Odius　and　Eurybates　go　with　them。　Now　bring　water　for　our　hands；　and
  bid　all　keep　silence　while　we　pray　to　Jove　the　son　of　Saturn；　if　so　be
  that　he　may　have　mercy　upon　us。〃
  Thus　did　he　speak；　and　his　saying　pleased　them　well。　Men…servants
  poured　water　over　the　hands　of　the　guests；　while　pages　filled　the
  mixing…bowls　with　wine　and　water；　and　handed　it　round　after　giving
  every　man　his　drink…offering；　then；　when　they　had　made　their
  offerings；　and　had　drunk　each　as　much　as　he　was　minded；　the　envoys　set
  out　from　the　tent　of　Agamemnon　son　of　Atreus；　and　Nestor；　looking
  first　to　one　and　then　to　another；　but　most　especially　at　Ulysses；
  was　instant　with　them　that　they　should　prevail　with　the　noble　son　of
  Peleus。
  They　went　their　way　by　the　shore　of　the　sounding　sea；　and　prayed
  earnestly　to　earth…encircling　Neptune　that　the　high　spirit　of　the
  son　of　Aeacus　might　incline　favourably　towards　them。　When　they　reached
  the　ships　and　tents　of　the　Myrmidons；　they　found　Achilles　playing　on　a
  lyre；　fair；　of　cunning　workmanship；　and　its　cross…bar　was　of　silver。
  It　was　part　of　the　spoils　which　he　had　taken　when　he　sacked　the　city
  of　Eetion；　and　he　was　now　diverting　himself　with　it　and　singing　the
  feats　of　heroes。　He　was　alone　with　Patroclus；　who　sat　opposite　to
  him　and　said　nothing；　waiting　till　he　should　cease　singing。　Ulysses
  and　Ajax　now　came　in…　Ulysses　leading　the　way　…and　stood　before　him。
  Achilles　sprang　from　his　seat　with　the　lyre　still　in　his　hand；　and
  Patroclus；　when　he　saw　the　strangers；　rose　also。　Achilles　then　greeted
  them　saying；　〃All　hail　and　welcome…　you　must　come　upon　some　great
  matter；　you；　who　for　all　my　anger　are　still　dearest　to　me　of　the
  Achaeans。〃
  With　this　he　led　them　forward；　and　bade　them　sit　on　seats　covered
  with　purple　rugs；　then　he　said　to　Patroclus　who　was　close　by　him；　〃Son
  of　Menoetius；　set　a　larger　bowl　upon　the　table；　mix　less　water　with
  the　wine；　and　give　every　man　his　cup；　for　these　are　very　dear　friends；
  who　are　now　under　my　roof。〃
  Patroclus　did　as　his　comrade　bade　him；　he　set　the　chopping…block
  in　front　of　the　fire；　and　on　it　he　laid　the　loin　of　a　sheep；　the
  loin　also　of　a　goat；　and　the　chine　of　a　fat　hog。　Automedon　held　the
  meat　while　Achilles　chopped　it；　he　then　sliced　the　pieces　and　put　them
  on　spits　while　the　son　of　Menoetius　made　the　fire　burn　high。　When
  the　flame　had　died　down；　he　spread　the　embers；　laid　the　spits　on　top
  of　them；　lifting　them　up　and　setting　them　upon　the　spit…racks；　and
  he　sprinkled　them　with　salt。　When　the　meat　was　roasted；　he　set　it　on
  platters；　and　handed　bread　round　the　table　in　fair　baskets；　while
  Achilles　dealt　them　their　portions。　Then　Achilles　took　his　seat　facing
  Ulysses　against　the　opposite　wall；　and　bade　his　comrade　Patroclus
  offer　sacrifice　to　the　gods；　so　he　cast　the　offerings　into　the　fire；
  and　they　laid　their　hands　upon　the　good　things　that　were　before
  them。　As　soon　as　they　had　had　enough　to　eat　and　drink；　Ajax　made　a
  sign　to　Phoenix；　and　when　he　saw　this；　Ulysses　filled　his　cup　with
  wine　and　pledged　Achilles。
  〃Hail；〃　said　he；　〃Achilles；　we　have　had　no　scant　of　good　cheer；
  neither　in　the　tent　of　Agamemnon；　nor　yet　here；　there　has　been
  plenty　to　eat　and　drink；　but　our　thought　turns　upon　no　such　matter。
  Sir；　we　are　in　the　face　of　great　disaster；　and　without　your　help
  know　not　whether　we　shall　save　our　fleet　or　lose　it。　The　Trojans　and
  their　allies　have　camped　hard　by　our　ships　and　by　the　wall；　they
  have　lit　watchfires　throughout　their　host　and　deem　that　nothing　can
  now　prevent　them　from　falling　on　our　fleet。　Jove；　moreover；　has　sent
  his　lightnings　on　their　right；　Hector；　in　all　his　glory；　rages　like
  a　maniac；　confident　that　Jove　is　with　him　he　fears　neither　god　nor
  man；　but　is　gone　raving　mad；　and　prays　for　the　approach　of　day。　He
  vows　that　he　will　hew　the　high　sterns　of　our　ships　in　pieces；　set　fire
  to　their　hulls；　and　make　havoc　of　the　Achaeans　while　they　are　dazed
  and　smothered　in　smoke；　I　much　fear　that　heaven　will　make　good　his
  boasting；　and　it　will　prove　our　lot　to　perish　at　Troy　far　from　our
  home　in　Argos。　Up；　then；　and　late　though　it　be；　save　the　sons　of　the
  Achaeans　who　faint　before　the　fury　of　the　Trojans。　You　will　repent
  bitterly　hereafter　if　you　do　not；　for　when　the　harm　is　done　there　will
  be　no　curing　it；　consider　ere　it　be　too　late；　and　save　the　Danaans
  from　destruction。
  〃My　good　friend；　when　your　father　Peleus　sent　you　from　Phthia　to
  Agamemnon；　did　he　not　charge　you　saying；　'Son；　Minerva　and　Juno　will
  make　you　strong　if　they　choose；　but　check　your　high　temper；　for　the
  better　part　is　in　goodwill。　Eschew　vain　quarrelling；　and　the
  Achaeans　old　and　young　will　respect　you　more　for　doing　so。'　These　were
  his　words；　but　you　have　forgotten　them。　Even　now；　however；　be
  appeased；　and　put　away　your　anger　from　you。　Agamemnon　will　make　you
  great　amends　if　you　will　forgive　him；　listen；　and　I　will　tell　you　what
  he　has　said　in　his　tent　that　he　will　give　you。　He　will　give　you
  seven　tripods　that　have　never　yet　been　on　the　fire；　and　ten　talents　of
  gold；　twenty　iron　cauldrons；　and　twelve　strong　horses　that　have　won
  races　and　carried　off　prizes。　Rich　indeed　both　in　land　and　gold　is
  he　who　has　as　many　prizes　as　these　horses　have　won　for　Agamemnon。
  Moreover　he　will　give　you　seven　excellent　workwomen；　Lesbians；　whom　he
  chose　for　himself；　when　you　took　Lesbos…　all　of　surpassing　beauty。
  He　will　give　you　these；　and　with　them　her　whom　he　erewhile　took　from
  you；　the　daughter　of　Briseus；　and　he　will　swear　a　great　oath；　he　has
  never　gone　up　into　her　couch　nor　been　with　her　after　the　manner　of　men
  and　women。　All　these　things　will　he　give　you　now　down；　and　if
  hereafter　the　gods　vouchsafe　him　to　sack　the　city　of　Priam；　you　can
  come　when　we　Achaeans　are　dividing　the　spoil；　and　load　your　ship
  with　gold　and　bronze　to　your　liking。　You　can　take　twenty　Trojan　women；
  the　loveliest　after　Helen　herself。　Then；　when　we　reach　Achaean
  Argos；　wealthiest　of　all　lands；　you　shall　be　his　son…in…law；　and　he
  will　show　you　like　honour　with　his　own　dear　son　Orestes；　who　is
  being　nurtured　in　all　abundance。　Agamemnon　has　three　daughters；
  Chrysothemis；　Laodice；　and　Iphianassa；　you　may　take　the　one　of　your
  choice；　freely　and　without　gifts　of　wooing；　to　the　house　of　Peleus；　he
  will　add　such　dower　to　boot　as　no　man　ever　yet　gave　his　daughter；
  and　will　give　you　seven　well…established　cities；　Cardamyle；　Enope；　and
  Hire　where　there　is　grass；　holy　Pheras　and　the　rich　meadows　of　Anthea；
  Aepea　also；　and　the　vine…clad　slopes　of　Pedasus；　all　near　the　sea；　and
  on　the　borders　of　sandy　Pylos。　The　men　that　dwell　there　are　rich　in
  cattle　and　sheep；　they　will　honour　you　with　gifts　as　though　were　a
  god；　and　be　obedient　to　your　comfortable　ordinances。　All　this　will
  he　do　if　you　will　now　forgo　your　anger。　Moreover；　though　you　hate　both
  him　and　his　gifts　with　all　your　heart；　yet　pity　the　rest　of　the
  Achaeans　who　are　being　harassed　in　all　their　host；　they　will　honour
  you　as　a　god；　and　you　will　earn　great　glory　at　their　hands。　You
  might　even　kill　Hector；　he　will　come　within　your　reach；　for　he　is
  infatuated；　and　declares　that　not　a　Danaan　whom　the　ships　have　brought
  can　hold　his　own　against　him。〃
  Achilles　answered；　〃Ulysses；　noble　son　of　Laertes；　I　should　give　you
  formal　notice　plainly　and　in　all　fixity　of　purpose　that　there　be　no
  more　of　this　cajoling；　from　whatsoever　quarter　it　may　come。　Him　do　I
  hate　even　as　the　gates　of　hell　who　says　one　thing　while　he　hides
  another　in　his　heart；　therefore　I　will　say　what　I　mean。　I　will　be
  appeased　neither　by　Agamemnon　son　of　Atreus　nor　by　any　other　of　the
  Danaans；　for　I　see　that　I　have　no　thanks　for　all　my　fighting。　He
  that　fights　fares　no　better　than　he　that　does　not；　coward　and　hero　are
  held　in　equal　honour；　and　death　deals　like　measure　to　him　who　works
  and　him　who　is　idle。　I　have　taken　nothing　by　all　my　hardships…　with　my
  life　ever　in　my　hand；　as　a　bird　when　she　has　found　a　morsel　takes　it
  to　her　nestlings；　and　herself　fares　hardly；　even　so　man　a　long　night
  have　I　been　wakeful；　and　many　a　bloody　battle　have　I　waged　by　day
  against　those　who　were　fighting　for　their　women。　With　my　ships　I
  have　taken　twelve　cities；　and　eleven　round　about　Troy　have　I　stormed
  with　my　men　by　land；　I　took　great　store　of　wealth　from　every　one　of
  them；　but　I　gave　all　up　to　Agamemnon　son　of　Atreus。　He　stayed　where　he
  was　by　his　ships；　yet　of　what　came　to　him　he　gave　little；　and　kept
  much　himself。
  〃Nevertheless　he　did　distribute　some　meeds　of　honour　among　the
  chieftains　and　kings；　and　these　have　them　still；　from　me　alone　of
  the　Achaeans　did　he　take　the　woman　in　whom　I　delighted…　let　him　keep
  her　and　sleep　with　her。　Why；　pray；　must　the　Argives　needs　fight　the
  Trojans？　What　made　the　son　of　Atreus　gather　the　host　and　bring　them？
  Was　it　not　for　the　sake　of　Helen？　Are　the　sons　of　Atreus　the　only
  men　in　the　world　who　love　their　wives？　Any　man　of　common　right　feeling
  will　love　and　cherish　her　who　is　his　own；　as　I　this　woman；　with　my
  whole　heart；　though　she　was　but　a　fruitling　of　my　spear。　Agamemnon　has
  taken　her　from　me；　he　has　played　me　false；　I　know　him；　let　him　tempt
  me　no　further；　for　he　shall　not　move　me。　Let　him　look　to　you；　Ulysses；
  and　to　the　other　princes　to　save　his　ships　from　burning。　He