Shortly after his arrival at Sparta and during a brief absence of its king, Paris induced Helen to elope with him.  On his return the outraged husband summoned the suitors to redeem their pledge, and collected a huge force at Aulis, where Agamemnon his brother became leader of the expedition.  Such was the popularity of this war that even heroes who had taken no oath were anxious to make part of the punitive expedition, the most famous of these warriors being Achilles, son of Thetis and Peleus.

After many adventures the Greeks, landing on the shores of Asia, began besieging the city, from whose ramparts Helen watched her husband and his allies measure their strength against the Trojans.  Such was the bravery displayed on both sides that the war raged nine years without any decisive advantage being obtained.  At the end of this period, during a raid, the Greeks secured two female captives, which were awarded to Agamemnon and to Achilles in recognition of past services.

Although the above events are treated in sundry other Greek poems and epics,—­which no longer exist entire, but form part of a cycle,—­“The Iliad,” accredited to Homer, takes up the story at this point, and relates the wrath of Achilles, together with the happenings of some fifty days in the ninth year.

Book I. After invoking the Muse to aid him sing the wrath of Achilles, the poet relates how Apollo’s priest came in person to the Greek camp to ransom his captive daughter, only to be treated with contumely by Agamemnon.  In his indignation this priest besought Apollo to send down a plague to decimate the foe’s forces, and the Greeks soon learned from their oracles that its ravages would not cease until the maiden was restored to her father.

  Nor will the god’s awaken’d fury cease,
  But plagues shall spread, and funeral fires increase,
  Till the great king, without a ransom paid,
  To her own Chrysa send the black-eyed maid.[2]

In a formal council Agamemnon is therefore asked to relinquish his captive, but violently declares that he will do so only in case he receives Achilles’ slave.  This insolent claim so infuriates the young hero that he is about to draw his sword, when Minerva, unseen by the rest, bids him hold his hand, and state that should Agamemnon’s threat be carried out he will withdraw from the war.

Although the aged Nestor employs all his honeyed eloquence to soothe this quarrel, both chiefs angrily withdraw, Agamemnon to send his captive back to her father, and Achilles to sulk in his tent.

It is while he is thus engaged that Agamemnon’s heralds appear and lead away his captive.  Mindful of Minerva’s injunctions, Achilles allows her to depart, but registers a solemn oath that, even were the Greeks to perish, he will lend them no aid.  Then, strolling down to the shore, he summons his mother from the watery deep, and implores her to use her influence to avenge his wrongs.  Knowing his