Book I - Page 2

the midst of them. First he smote their

mules and their hounds, but presently he aimed his shafts at the

people themselves, and all day long the pyres of the dead were

burning.

For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people, but upon

the tenth day Achilles called them in assembly--moved thereto by

Juno, who saw the Achaeans in their death-throes and had

compassion upon them. Then, when they were got together, he rose

and spoke among them.

"Son of Atreus," said he, "I deem that we should now turn roving

home if we would escape destruction, for we are being cut down by

war and pestilence at once. Let us ask some priest or prophet, or

some reader of dreams (for dreams, too, are of Jove) who can tell

us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry, and say whether it is for some

vow that we have broken, or hecatomb that we have not offered,

and whether he will accept the savour of lambs and goats without

blemish, so as to take away the plague from us."

With these words he sat down, and Calchas son of Thestor, wisest

of augurs, who knew things past present and to come, rose to

speak. He it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to

Ilius, through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had

inspired him. With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed them

thus:--

"Achilles, loved of heaven, you bid me tell you about the anger

of King Apollo, I will therefore do so; but consider first and

swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed, for I

know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might, to

whom all the Achaeans are in subjection. A plain man cannot stand

against the anger of a king, who if he swallow his displeasure

now, will yet nurse revenge till he has wreaked it. Consider,

therefore, whether or no you will protect me."

And Achilles answered, "Fear not, but speak as it is borne in

upon you from heaven, for by Apollo, Calchas, to whom you pray,

and whose oracles you reveal to us, not a Danaan at our ships

shall lay his hand upon you, while I yet live to look upon the

face of the earth--no, not though you name Agamemnon himself, who

is by far the foremost of the Achaeans."

Thereon the seer spoke boldly. "The god," he said, "is angry

neither about vow nor hecatomb, but for his priest's sake, whom

Agamemnon has dishonoured, in that he would not free his daughter

nor take a ransom for her; therefore has he sent these evils upon

us, and will yet send others. He will not deliver the Danaans

from this pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl without

fee or