Chose out fair-cheeked Briseis. Thereupon

Came Chryses, priest of him who smites from far,
Ev'n to the war-ships of the steel-clad Greeks,

With ransom measureless to buy his child:
And in his hands Apollo's emblem sat,

The Smiter's, high upon a staff of gold.

To all the Greeks he prayed, but chief of all
To Atreus' sons, twin captains of the host.-

410

Forthwith from all the Greeks came loud acclaim:

Take the rich ransom, reverence the priest.' 415 The soul of Agamemnon, Atreus' son,

Alone it liked not: scornfully he bade him

Begone, and laid on him a hard command.

"Back went in wrath that old man and his

prayer

Apollo heard, because he loved him well:

And hurled his fell shaft on us; heaps on heaps
The people died. Amongst Achaia's hosts
His arrows went abroad. Then spake the seer,
Who knew it well, the Far-destroyer's will.

420

"My voice first bid them reconcile the god. But rage seized Atreus' son. He rose up straight, 426 And threatened that which, lo! is brought to pass.

430

For her the keen-eyed Greeks are carrying now
To Chryse in yon war-ship: but that other,
Briseis-whom the children of the Greeks
Gave to my hand-the heralds from my tent
Have but this instant taken, and are gone.—
Now stand by thy brave son, if stand thou mayest.
Hie thee to heaven; pray Zeus-if ever word
Or deed of thine made glad the soul of Zeus:—
For in my father's halls I have heard thee tell

Of times when of immortals thou alone

436

Didst shield from foul destruction him who dwells

In darkness and in clouds, Croníon named;
When Herè, Pallas, and Poseidon-all

440

The blessed gods-would bind him. Thou didst

come,

Goddess, and loose his bonds, and summon quick Into the broad heaven him of hundred hands

Gods call him Briareus, Ægeon men

Him who excels in bodily force his sire.

By Zeus he sate down, glorying in his might.

445

Cowed were the blessed gods, and bound him not.

"Remember this: sit near him: clasp his knees:

Pray that he find some way to succour Troy:

And them-the Greeks-push ev'n to their ships'

sterns,

To die amid the waters, that all know

450

How much they owe their King; and Atreus' son,
Broad-realmèd Agamemnon, learn how mad
Was he, to set at naught the noblest Greek."

And Thetis answered, letting fall a tear. 455
Why did I rear thee, born-alas my son!-
In sorrow? Would that tearless and unpained
Thou wert sitting by thy ships: for lo! thy life
Is but a little while, a little while.

Now passing sad thy days, as passing brief: 460
Surely in evil hour I brought thee forth.
But with this tale I go to those snowpeaks,
To Zeus, whose plaything is the thunderbolt,
Will he but hear me. Thou by thy swift ships
Sit, curse the Greeks, and stay thy hand from war.
For Zeus to the good Ethiops yesterday,

466

To ocean, went, with all the gods, to feast.

The twelfth day he'll return Olympusward.
Then to his brassfloored palace will I go,

And clasp his knees; and surely he'll repent." 470

She said: and vanishing left him, vexed at

heart

All for that graceful maiden, whom by force

And violence they had ta'en.

Odysseus reached

Chryse meanwhile, with holy sacrifice.

Now, the deep harbour gained, they furled and

stowed

475

In the dark ship their sails; placed mast in crutch,
Lowered on stays all swiftly; and the rowers
Into her moorings rowed her. Anchor-stones
They cast out next, and made the hawsers fast,
And leapt out on the sea-strand; and bore forth 480
The holy sacrifice: and last stepped out
From the sea-travelling ship that damsel fair.
Whom to the altar led the wily chief,

Placed in her father's hand her hand, and spake.

"Priest! Atreus' son hath sent me, King of

men,

To bring thy child, and holy sacrifice

Make for the Greeks; and reconcile the King,

Who now brings many sorrows on the host."

485

He spake, and gave her to his hand: who took His child rejoicing. Swiftly then they ranged 490 Round the fair altar that brave sacrifice :

Held up, with washen hands, the barley grains:

And then with lifted arm the priest made solemn

prayer.

"Oh! hear me, thou who standest round about Chryse and sacred Cilla: mighty lord

Of Tenedos, who wield'st the silver bow!

and sore,

495

Surely thou heard'st me heretofore;
To honour me, didst plague Achaia's hosts.
And now accomplish this, ev'n this my prayer.
destruction shield this day the

From

foul Greeks."

So spake he and Apollo heard his prayer.

:

500

They having knelt, and strewed the barley grains,
Drew back the victim's head, and slew, and flayed,
And cut the thighs off, and around them wrapped
The fat in layers, and sprinkled flesh thereon.
These the sire burned on wood; poured sparkling

505

wine,

The warriors standing by with fivepronged forks: