Book XVI - Page 2

city."

He knew not what he was asking, nor that he was suing for his own

destruction. Achilles was deeply moved and answered, "What, noble

Patroclus, are you saying? I know no prophesyings which I am

heeding, nor has my mother told me anything from the mouth of

Jove, but I am cut to the very heart that one of my own rank

should dare to rob me because he is more powerful than I am.

This, after all that I have gone through, is more than I can

endure. The girl whom the sons of the Achaeans chose for me, whom

I won as the fruit of my spear on having sacked a city--her has

King Agamemnon taken from me as though I were some common

vagrant. Still, let bygones be bygones: no man may keep his anger

for ever; I said I would not relent till battle and the cry of

war had reached my own ships; nevertheless, now gird my armour

about your shoulders, and lead the Myrmidons to battle, for the

dark cloud of Trojans has burst furiously over our fleet; the

Argives are driven back on to the beach, cooped within a narrow

space, and the whole people of Troy has taken heart to sally out

against them, because they see not the visor of my helmet

gleaming near them. Had they seen this, there would not have been

a creek nor grip that had not been filled with their dead as they

fled back again. And so it would have been, if only King

Agamemnon had dealt fairly by me. As it is the Trojans have beset

our host. Diomed son of Tydeus no longer wields his spear to

defend the Danaans, neither have I heard the voice of the son of

Atreus coming from his hated head, whereas that of murderous

Hector rings in my cars as he gives orders to the Trojans, who

triumph over the Achaeans and fill the whole plain with their cry

of battle. But even so, Patroclus, fall upon them and save the

fleet, lest the Trojans fire it and prevent us from being able to

return. Do, however, as I now bid you, that you may win me great

honour from all the Danaans, and that they may restore the girl

to me again and give me rich gifts into the bargain. When you

have driven the Trojans from the ships, come back again. Though

Juno's thundering husband should put triumph within your reach,

do not fight the Trojans further in my absence, or you will rob

me of glory that should be mine. And do not for lust of battle go

on killing the Trojans nor lead the Achaeans on to Ilius, lest

one of the ever-living gods from Olympus attack you--for Phoebus

Apollo loves them well: return when you have freed the ships from

peril, and let others wage war upon the plain. Would, by father

Jove,