog unabashed, and yet at heart a deer!

       Thou never, when the troops have taken arms,280

       Hast dared to take thine also; never thou

       Associate with Achaia's Chiefs, to form

       The secret ambush.[21] No. The sound of war Is as the voice of destiny to thee. Doubtless the course is safer far, to range285 Our numerous host, and if a man have dared Dispute thy will, to rob him of his prize. King! over whom? Women and spiritless— Whom therefore thou devourest; else themselves Would stop that mouth that it should scoff no more.290 But hearken. I shall swear a solemn oath. By this same

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