With Agamemnon, or was throned so high. 350
Say thou art stronger, and art Goddess-born,
How then?  His territory passes thine,
And he is Lord of thousands more than thou. 
Cease, therefore, Agamemnon; calm thy wrath;
And it shall be mine office to entreat 355
Achilles also to a calm, whose might
The chief munition is of all our host. 
To whom the sovereign of the Greeks replied,
The son of Atreus.  Thou hast spoken well,
Old Chief, and wisely.  But this wrangler here—­ 360
Nought will suffice him but the highest place: 
He must control us all, reign over all,
Dictate to all; but he shall find at least
One here, disposed to question his commands. 
If the eternal Gods have made him brave, 365
Derives he thence a privilege to rail? 
Whom thus Achilles interrupted fierce. 
Could I be found so abject as to take
The measure of my doings at thy lips,
Well might they call me coward through the camp, 370
A vassal, and a fellow of no worth. 
Give law to others.  Think not to control
Me, subject to thy proud commands no more. 
Hear yet again!  And weigh what thou shalt hear. 
I will not strive with thee in such a cause, 375
Nor yet with any man; I scorn to fight
For her, whom having given, ye take away. 
But I have other precious things on board;
Of those take none away without my leave. 
Or if it please thee, put me to the proof 380
Before this whole assembly, and my spear
Shall stream that moment, purpled with thy blood. 
Thus they long time in opposition fierce
Maintained the war of words; and now, at length,
(The grand consult dissolved,) Achilles walked 385
(Patroclus and the Myrmidons his steps
Attending) to his camp and to his fleet. 
But Agamemnon order’d forth a bark,
A swift one, manned with twice ten lusty rowers;
He sent on board the Hecatomb:[24] he placed 390
Chryseis with the blooming cheeks, himself,
And to Ulysses gave the freight in charge. 
So all embarked, and plow’d their watery way. 
Atrides, next, bade purify the host;
The host was purified, as he enjoin’d, 395
And the ablution cast into the sea. 
Then to Apollo, on the shore they slew,
Of the untillable and barren deep,
Whole Hecatombs of bulls and goats, whose steam
Slowly in smoky volumes climbed the skies. 400
Thus was the camp employed; nor ceased the while
The son of Atreus from his threats denounced
At first against Achilles, but command
Gave to Talthybius and Eurybates
His heralds, ever faithful to his will. 405
Haste—­Seek ye both the tent of Peleus’ son
Achilles.  Thence lead hither by the hand
Blooming Briseis, whom if he withhold,