The story of the Iliad

by Alfred John Church; Homer

Then Achilles stood up, and spake: "It was ill done, son of Atreus, that we strove for a woman! Would that Artemis had slain her with an arrow on the day when I took her captive! Many a Greek who hath now bitten the ground had then lived, and the Trojans had not reaped such profit from our wrath. But come, let the past be past. Here I make an end of my anger. And now make haste, and send the Greeks to battle. Let us see whether the men of Troy will camp beside the ships."

Then said Agamemnon, speaking from his place: "Listen, ye Greeks. Oft have ye blamed me for this quarrel. Yet it was not I that was in fault; rather it was Zeus and Fate, and the Fury that walketh in darkness. But to thee, Achilles, I make full amends, for here I offer thee the gifts which Ulysses promised thee yesterday. Stay for a time, while my people bring them from my ships."

To him Achilles made answer: "Give thy gifts, O King, if it be thy will, or keep them to thyself. But let us turn without delay to the battle."

Then spake the wise Ulysses: "Achilles, urge not the Greeks to enter fasting into the battle: for verily the strife will not be short. A man that hath not eaten cannot fight till set of sun, for his limbs grow heavy unawares, and he is hindered by hunger and thirst. Bid, therefore, the people disperse, and make ready their food. Meanwhile, let King Agamemnon send for the gifts and deliver them to thee in full assembly. And afterwards let him furnish a feast."

Then said the King: "Thou speakest well, Ulysses. Do them thyself fetch the gifts, and let the herald fetch us a boar, that we may do sacrifice to Zeus and to the Sun."

But Achilles said: "Now the dead whom Hector slew lieth low, and ye bid me think of food. Let the Greeks enter fasting into battle, and make them a great supper when the sun goes down. As for me, neither food nor drink shall pass my lips."

To him Ulysses made reply: "Thou art the stronger, son of Peleus, yet I may be the wiser, for I am older than thou, and of more experience. Ask not the Greeks to fast because of the dead. Verily they fall every day. Rather let us bury him that dieth, and bewail him for a day, and harden our hearts to forget: and then let us who are left eat and drink, that we may fight with better heart."

Then did Ulysses go to the tent of the King; and they brought thence the gifts, the treasure, and twelve horses, and seven women, skilled workers with the needle, and the fair Briseis the eighth.

These the Myrmidons took to the tent of Achilles. But when Briseis saw Patroclus, she beat her breast and her fair face and neck, and wailed aloud, for he had been gentle and good, she said. And all the women wailed with her, thinking each of her own sorrows.

Then the chiefs would have Achilles feast with them; but he hearkened not, for he would neither eat nor drink till he had had vengeance for the dead. And he spake, saying: "Often, Patroclus, hast thou ordered the feast when we were hastening to the war. And now thou liest slain, and for grief for thee I cannot eat nor drink. For greater sorrow could not have come to me. Often did I think that I only should perish here, but that thou shouldst return and show my son all that was mine, goods and servants and palace."