The wrath do thou sing, O goddess, of Peleus'son, Achilles, that baneful wrath whichbrought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades many valiant souls of warriors, and made themselves to be a spoil for dogs and all manner of birds; and thus the will of Zeus was being brought to fulfilment; ósing thou thereof from the time when at the first there parted in strife Atreus'son, king of men, and goodly Achilles.

Who then of the gods was it that brought these two together to contend? The son of Leto and Zeus; for he in wrath against the king roused throughout the host an evil pestilence, and the folk were perishing, for that upon the man Chryses, his priest, had the son of Atreus wrought dishonour. For he had come to the swift ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and he bore with him ransom past counting; and in his hands he held the fillets of Apollo, that smiteth afar, on a staff of gold, and he made prayer to all the Achaeans, but most of all to the two sons of Atreus, the marshallers of the host: "Ye sons of Atreus, and ye other well-greaved Achaeans, to you may the gods who havehomes upon Olympus grant that ye sack the city of Priam, and return safe to your homes; but my dear child do ye set free for me, and accept the ransom out of awe for the son of Zeus, Apollo, that smiteth afar."

Then all the rest of the Achaeans shouted assent, bidding reverence the priest and accept the glorious ransom, yet the thing pleased not the heart of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, but he sent him away harshly, and laid upon him a stern command: "Let me not find thee, old man, by the hollow ships, either tarrying now or coming back hereafter, lest thy staff and the fillet of the god protect thee not. But her will I not set free: ere that shall old age come upon her in our house, in Argos, far from her country, as she walks to and fro before the loom and tends my couch. Nay, get thee gone; anger me not, that so thou mayest go the safer."

So he spake, and the old man was seized with fear and hearkened to his word. Forth he went in silence along the shore of the loud-resounding sea, and earnestly thereafter, when he had gone apart, did the old man pray to the prince, Apollo, whom fair-haired Leto bare: "Hear me, thou of the silver bow, who dost stand over Chryse and holy Cilla, and dost rule mightily over Tenedos, thou Sminthian, if ever I roofed over a shrine to thy pleasing, or if ever I burned to thee fat thigh-pieces of bulls or goats, fulfil thou for me this prayer: let the Danaans pay for my tears by thy shafts."

So he spake in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him. Down from the peaks of Olympus he strode, wroth at heart, bearing on his shoulders his bow and covered quiver. The arrows rattled on the shoulders of the angry god, as he moved; and his coming was like the night. Then he sate him down apart from the ships and let fly a shaft: terrible was the twang of the silver bow. The mules he assailed first and the swift dogs, but thereafter on the men themselves he let fly his stinging arrows, and smote; and ever did the pyres of the dead burn thick.

For nine days'space did the missiles of the god fare throughout the host, but on the tenth Achilles let call the folk to the place of gathering, for so had the goddess, white-armed Hera, put it in his heart since she pitied the Danaans, for that she saw them dying. So, when they were assembled and met together, among them arose and spake Achilles, swift of foot: "Son of Atreus, now methinks shall we be driven back and return with baffled purpose, should we eíen escape death, if so be that war and pestilence alike are to waste the Achaeans. Nay, come, let us ask some seer or priest, yea, or some reader of dreams ófor a dream too is from Zeusó who may haply tell us for what cause Phoebus Apollo hath conceived such anger, whether it be because of a vow that he blames us, or of a hecatomb; in hope that perchance he may accept the savour of lambs and unblemished goats, and be minded to ward off from us the pestilence."

When he had thus spoken he sate him down, and among them uprose Calchas son of Thestor, far the best of diviners, who had knowledge of all things that were, and that were to be, and that had been before, and who had guided the ships of the Achaeans to Ilios by his soothsaying that Phoebus Apollo had be- stowed upon him. He with good intent addressed their gathering, and spake among them: "Achilles, dear to Zeus, thou biddest me declare the wrath of Apollo, that smiteth afar. Therefore will I speak; but do thou take thought, and swear that verily of a ready heart thou wilt defend me with word and with might of hand; for methinks I shall make wroth a man who rules mightily over all the Argives, and whom the Achaeans obey. For mightier is a king, whenso he is wroth at a baser man. If so be he swallow down his wrath for the one day, yet thereafter he cherishes resentment in his heart till he bring all to pass. Consider thou, then, if thou wilt keep me safe."

Then in answer to him spake Achilles, swift of foot: "Take good heart, and speak out what oracle soeíer thou knowest, for by Apollo, dear to Zeus, to whom thou prayest, Calchas, and declarest oracles to the Danaans, no one, while I live and have sight on the earth, shall lay heavy hands on thee beside the hollow ships, no one of the whole host of the Danaans, not even if it be Agamemnon thou meanest, who now declares himself far the best of the Achaeans."

Then the blameless seer took heart, and spake, saying: "It is not then because of a vow that he blames us, nor a hecatomb, but because of the priest to whom Agamemnon did dishonour, and did not release his daughter nor accept the ransom. For this cause the god that smiteth afar has given woes, yea, and will give them, nor will he drive off from the Danaans the loathly pestilence, until we give back to her father the bright-eyed maiden, unbought, unransomed, and lead a sacred hecatomb to Chryse: then haply might we appease his wrath and persuadehim."

When he had thus spoken he sate him down, and among them uprose the warrior, son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, sore vexed; and with rage was his black heart wholly filled, and his eyes were like blazing fire. To Calchas first of all he spake, and his look boded bane: "Prophet of evil, never yet hast thou spoken to me the thing that is good; ever is evil dear to thy heart to prophesy, but a word of good hast thou never yet spoken, neither brought to pass. And now in the midst of the gathering of the Danaans thou utterest thy prophecies, and declarest that forsooth it is for this cause that the god that smiteth afar is bringing woes upon them, for that I would not accept the glorious ransom for the maid, the daughter of Chryses, seeing I am minded far rather to keep her in my home. For, know you, I prefer her before Clytemnestra, my wedded wife, since she is no whit inferior to her, either in form or in stature, or in mind, or anywise in handiwork. Yet, even so will I give her back, if that be better; rather would I have the folk safe than perishing. But for me do ye make ready a prize forthwith, that I may not alone of the Argives be without a prize, since this were not even seemly; for ye all see this, that my prize goes from me otherwhere."

Then in answer to him spake goodly Achilles, swift of foot: "Most glorious son of Atreus, thou most covetous of all men, how shall the great-souled Achaeans give thee a prize? Naught do we know of wealth laid up in common store, but whatsoeíer we took by pillage from the cities hath been apportioned, and it were not meet to gather these things back from the folk. Nay, do thou give her up at the godís behest, and we Achaeans will recompense thee threefold and fourfold, if ever Zeus grant us to sack the well-walled city of Troy."

Then in answer to him spake lord Agamemnon: "Not on this wise, valiant though thou art, godlike Achilles, do thou seek to beguile me by thy wit; for thou shalt not outstrip me nor persuade. Wouldest thou, to the end that thou mayest thyself keep thy prize, yet have me abide thus in want, seeing thou biddest me give her back? Nay, if the great-souled Achaeans give me a prize, suiting it to my mind that the recompense be equal! óbut, if they give it not, then will I come myself and take thy prize or that of Aias, or that of Odysseus will I seize and bear away. Wroth will he be to whomsoever I shall come. Howbeit, of these things will we take thought hereafter; for this present let us launch a black ship into the bright sea, and therein gather a due tale of rowers, and place on board a hecatomb, and embark on it the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses herself. And let one that is a counsellor take command, Aias haply, or Idomeneus, or goodly Odysseus, or thou, son of Peleus, of all men most dread, that thou mayest offer sacrifice and appease him that worketh afar."

Then with an angry glance from beneath his brows spake to him Achilles, swift of foot: "Ah me, thou clothed in shamelessness, thou of crafty mind, how shall any man of the Achaeans hearken to thy bidding with a ready heart either to go on a journey or to fight amain with warriors? I came not hither to fight by reason of the spearmen of Troy, seeing they are no whit at fault toward me. Never harried they in any wise my kine or my horses, nor ever in deep- soiled Phthia, nurse of men, did they lay waste the grain, for full many things lie between usóshadowy mountains and sounding sea. But thee, thou shameless one, did we follow hither, that thou mightest be glad, seeking to win recompense for Menelaus and for thee, thou dog-face, at the hands of the Trojans. This thou regardest not, nor takest thought thereof; and forsooth thou threatenest that thou wilt thyself take from me the prize wherefor I toiled much, and the sons of the Achaeans gave it me. Never have I prize like to thine, when the Achaeans sack a well-peopled citadel of the Trojans; nay, the brunt of tumultuous war do my hands bear, but if ever an apportionment cometh, thy prize is greater far, while I go to my ships with some small thing, yet mine own, when I am grown weary with fighting. Now will I go hence to Phthia, seeing it is better far to return home with my beaked ships, nor am I minded here in dishonour to draw thee thy fill of goods and wealth."

Then made answer the king of men, Agamemnon: "Yea, flee, if thy heart bids thee; I beg thee not to remain for my sake. With me are others that will do me honour, and above all Zeus, the lord of counsel. Most hateful to me art thou of the kings, nurtured of Zeus, for ever is strife dear to thee and wars and fightings. Though thou be very valiant, a god, I ween, gave thee this. Get thee home with thy ships and thy men, and lord it over thy Myrmidons; for thee I care not, neither reck of thy wrath. And this shall be my threat to thee: seeing that Phoebus Apollo taketh from me the daughter of Chryses, her with a ship of mine and men of mine will I send back, but I will myself come to thy hut and take the fair-cheeked BriseÔs, that prize of thine; that thou mayest know full well how far mightier am I than thou, and another too may shrink from declaring himself my peer and likening himself to me to my face."

So he spake, and grief came upon the son of Peleus, and within his shaggy breast his heart was divided in counsel, whether he should draw his sharp sword from beside his thigh, and break up the gathering, and himself slay the son of Atreus, or should stay his wrath and curb his spirit. While he pondered thus in mind and heart, and was drawing from its sheath his great sword, Athene came from heaven, sent forth of the goddess, white-armed Hera, for in her heart she loved them both alike and had care of them. She took her stand behind him, and caught the son of Peleus by his golden hair, making herself to be seen of him alone, and of the rest no man beheld her. And Achilles was seized with wonder, and turned him about, and forthwith knew Pallas Athene; and terribly did her eyes flash. Then he spake to her with winged words, and said: "Why now art thou come again, daughter of Zeus, who beareth the aegis? Was it that thou mightest see the insolence of Agamemnon, son of Atreus? Nay, I will tell thee, and methinks this shall verily be brought to pass: through his own overweening pride shall he presently lose his life."

Then the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, answered him: "To stay thine anger, if so be thou wilt hearken, did I come from heaven, and the goddess, white-armed Hera, sent me forth, for in her heart she loves you both alike, and hath care of you. Nay, come, cease from strife, and let not thy hand draw the sword. With words indeed do thou taunt him, even as it shall be; for thus will I speak, and verily this thing shall be brought to pass: hereafter shall glorious gifts thrice as many be brought to thee by reason of this despite. Refrain thou, therefore, and hearken unto us."

Then in answer to her spake Achilles, swift of foot: "Needs must a man, goddess, observe the words of you twain, how wroth soever he be at heart, for so is it better. Whoso obeys the gods, to him do they gladly give ear."

He spake, and stayed his heavy hand on the silver hilt, and back into its sheath thrust the great sword, and disobeyed not the word of Athene; but she was forthwith gone to Olympus to the palace of Zeus, who beareth the aegis, to join the company of the other gods.

But the son of Peleus again addressed with violent words the son of Atreus, and in no wise ceased from his wrath: "Thou heavy with wine, thou with the front of a dog but the heart of a deer, never hast thou had courage to arm thee for battle with thy folk, or go forth to an ambush with the chiefs of the Achaeans. That seemeth to thee even as death. In sooth it is better far throughout the wide camp of the Achaeans to take for thyself the prize of him whosoever speaketh contrary to thee. Folk-devouring king, seeing thou rulest over men of naught; else, son of Atreus, wouldest thou now work insolence for the last time. But I will declare my word to thee, and will swear thereto a mighty oath: verily by this staff, that shall no more put forth leaves or shoots since at the first it left its stump among the mountains, neither shall it again grow green, for that the bronze hath stripped it of leaves and bark, and now the sons of the Achaeans that give judgment bear it in their hands, even they that guard the dooms by ordinance of Zeus; and this shall be for thee a mighty oath:óverily shall a longing for Achilles some day come upon the sons of the Achaeans one and all, and in that day shalt thou in no wise be able to help them for all thy grief, when many shall fall in death before man-slaying Hector. But thou shalt gnaw thy heart within thee in wrath that thou didst honour no whit the best of the Achaeans."

So spake the son of Peleus, and down to the earth he dashed the staff studded with golden nails, and himself sate him down; while over against him the son of Atreus continued to vent his wrath. Then among them uprose Nestor, sweet of speech, the clear-voiced orator of the men of Pylos, he from whose tongue flowed speech sweeter than honey. Two generations of mortal men had he ere now seen pass away, who of old had been born and reared with him in sacred Pylos, and he was king among the third. He with good intent addressed their gathering and spake among them: "Fie upon you ! In good sooth is great grief come upon the land of Achaea. Priam verily would rejoice and the sons of Priam, and the rest of the Trojans would be right glad at heart were they to hear all this tale of the strife of you twain who are chiefest of all the Danaans in counsel and chiefest in war. Nay, hearken unto me; ye are both younger than I. Ere now have I consorted with warriors that were better men than ye, and never did they set me at naught. Such warriors have I never since seen, nor shall see, as Peirithous was and Dryas, shepherd of the host, and Caeneus and Exadius and godlike Polyphemus, and Theseus, son of Aegeus, peer of the immortals. Mightiest were these of all men reared upon the earth; mightiest were they, and with the mightiest did they fight, even with the centaurs that had their lairs among the mountains, and in terrible wise did they destroy them. With these men I had fellowship, when I had come from Pylos, from afar from a distant land; for of themselves they called me. And in fight I took my part as mine own man; but with them could no man fight of all mortals that now are upon the earth. Aye, and they hearkened to my counsel, and gave ear to my words. Even so do ye also hearken, for to hearken is better. Neither do thou, mighty though thou art, seek to take from him the girl, but let her be, even as at the first the sons of the Achaeans gave him her as a prize; nor do thou, son of Peleus, be minded to strive with a king, might against might, for it is no common honour that is the portion of a sceptred king to whom Zeus giveth glory. Though thou be valiant, and a goddess mother bare thee, yet he is the mightier, seeing he is king over more. Son of Atreus, do thou check thy rage; nay, even I beg thee to let go thine anger against Achilles, who is for all the Achaeans a mighty bulwark of evil war."

Then in answer to him spake lord Agamemnson: "Yea, verily, old sire, all this hast thou spoken according to right. But this man is minded to be above all others; over all is he minded to hold sway and be king among all, and to all give orders; wherein there is one, methinks, that will not obey him. If the gods that are for ever made him a warrior, do they therefore set him on to utter revilings? "

Then goodly Achilles brake in upon him, and said: "Aye, for I should bear the name of coward and man of naught, if I am to yield to thee in every matter, howsoeíer thou bid. On others lay thou these commands, but give no orders to me, for me- thinks I shall obey thee no more. And another thing will I tell thee, and do thou lay it to heart: by might of hand will I strive for the girlís sake neither with thee nor with any other, seeing ye do but take away what ye gave. But of all else that is mine by my swift black ship shalt thou take or bear away naught in my despite. Nay, come, make trial, that these too may know: forthwith shall thy dark blood flow forth about my spear."

So when the twain had made an end of contending with violent words, they rose, and broke up the gathering beside the ships of the Achaeans. The son of Peleus went his way to his huts and his shapely ships together with the son of Menoetius, and with his men; but the son of Atreus let launch a swift ship on the sea, and chose therefor twenty rowers, and drave on board a hecatomb for the god, and brought the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses and set her in the ship; and Odysseus of many wiles went on board to take command.

So these embarked and sailed over the watery ways; but the son of Atreus bade the host purify itself. And they purified themselves, and cast the defilement into the sea, and offered to Apollo acceptable hecatombs of bulls and goats by the shore of the unresting sea; and the savour thereof went up to heaven, eddying amid the smoke.

Thus were they busied throughout the camp; howbeit Agamemnon ceased not from the strife wherewith he had at the first threatened Achilles, but called to Talthybius and Eurybates, who were his heralds and ready squires, saying: "Go ye to the hut of Achilles, Peleus'son, and take by the hand the fair-cheeked BriseÔs, and lead her hither; and if he give her not, I will myself go with a larger company and take her; that will be even the worse for him."

So saying, he sent them forth, and laid upon them a stern command. Unwilling went the two along the shore of the unresting sea, and came to the huts and the ships of the Myrmidons. Him they found sitting beside his hut and his black ship; nor was Achilles glad at sight of them. And the twain, seized with dread, and in awe of the king, stood, and spake no word to him, nor made question; but he knew in his heart, and spake, saying: "Hail, heralds, messengers of Zeus and men, draw near. It is not ye that are guilty in my sight, but Agamemnon, who sent you forth for the sake of the girl, BriseÔs. Yet come, Patroclus, sprung from Zeus, bring forth the girl, and give her to them to lead away. Howbeit, let these twain themselves be witnesses before the blessed gods and mortal men, aye, and before him, that ruthless king, if so be hereafter there shall be need of me to ward off shameful ruin from the host. In good sooth he rageth with baneful mind, and knoweth not at all to look at once before and after, that so his Achaeans might wage war in safety beside their ships."

So spake he, and Patroclus gave ear to his dear comrade, and led forth from the hut the fair-cheeked , and gave her to them to lead away. So the twain went back beside the ships of the Achaeans, and with them, all unwilling, went the woman. But Achilles forthwith burst into tears, and withdrew apart from his comrades, and sate him down on the shore of the grey sea, looking forth over the wine-dark deep; and earnestly did he pray to his dear mother with hands outstretched: "My mother, seeing thou didst bear me, though to so brief a span of life, honour surely ought the Olympian to have given into my hands, even Zeus that thundereth on high; but now hath he honoured me, no not a whit. Yea verily, the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon hath done me dishonour; for he hath taken away and holdeth my prize through his own arrogant act."

So he spake, weeping, and his queenly mother heard him, as she sat in the depths of the sea beside the old man, her father. And speedily she came forth from the grey sea like a mist, and sate her down before his face, as he wept; and she stroked him with her hand, and spake to him, and called him by name: "My child, why weepest thou? What sorrow hath come upon thy heart? Speak out; hide it not in thy mind, that we both may know."

Then with heavy moaning spake to her Achilles, swift of foot: "Thou knowest. Why, in truth, should I tell the tale to thee who knowest all ? We went forth to Thebe, the sacred city of EÎtion, and laid it waste, and brought hither all the spoil. This the sons of the Achaeans divided aright among themselves, but for the son of Atreus they chose out the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses. Howbeit, Chryses, priest of Apollo, that smiteth afar, came to the swift ships of the brazen-coated Achaeans, to win freedom for his daughter, and he brought ransom past counting, bearing in his hands the fillets of Apollo, that smiteth afar, on a staff of gold, and he made prayer to all the Achaeans, but most of all to the two sons of Atreus, the marshallers of the host. Then all the rest of the Achaeans shouted assent, bidding reverence the priest and accept the glorious ransom; yet the thing pleased not the heart of Agamenmon, son of Atreus, but he sent him away harshly, and laid upon him a stern command. So the old man went back again in wrath; and Apollo heard his prayer, for he was very dear to him, and sent against the Argives an evil shaft. Then the folk began to die thick and fast, and the shafts of the god ranged everywhere throughout the wide camp of the Achaeans. Howbeit to us the prophet with sure knowledge declared the oracles of the god that smiteth afar. Forthwith, then, I, the first, bade propitiate the god, but thereafter wrath laid hold of the son of Atreus, and straightway he arose and spoke a threatening word, that hath now been brought to pass. For the bright-eyed Achaeans are taking the maiden in a swift ship to Chryse, and are bearing gifts to the god; while that other have heralds but now taken from my hut and led away, even the daughter of Briseus, whom the sons of the Achaeans gave me. But, if so be thou hast power, guard thou thine own son; hie thee to Olympus and make prayer to Zeus, if ever thou hast made glad his heart by word or deed. Full often have I heard thee glorying in the halls of my father, and declaring that thou alone among the immortals didst ward off shameful ruin from the son of Cronos, lord of the dark clouds, on the day when the other Olympians were fain to put him in bonds, even Hera and Poseidon and Pallas Athene. But thou camest, goddess, and didst loose him from his bonds, when thou hadst with speed called to high Olympus him of the hundred hands, whom the gods call Briareus, but all men Aegaeon; for he is mightier than his father. He sate him down by the side of the son of Cronos, exulting in his glory, and the blessed gods were seized with fear of him, and bound not Zeus. This do thou now bring to his remembrance, and sit thee by his side, and clasp his knees, in hope that he may haply be minded to succour the Trojans, and for those others, the Achaeans, to pen them in among the sterns of their ships and around the sea as they are slain, to the end that they may all have profit of their king, and that the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon may know his blindness in that he honoured no whit the best of the Achaeans."

Then Thetis made answer to him, shedding tears the while: "Ah me, my child, why did I rear thee, cursed in my child-bearing? Would that it had been thy lot to abide by thy ships without tears and without grief, seeing thy span of life is brief and endureth no long time; but now art thou doomed to a speedy death and withal art compassed with sorrow above all men; therefore to an evil fate did I bear thee in our halls. Yet to tell this thy saying to Zeus who hurleth the thunderbolt will I myself go to snowy Olympus, in hope that he may hearken. But do thou tarry by thy swift, sea-faring ships, and continue thy wrath against the Achaeans, and refrain thee utterly from battle; for Zeus went yesterday to Oceanus, to the blameless Ethiopians for a feast, and all the gods followed with him; howbeit on the twelfth day he will come back again to Olympus, and then will I go to the house of Zeus with threshold of bronze, and will clasp his knees in prayer, and methinks I shall win him."

So saying, she went her way and left him where he was, wroth at heart for the fair-girdled womanís sake, whom they had taken from him by force in his despite; and meanwhile Odysseus came to Chryse bringing the holy hecatomb. When they were now got within the deep harbour, they furled the sail, and stowed it in the black ship, and the mast they lowered by the forestays and brought it to the crutch with speed, and rowed her with oars to the place of anchorage. Then they cast out the mooring stones and made fast the stern cables, and themselves went forth upon the shore of the sea. Forth they brought the hecatomb for Apollo, that smiteth afar, and forth stepped also the daughter of Chryses from the sea-faring ship. Her then did Odysseus of many wiles lead to the altar, and place in the arms of her dear father, saying unto him: "Chryses, Agamemnon, king of men, sent me forth to bring to thee thy daughter, and to offer to Phoebus a holy hecatomb on the Danaans'behalf, that therewith we may propitiate the king, who hath now brought upon the Argives woes and lamentation."

So saying he placed her in his arms, and he joyfully took his dear child; but they made haste to set in array for the god the holy hecatomb around the well- built altar, and thereafter they washed their hands, and took up the barley grains. Then Chryses lifted up his hands, and prayed aloud for them: "Hear me, thou of the silver bow, who dost stand over Chryse and holy Cilla, and dost rule mightily over Tenedos. Even as aforetime thou didst hear me when I prayed óto me thou didst do honour, and didst mightily smite the host of the Achaeansó even so now do thou fulfil me this my desire: ward thou off now from the Danaans the loathly pestilence."

So he spake in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him. Then, when they had prayed, and had sprinkled the barley grains, they first drew back the victims'heads, and cut their throats, and flayed them, and cut out the thighs and covered them with a double layer of fat, and laid raw flesh thereon. And the old man burned them on billets of wood, and made libation over them of flaming wine; and beside him the young men held in their hands the five-pronged forks. But when the thigh-pieces were wholly burned, and they had tasted of the inner parts, they cut up the rest and spitted it, and roasted it carefully, and drew all off the spits. Then, when they had ceased from their labour and had made ready the meal, they feasted, nor did their hearts lack aught of the equal feast. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, the youths filled the bowls brim full of drink and served out to all, first pouring drops for libation into the cups. So the whole day long they sought to appease the god with song, singing the beautiful paean, the sons of the Achaeans, hymning the god that worketh afar; and his heart was glad, as he heard.

But when the sun set and darkness came on, they laid them down to rest by the stern cables of the ship. and as soon as early Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered, then they set sail for the wide camp of the Achaeans. And Apollo, that worketh afar, sent them a favouring wind, and they set up the mast and spread the white sail. So the wind filled the belly of the sail, and the dark wave sang loudly about the stem of the ship, as she went, and she sped over the wave, accomplishing her way. But when they were come to the wide camp of the Achaeans, they drew the black ship up on the shore, high upon the sands, and set in line the long props beneath, and themselves scattered among the huts and ships.

But he in his wrath abode beside his swift-faring ships, the heaven-sprung son of Peleus, Achilles, swift of foot. Never did he go forth unto the place of gathering, where men win glory, nor ever unto war, but made his own heart to waste, as he tarried where he was; and he longed for the war-cry and the battle.

Now when the twelfth morn thereafter was come, then unto Olympus fared the gods that are for ever, all in one company, and Zeus led the way. And Thetis forgat not the behest of her son, but uprose from the wave of the sea, and at early morn mounted up to great heaven and Olympus. There she found the son of Cronos, whose voice is borne afar, as he sat apart from the rest upon the topmost peak of many-ridged Olympus. So she sate her down before him, and laid hold of his knees with her left hand, while with her right she clasped him beneath the chin, and she spake in prayer to king Zeus, son of Cronos: "Father Zeus, if ever amid the immortals I gave thee aid by word or deed, fulfil thou me this prayer: do honour to my son, who is doomed to a speedy death beyond all men beside; yet now hath Agamemnon, king of men, put dishonour upon him, for he has taken and keepeth his prize by his own arrogant act. But do thou show him honour, 0lympian Zeus, lord of counsel; for thus long do thou give might to the Troj ans, even until the Achaeans do honour to my son, and magnify him with recompense."

So said she; howbeit Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, spake no word to her, but sat long time in silence. Yet Thetis, even as she had clasped his knees, so held to him, clinging close, and questioned him again a second time: "Promise me now this thing in very sooth and bow thine head thereto, or else deny me, for there is naught to make thee afraid; that I may know full well how far I among all the gods am honoured the least."

Then, greatly troubled, Zeus, the cloud-gatherer spake to her: "Verily here will be sorry work, seeing thou wilt set me on to engage in strife with Hera, whenso she shall anger me with taunting words. Even now is she wont ever to upbraid me among the immortal gods, and to declare that I give aid to the Trojans in battle. But do thou for this present depart again, lest Hera mark aught; and I will take thought for these things to bring all to pass. Nay, come, I will bow my head to thee, that thou mayest be certain, for this from me is the surest token among the immortals; no word of mine may be recalled, nor is false, nor unfulfilled, whereto I bow my head."

The son of Cronos spake, and bowed his dark brow in assent, and the ambrosial locks waved from the kingís immortal head; and he made great Olympus to quake.

When the twain had taken counsel together on this wise, they parted; she leapt straightway into the deep sea from gleaming Olympus, and Zeus went to his own palace. All the gods together rose from their seats before the face of their father; neither did any dare to await his coming, but they all rose up before him. So he sate him down there upon his throne; but Hera saw. and failed not to mark how that silver-food Thetis, daughter of the old man of the sea, had taken counsel with him. Forthwith then she spake to Zeus, son of Cronos, with mocking words: "Who of the gods, thou crafty one, hath now again taken counsel with thee? Ever is it thy good pleasure to hold aloof from me, and to give judgments which thou hast pondered in secret, nor hast thou ever brought thyself with a ready heart to declare unto me the matter which dost purpose."

Then made answer to her the father of men and gods: "Hera, think not that thou shalt know all my words: hard will they prove for thee, my wife though thou art. Nay, whatso it is fitting thou shouldest hear, this none other shall know before thee, whether of gods or men; but what I am minded to purpose apart from the gods, of all this do thou not in any wise make question, nor ask thereof."

Then made to him the ox-eyed, queenly Hera: "Most dread son of Cronos, what a word hast thou said! Yea, verily, of old have I not been wont to ask thee nor make question, but at thine ease thou devisest all things whatsoever thou wilt. But now I have wondrous dread at heart, lest silver-footed Thetis, daughter of the old man of the sea, have beguiled thee; for at early dawn she sat by thee and clasped thy knees. To her, methinks, thou didst bow thine head in sure token that thou wilt honour Achilles, and brig many to death beside the ships of the Achaeans."

Then in answer to her spake Zeus, the cloud-gatherer: "Strange queen, ever art thou imagining, and I escape thee not; yet shalt thou in no wise have power to accomplish aught, but shalt be the further from my heart, and that shall be even the worse for thee. If this thing is as thou sayest, then must it be my good pleasure. Nay, sit thee down in silence, and hearken to my word, lest all the gods that are in Olympus avail thee not against my drawing near, whenso I put forth upon thee my irresistible hands."

He spake , and ox-eyed, queenly Hera was seized with fear, and sate her down in silence, curbing her heart. Then troubled were the gods of heaven throughout the palace of Zeus, and among them Hephaestus, the famed craftsman, was first to speak, doing pleasure to his dear mother, white-armed Hera: "Verily, here will be sorry work, that is not more to be borne, if ye twain are to wrangle thus for mortals' sakes, and set the gods in tumult; neither will there any wise be joy in the goodly feast, seeing worser things prevail. And I give counsel to my mother, wise though she be herself, to do pleasure to our dear father Zeus, that the father upbraid her not again, and bring confusion upon our feast. What and if the Olympian, the lord of the lightning, be minded to dash us from our seats! for he is mightiest far. Nay, bespeak thou with gentle words; so shall the Olympian forthwith be gracious unto us."

So saying, he sprang up and placed in his dear mother's hand the double cup, and spake to her: "Be of good cheer, my mother, and endure for all thy grief, lest, dear as thou art to me, mine eyes behold thee smitten, and then I shall in no wise be able to succour thee for all my sorrow; for a hard foe is the Olympian to meet in strife. Yea, on a time ere this, when I was fain to save thee, he caught me by the foot and hurled me from the heavenly threshold; the whole day long was I borne headlong, and at set of sun I fell in Lemnos, and but little life was in me. There did the Sintian folk make haste to tend me for my fall."

So spake he, and the goddess, white-armed Hera, smiled, and smiling took in her hand the cup from her son. Then he poured wine for all the other gods from left to right, drawing forth sweet nectar from the bowl. And laughter unquenchable arose among the blessed gods, as they saw Hephaestus puffing through the palace.

Thus the whole day long till set of sun they feasted, nor did their heart lack aught of the aqual feast, nor of the beauteous lyre, that Apollo held, nor yet of the Muses, that sang, replying one to the other with sweet vioces.

But when the bright light of the sun was set, they went each to his own house to take their rest, where for each one a palace hand been builded with cunning skill by the famed Hephaestus, the god of the two strong arms; and Zeus, the Olympian, lord of the lightning, went to his souch, where of old he was wont to take his rest, when sweet sleep came upon him. There went he up and slept, and beside him lay Hera of the golden throne.