The Iliads of Homer. Homer

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       His own affections; the late jar, in which he thunder'd threats

       Against Achilles, still he fed, and his affections' heats

       Thus vented to Talthybius, and grave Eurybates,

       Heralds, and ministers of trust, to all his messages.

       "Haste to Achilles' tent; where take Briseis' hand, and bring

       Her beauties to us. If he fail to yield her, say your king

       Will come himself, with multitudes that shall the horribler

       Make both his presence, and your charge, that so he dares defer."

       This said, he sent them with a charge of hard condition.

       They went unwillingly, and trod the fruitless sea's shore; soon

       They reach'd the navy and the tents, in which the quarter lay

       Of all the Myrmidons, and found the chief Chief in their sway

       Set at his black bark in his tent. Nor was Achilles glad

       To see their presence; nor themselves in any glory had

       Their message, but with rev'rence stocd, and fear'd th' offended

       king,

       Ask'd not the dame, nor spake a word. He yet, well knowing the

       thing

       That caus'd their coming, grac'd them thus: "Heralds, ye men that

       bear

       The messages of men and gods, y' are welcome, come ye near.

       I nothing blame you, but your king; 'tis he I know doth send

       You for Briseis; she is his. Patroclus, honour'd friend,

       Bring forth the damsel, and these men let lead her to their lord.

       But, heralds, be you witnesses, before the most ador'd,

       Before us mortals, and before your most ungentle king,

       Of what I suffer, that, if war ever hereafter bring

       My aid in question, to avert any severest bane

       It brings on others, I am 'scus'd to keep mine aid in wane,

       Since they mine honour. But your king, in tempting mischief, raves,

       Nor sees at once by present things the future; how like waves

       Ills follow ills; injustices being never so secure

       In present times, but after-plagues ev'n then are seen as sure;

       Which yet he sees not, and so soothes his present lust, which,

       check'd,

       Would check plagues future; and he might, in succouring right,

       protect

       Such as fight for his right at fleet. They still in safety fight,

       That fight still justly." This speech us'd, Patroclus did the rite

       His friend commanded, and brought forth Briseis from her tent,

       Gave her the heralds, and away to th' Achive ships they went.

       She sad, and scarce for grief could go. Her love all friends

       forsook,

       And wept for anger. To the shore of th' old sea he betook

       Himself alone, and casting forth upon the purple sea

       His wet eyes, and his hands to heav'n advancing, this sad plea

       Made to his mother; "Mother! Since you brought me forth to breathe

       So short a life, Olympius had good right to bequeath

       My short life honour; yet that right he doth in no degree,

       But lets Atrides do me shame, and force that prise from me

       That all the Greeks gave." This with tears he utter'd, and she

       heard,

       Set with her old sire in his deeps, and instantly appear'd

       Up from the grey sea like a cloud, sate by his side, and said:

       "Why weeps my son? What grieves thee?

       Speak, conceal not what hath laid

       Such hard hand on thee, let both know." He, sighing like a storm,

       Replied: "Thou dost know. Why should I things known again inform?

       We march'd to Thebes, the sacred town of king Eëtion,

       Sack'd it, and brought to fleet the spoil, which every valiant son

       Of Greece indifferently shar'd. Atrides had for share

       Fair-cheek'd Chryseis. After which, his priest that shoots so far,

       Chryses, the fair Chryseis' sire, arriv'd at th' Achive fleet,

       With infinite ransom, to redeem the dear imprison'd feet

       Of his fair daughter. In his hands he held Apollo's crown,

       And golden sceptre; making suit to ev'ry Grecian son,

       But most the sons of Atreüs, the others' orderers,

       Yet they least heard him; all the rest receiv'd with rev'rend ears

       The motion, both the priest and gifts gracing, and holding worth

       His wish'd acceptance. Atreus' son yet (vex'd) commanded forth

       With rude terms Phœbus' rev'rend priest; who, angry, made retreat,

       And pray'd to Phœbus, in whose grace he standing passing great

       Got his petitión. The God an ill shaft sent abroad

       That tumbled down the Greeks in heaps. The host had no abode

       That was not visited. We ask'd a prophet that well knew

       The cause of all; and from his lips Apollo's prophecies flew,

       Telling his anger. First myself exhorted to appease

       The anger'd God; which Atreus' son did at the heart displease,

       And up he stood, us'd threats, perform'd. The black-eyed Greeks

       sent home

       Chryseis to her sire, and gave his God a hecatomb.

       Then, for Briseis, to my tents Atrides' heralds came,

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