son
  Laborious tasks servile, and of his birth 155
  Unworthy, at Eurystheus’ will enjoin’d. 
    So when the hero Hector at our ships
  Slew us, I then regretted my offence
  Which Ate first impell’d me to commit. 
  But since, infatuated by the Gods 160
  I err’d, behold me ready to appease
  With gifts of price immense whom I have wrong’d. 
  Thou, then, arise to battle, and the host
  Rouse also.  Not a promise yesternight
  Was made thee by Ulysses in thy tent 165
  On my behalf, but shall be well perform’d. 
  Or if it please thee, though impatient, wait
  Short season, and my train shall bring the gifts
  Even now; that thou may’st understand and know
  That my peace-offerings are indeed sincere. 170
    To whom Achilles, swiftest of the swift. 
  Atrides!  Agamemnon! passing all
  In glory!  King of men! recompense just
  By gifts to make me, or to make me none,
  That rests with thee.  But let us to the fight 175
  Incontinent.  It is no time to play
  The game of rhetoric, and to waste the hours
  In speeches.  Much remains yet unperform’d. 
  Achilles must go forth.  He must be seen
  Once more in front of battle, wasting wide 180
  With brazen spear, the crowded ranks of Troy. 
  Mark him—­and as he fights, fight also ye. 
    To whom Ulysses ever-wise replied. 
  Nay—­urge not, valiant as thou art thyself,
  Achaia’s sons up to the battlements 185
  Of Ilium, by repast yet unrefresh’d,
  Godlike Achilles!—­For when phalanx once
  Shall clash with phalanx, and the Gods with rage
  Both hosts inspire, the contest shall not then
  Prove short.  Bid rather the Achaians take 190
  Both food and wine, for they are strength and might. 
  To stand all day till sunset to a foe
  Opposed in battle, fasting, were a task
  Might foil the best; for though his will be prompt
  To combat, yet the power must by degrees 195
  Forsake him; thirst and hunger he must feel,
  And his limbs failing him at every step. 
  But he who hath his vigor to the full
  Fed with due nourishment, although he fight
  All day, yet feels his courage unimpair’d, 200
  Nor weariness perceives till all retire. 
  Come then—­dismiss the people with command
  That each prepare replenishment.  Meantime
  Let Agamemnon, King of men, his gifts
  In presence here of the assembled Greeks 205
  Produce, that all may view them, and that thou
  May’st feel thine own heart gladden’d at the sight. 
  Let the King also, standing in the midst,
  Swear to thee, that he renders back the maid
  A virgin still, and strange to his embrace,