The Iliad of Homer. Homer

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      002

ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK.

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      The book opens with an account of a pestilence that prevailed in the Grecian camp, and the cause of it is assigned. A council is called, in which fierce altercation takes place between Agamemnon and Achilles. The latter solemnly renounces the field. Agamemnon, by his heralds, demands Brisëis, and Achilles resigns her. He makes his complaint to Thetis, who undertakes to plead his cause with Jupiter. She pleads it, and prevails. The book concludes with an account of what passed in Heaven on that occasion.

      [The reader will please observe, that by Achaians, Argives, Danaï, are signified Grecians. Homer himself having found these various appellatives both graceful and convenient, it seemed unreasonable that a Translator of him should be denied the same advantage.—Tr.]

      003

BOOK I.

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      Achilles sing, O Goddess! Peleus' son;

       His wrath pernicious, who ten thousand woes

       Caused to Achaia's host, sent many a soul

       Illustrious into Ades premature,

       And Heroes gave (so stood the will of Jove)5

       To dogs and to all ravening fowls a prey,

       When fierce dispute had separated once

       The noble Chief Achilles from the son

       Of Atreus, Agamemnon, King of men.

      Who them to strife impell'd? What power divine?10

       Latona's son and Jove's.[1] For he, incensed 004 Against the King, a foul contagion raised In all the host, and multitudes destroy'd, For that the son of Atreus had his priest Dishonored, Chryses. To the fleet he came15 Bearing rich ransom glorious to redeem His daughter, and his hands charged with the wreath And golden sceptre[2] of the God shaft-arm'd.

      His supplication was at large to all

       The host of Greece, but most of all to two,20

       The sons of Atreus, highest in command.

      Ye gallant Chiefs, and ye their gallant host,

       (So may the Gods who in Olympus dwell

       Give Priam's treasures to you for a spoil

       And ye return in safety,) take my gifts25

       And loose my child, in honor of the son

       Of Jove, Apollo, archer of the skies.[3]

      At once the voice of all was to respect

       The priest, and to accept the bounteous price;

       But so it pleased not Atreus' mighty son,30

       Who with rude threatenings stern him thence dismiss'd.

      Beware, old man! that at these hollow barks

       I find thee not now lingering, or henceforth

       Returning, lest the garland of thy God

       005 And his bright sceptre should avail thee nought.35

       I will not loose thy daughter, till old age

       Steal on her. From her native country far,

       In Argos, in my palace, she shall ply

       The loom, and shall be partner of my bed.

       Move me no more. Begone; hence while thou may'st.40

      He spake, the old priest trembled and obey'd.

       Forlorn he roamed the ocean's sounding shore,

       And, solitary, with much prayer his King

       Bright-hair'd Latona's son, Phœbus, implored.[4]

      God of the silver bow, who with thy power45

       Encirclest Chrysa, and who reign'st supreme

       In Tenedos and Cilla the divine,

       Sminthian[5] Apollo![6] If I e'er adorned Thy beauteous fane, or on the altar burn'd The fat acceptable of bulls or goats,50 Grant my petition. With thy shafts avenge On the Achaian host thy servant's tears.

      Such prayer he made, and it was heard.[7] The God, Down from Olympus with his radiant bow 006 And his full quiver o'er his shoulder slung,55 Marched in his anger; shaken as he moved His rattling arrows told of his approach. Gloomy he came as night; sat from the ships Apart, and sent an arrow. Clang'd the cord [8]Dread-sounding, bounding on the silver bow.[9]60 Mules first and dogs he struck,[10] but at themselves Dispatching soon his bitter arrows keen, Smote them. Death-piles on all sides always blazed. Nine days throughout the camp his arrows flew; The tenth, Achilles from all parts convened65 The host in council. Juno the white-armed Moved at the sight of Grecians all around Dying, imparted to his mind the thought.[11] The full assembly, therefore, now convened, Uprose Achilles ardent, and began.70

      007 Atrides! Now, it seems, no course remains

       For us, but that the seas roaming again,

       We hence return; at least if we survive;

       But haste, consult we quick some prophet here

       Or priest, or even interpreter of dreams,75

       (For dreams are also of Jove,) that we may learn

       By what crime we have thus incensed Apollo,

       What broken vow, what hecatomb unpaid

       He charges on us, and if soothed with steam

       Of lambs or goats unblemish'd, he may yet80

       Be won to spare us, and avert the plague.

      He spake and sat, when Thestor's son arose

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