Among the army, that the people died: To all the Greeks he prayed, but most of all 15 20 "O Atreus' sons, and bravely-harnessed Greeks! The gods, whose dwelling is Olympus, grant That ye may sack Priam's city, and regain Your homes rejoicing! Yea and unto me May give my child, my own, and take her price, 25 Since great is Zeus's son, the god who smites from far." Forthwith from all the host came loud ac claim: "Take the rich ransom, reverence the priest." The soul of Agamemnon, Atreus' son, Alone it liked not: scornfully he bade him 30 Begone, and laid on him a hard command. "Let me not find thee by the hollow ships Or lingering now, old man, or yet again Returning! Little shall avail thee then Apollo's staff and emblem. For the girl, 35 I yield her not, till old age come on her From her own country; while she plies the loom And tends my bed. But go, provoke me not: So peradventure shall we part in peace." 40 So spake he; and the old man feared, and did His bidding. Mute he moved along the shore, Among the noises of the boisterous sea: And there, apart from men, prayed many a prayer To gold-haired Leto's son, his King, Apollo. 45 "Oh hear me, thou who standest round about Chryse and sacred Cilla-mighty lord Of Tenedos, who wield'st the silver bow! 5° And oxen then accomplish this my prayer: And let thy shafts avenge my tears upon the Greeks." So prayed he, and Apollo heard his prayer. The bow, and quiver covered all around. The arrows, as he stirred him: on he came Like night: and by the ships he sate him down. 60 Next at their own flesh levelling his keen dart Smote, and for aye burned on the thick-strown pyres of slain. Nine days his arrows went abroad among The host: and on the tenth Achilles called The folk to council. Moved thereto was he By Herè, white-armed goddess; for she saw Achaians dying, and it pitied her. 65 70 To whom when met, and ranged in meet conclave, Achilles swift of foot arose and spake. "Oh sons of Atreus! Now, I trow, will we Turn us again, and drift-if flee we may From death-ev'n thither whence we came: since war And pestilence at once lay low the Greeks. 75 But hearken. Seek we now some seer, or priest; He doth rebuke us: should it be his will, 80 He spake and sate him down. Then rose to them High chief of augurs, Calchas, Thestor's son, 85 Who knew what is and was and is to be, Who into Ilion piloted the Greeks, By virtue of his art, Apollo's gift. He friendly-minded rose and spake in the midst. "Lo! thou command'st me, oh beloved of Zeus, Achilles, to declare Apollo's wrath, 91 95 The far-off-smiting King. Now therefore I And then Achilles swift of foot replied. "The thing that thou dost know take heart and speak." For by Apollo, loved of Zeus, whom thou, Oh Calchas, worshipping interpretest Unto the Danaans the things of God :— 105 Who vaunts himself this day the chiefest Greek." |