'Neath his rough breast was this way rent and

that.

Should he, his keen sword drawing from his thigh, Scatter the multitude and slay the King?

216

Or curb his spirit, and forego his wrath?
This was he turning in his brain and breast,
His great sword half unscabbarded; when lo!
From heaven Athenè came: a messenger
From white-armed Herè, to whose soul both chiefs
Were dear and precious. In the rear she stood,
And grasped Achilles by his yellow hair:

220

Seen by him only-all the rest were blind.
He marvelling, turned round: and straightway knew
Pallas Athenè; dreadful gleamed her eyes.
And thus he spake to her with winged words.

226

"Why com'st thou, child of Ægis-armèd Zeus? To witness Agamemnon's insolence?

This say I, and methinks 'twill come to pass. 230 One day he'll perish in his pride of heart.”

To whom the blue-eyed goddess spake again. "To stay thine anger, if so be thou'lt hear

My voice, I came from heaven: a messenger

From white-armed Herè, to whose soul both chiefs Are dear and precious. But leave off from strife,

And draw not forth the sword: but with thy

tongue

Only revile him, as it needs must be.

For this I say, and this shall come to pass.

Trebled shall one day be thy rich reward

237

240

All through this insult. Hear then, and be calm."

Again Achilles swift of foot replied.

"I must abide, oh goddess, by thy word, Though angered sore in soul: for this is right. To him that heeds them will the gods give ear."

He said, and hearkening to Athenè, stayed 246 Ev'n on the silver hilt, his ponderous hand. Heavenward meanwhile she had flown, to join her

peers

Up in the home of Ægis-armèd Zeus.

Then straight Achilles spake with harmful words

To Atreus' son, nor put his anger by.

251

"Oh gorged with wine! dog-faced, but hind at heart!
To arm thee with the people for the fray
Or with our captains crouch in ambuscade
Ne'er hadst thou courage. That were death to

thee!

255

Better no doubt to range the broad host through,
And confiscate his prize who saith thee nay.
Thou glutton King! Thou rulest men of straw!
Else, son of Atreus, thou hadst bragged thy last.
But this I say and swear it with an oath.
Yea by this staff where never leaf nor branch
May grow, since first 'twas sundered from the

trunk

Upon the mountains, ne'er to blossom more

260

(For that the axe hath stripped off bud and bark)—

Now in their hands the children of the Greeks 265
Bear it, who sit in judgment; whom Zeus calls
To guard the right; and men shall swear thereby—
The children of the Greeks shall one day long
All, for Achilles. Thou shalt grieve, but find
No succour; while 'neath slaughtering Hector's

hand

270

Fall, and die, troops: but sit and gnash thy teeth, Mad that thou sett'st at naught the noblest Greek."

Achilles spake and flung to earth his staff Studded with golden nails; and sate him down. The King sat o'er against him gathering wrath. Then up sprang Nestor of the gracious tongue, 276 Clear orator of Pylos, from whose lips

Dropped music sweeter than the honeycomb.
Two generations now of speaking men

Had he seen born and bred and passed away 280
In sacred Pylos: and he ruled a third.

Who friendly-minded rose and spake in the midst.

"Lo! a great sorrow comes upon our land. Sure now would Priam and Priam's sons rejoice, And every Trojan laugh within his heart, Could he bút learn how ye twain are at strife, The first of Greeks in council and in war.

285

But hear me. I can count more years than you.

Time was, when with a nobler race than ours
I mated: and they thought not scorn of me. 290

For ne'er yet saw I, nor shall see, their likes,

Cæneus, Pirithöus, Exadius,

Dryas, who led the people as a flock,

And Polyphemus, equal of the gods,

And Theseus, Ægeus' son, a very god.

295

These were the mightiest of the sons of earth. Mightiest themselves, they fought with mightiest

foes,

The Beasts of the Hill, and slew them horribly.
And I, to mate with these, from Pylos came,
From a far country; for they bade me come. 300
I fought for my own hand. No mortal man,
As men are now, would list to fight with such.
And they my counsels heard, my voice obeyed.
Ye too obey me. To obey is good.

Nor thou, thou mighty, take the maid away, 305
But quit her, since the Greeks first made her his.
Nor thou, Achilles, stand against the King

And strive: for never honour like to his

Had sceptred King, whose glory is of Zeus.

So, son of Atreus, stay thy rage. And him, 310 Our mighty rampart against evil war,

I do beseech to put his anger by."