The Iliad. Homer

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       To join th' Immortals in th' abode of Jove.

       But Peleus' son, with undiminish'd wrath,

       Atrides thus with bitter words address'd:

      "Thou sot, with eye of dog, and heart of deer!

       Who never dar'st to lead in armed fight

       Th' assembled host, nor with a chosen few

       To man the secret ambush—for thou fear'st

       To look on death—no doubt 'tis easier far,

       Girt with thy troops, to plunder of his right

       Whoe'er may venture to oppose thy will!

       A tyrant King, because thou rul'st o'er slaves!

       Were it not so, this insult were thy last.

       But this I say, and with an oath confirm,

       By this my royal staff, which never more

       Shall put forth leaf nor spray, since first it left

       Upon the mountain-side its parent stem,

       Nor blossom more; since all around the axe

       Hath lopp'd both leaf and bark, and now 'tis borne

       Emblem of justice, by the sons of Greece,

       Who guard the sacred ministry of law

       Before the face of Jove! a mighty oath!

       The time shall come, when all the sons of Greece

       Shall mourn Achilles' loss; and thou the while,

       Heart-rent, shalt be all-impotent to aid,

       When by the warrior-slayer Hector's hand

       Many shall fall; and then thy soul shall mourn

       The slight on Grecia's bravest warrior cast."

      Thus spoke Pelides; and upon the ground

       He cast his staff, with golden studs emboss'd,

       And took his seat; on th' other side, in wrath,

       Atrides burn'd; but Nestor interpos'd;

       Nestor, the leader of the Pylian host,

       The smooth-tongued chief, from whose persuasive lips

       Sweeter than honey flowed the stream of speech.

       Two generations of the sons of men

       For him were past and gone, who with himself

       Were born and bred on Pylos' lovely shore,

       And o'er the third he now held royal sway.

       He thus with prudent words the chiefs address'd:

      "Alas, alas! what grief is this for Greece!

       What joy for Priam, and for Priam's sons!

       What exultation for the men of Troy,

       To hear of feuds 'tween you, of all the Greeks

       The first in council, and the first in fight!

       Yet, hear my words, I pray; in years, at least,

       Ye both must yield to me; and in times past

       I liv'd with men, and they despis'd me not,

       Abler in counsel, greater than yourselves.

       Such men I never saw, and ne'er shall see,

       As Pirithous and Dryas, wise and brave,

       Coeneus, Exadius, godlike Polypheme,

       And Theseus, AEgeus' more than mortal son.

       The mightiest they among the sons of men;

       The mightiest they, and of the forest beasts

       Strove with the mightiest, and their rage subdued.

       With them from distant lands, from Pylos' shore

       I join'd my forces, and their call obey'd;

       With them I play'd my part; with them, not one

       Would dare to fight of mortals now on earth.

       Yet they my counsels heard, my voice obey'd;

       And hear ye also, for my words are wise.

       Nor thou, though great thou be, attempt to rob

       Achilles of his prize, but let him keep

       The spoil assign'd him by the sons of Greece;

       Nor thou, Pelides, with the monarch strive

       In rivalry; for ne'er to sceptred King

       Hath Jove such pow'rs, as to Atrides, giv'n;

       And valiant though thou art, and Goddess-born,

       Yet mightier he, for wider is his sway.

       Atrides, curb thy wrath! while I beseech

       Achilles to forbear; in whom the Greeks

       From adverse war their great defender see."

      To whom the monarch, Agamemnon, thus:

       "O father, full of wisdom are thy words;

       But this proud chief o'er all would domineer;

       O'er all he seeks to rule, o'er all to reign,

       To all to dictate; which I will not bear.

       Grant that the Gods have giv'n him warlike might,

       Gave they unbridled license to his tongue?"

      To whom Achilles, interrupting, thus:

       "Coward and slave indeed I might be deem'd.

       Could I submit to make thy word my law;

       To others thy commands; seek not to me

       To dictate, for I follow thee no more.

       But hear me speak, and ponder what I say:

       For the fair girl I fight not (since you choose

       To take away the prize yourselves bestow'd)

       With thee or any one; but of the rest

       My dark swift ship contains, against my will

       On nought shalt thou, СКАЧАТЬ