“Go, I pray thee, to the top of Olympus, to the palace of Zeus.  Often have I heard thee in my father’s hall boast how, long ago, thou didst help him when the other gods would have bound him, fetching Briareus of the hundred hands, who sat by him in his strength, so that the Gods feared to touch him.  Go now, and call these things to his mind, and pray him that he help the sons of Troy, and give them victory in the battle, so that the Greeks, as they flee before them, may have joy of this king of theirs, who has done such wrong to the bravest of his host.”

And his mother answered him, “Surely thine is an evil lot, my son.  This life is short, and it should of right be without tears and full of joy; but now it seems to me to be both short and sad.  But I will go as thou sayest to Olympus, to the palace of Zeus; but not now, for he has gone, and the other Gods with him, to a twelve days’ feast with the pious Ethiopians.  But when he cometh back I will entreat and persuade him.  And do thou sit still, nor go forth to battle.”

Meanwhile Ulysses drew near to Chryse with the holy offerings.  And when they were come within the haven, they furled the sail, and laid it in the ship, and lowered the mast, and rowed the ship to her moorings.  They cast out the anchor stones, and made fast the cables from the stern.  After that they landed, taking with them the offerings and the maid Chryseis.  To the altar they brought the maid, and gave her into the arms of her father, and the wise Ulysses said, “See now; Agamemnon, King of men, sends back thy daughter, and with her a hundred beasts for sacrifice, that we may appease the god who hath smitten the Greeks in his wrath.”

Then the priest received his daughter right gladly, and when they had ranged the beasts about the altar, and poured out the water of purification, and taken up handfuls of bruised barley, then the priest prayed, “Hear me, God of the silver bow!  If before thou didst hearken to my prayer, and grievously afflict the Greeks, so hear me now, and stay this plague which is come upon them.”

So prayed he, and the god gave ear.

Then they cast the barley on the heads of the cattle, and slew them, and flayed them, and they cut out the thigh-bones and wrapped them up in folds of fat, and laid raw morsels on them.  These the priest burned on fagots, pouring on sparkling wine; and the young men stood by, having the five-pronged forks in their hands.  And when the thighs were consumed, then they cut up the rest, and broiled the pieces carefully on spits.  This being done, they made their meal, nor did any one lack his share.  And when the meal was ended, then they poured a little wine into the cups to serve for libations to the Gods.  After that they sat till sunset, singing a hymn to the Archer God, and making merry; and he heard their voice and was pleased.

When the sun went down, they slept beside the stern-cables; and when the dawn appeared, then they embarked, raising the mast and spreading the sail; and Apollo sent them a favoring wind, and the dark blue wave hissed about the stem of the ship as she went:  so they came to the camp of the Greeks.