Here by the ships, since the days of thy doom are the few and the fleeting! Woe to me! both to a death premature and a sorrowful lifetime Thee, in the darkness of Fate, did I bear in the house of thy father! Surely thy word will I carry to thunder-delighting Kronion, Up unto snowy Olympus, and prayer may prevail for persuasion. Thou meanwhile for a season lie still by the Myrmidon galleys, Hating the Danäid host, and abstaining entirely from battle. Yesterday forth-far'd Zeus to a feast with the Æthiops blameless, Far over ocean's stream, and the rest of the Gods in attendance; Twelve are the signified days ere again he returns to Olympus. Instantly then will I pass to the brass-built dome of the Highest, There will I cling to his knees, and I think he will hear my petition." So having said she departed, and left him to sit as aforetime, Bitterness swelling his breast at the thought of the slender Brisëis Forcefully torn from his side. Meanwhile ever-prudent Odysseus Safe into Chrysa had come with the hecatomb vow'd to Apollo. They, when at last they arrived in the spacious recess of the harbour, Furl'd with alertness their sail, and bestow'd in the depth of the galley, Loosen'd the ropes from the mast, and depress'd it to fix in the mast-hold, Push'd with their oars to the landing, and anchor'd and fasten'd the hausers; Then with the hecatomb laden, the mariners stept on the sea-beach. Lastly, Chrysëis was led by Odysseus himself from the galley, Straight to the altar of Phoebus, and placed in the hand of her father. "Take her, O Chryses," he said; "I am sent by the King Agamemnon, Charg'd to restore her to thee, with a hecatomb fair for Apollo, Vow'd on behalf of the host, if perchance it may work our atonement, Press'd with afflictions severe by the far-shot darts of the Godhead." So did he speak, and deliver'd the daughter belov'd to her father: Glad was the old man's heart to receive her. And now the Achaians, Ranging the hecatomb goodly around the magnificent altar, Cleansèd with water their hands, and besprinkled the victims with barley. Lifting his hands in the midst, then Chryses made supplication:-- "Hear me, Protector divine both of Chrysa and beautiful Killa, God of the silvery bow, over Tenedos mightily reigning-- Hear me, if ever before there was favour to crown my petition. Greatly to honour thy priest, hast thou humbled the host of Achaia; Now I beseech thee to hear, and again let my prayer be accepted-- Hence be the pestilence stay'd that is wasting the Danäid leaguer!" So did he speak in his prayer, nor regardless was Phoebus Apollo; Also the Danäids pray'd, and again they besprinkled with barley; Then were the necks turn'd back, and they slaughter'd the victims, and skinn'd them. And when the bones of the thighs were extracted, and wrapt in the fatness Doubled upon them around, and the raw flesh added in fragments,