He hath three daughters; thou may’st home conduct
To Phthia, her whom thou shalt most approve. 
Chrysothemis shall be thy bride; or else
Laodice; or if she please thee more 355
Iphianassa; and from thee he asks
No dower; himself will such a dower bestow
As never father on his child before. 
Seven fair well-peopled cities will he give;
Cardamyle and Enope; and rich 360
In herbage, Hira; Pherae stately-built,
And for her depth of pasturage renown’d,
Antheia; proud AEpeia’s lofty towers,
And Pedasus impurpled dark with vines. 
All these are maritime, and on the shore 365
They stand of Pylus, by a race possess’d
Most rich in flocks and herds, who tribute large
And gifts presenting to thy sceptred hand,
Shall hold thee high in honor as a God. 
These will he give thee, if thy wrath subside. 370
But should’st thou rather in thine heart the more
Both Agamemnon and his gifts detest,
Yet oh compassionate the afflicted host
Prepared to adore thee.  Thou shalt win renown
Among the Grecians that shall never die. 375
Now strike at Hector.  He is here;—­himself
Provokes thee forth; madness is in his heart,
And in his rage he glories that our ships
Have hither brought no Grecian brave as he. 
Then thus Achilles matchless in the race. 380
Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d! 
I must with plainness speak my fixt resolve
Unalterable; lest I hear from each
The same long murmur’d melancholy tale. 
For I abhor the man, not more the gates 385
Of hell itself, whose words belie his heart. 
So shall not mine.  My judgment undisguised
Is this; that neither Agamemnon me
Nor all the Greeks shall move; for ceaseless toil
Wins here no thanks; one recompense awaits 390
The sedentary and the most alert,
The brave and base in equal honor stand,
And drones and heroes fall unwept alike. 
I after all my labors, who exposed
My life continual in the field, have earn’d 395
No very sumptuous prize.  As the poor bird
Gives to her unfledged brood a morsel gain’d
After long search, though wanting it herself,
So I have worn out many sleepless nights,
And waded deep through many a bloody day 400
In battle for their wives.[12] I have destroy’d
Twelve cities with my fleet, and twelve, save one,
On foot contending in the fields of Troy. 
From all these cities, precious spoils I took
Abundant, and to Agamemnon’s hand 405
Gave all the treasure.  He within his ships
Abode the while, and having all received,
Little distributed, and much retained;
He gave, however, to the Kings and Chiefs
A portion, and they keep it.  Me alone