Neither Nestor, when he invokes and instructs Patroclus as intercessor with Achilles (xi. 654-790), nor Patroclus himself, though in the extreme of anxiety to work upon the mind of Achilles, and reproaching him with hardness of heart,—ever bring to remembrance the ample atonement which had been tendered to him; while Achilles himself repeats the original ground of quarrel, the wrong offered to him in taking away Brisêis, continuing the language of the first book; then, without the least allusion to the atonement and restitution since tendered, he yields to his friend’s proposition, just like a man whose wrong remained unredressed, but who was, nevertheless, forced to take arms by necessity (xvi. 60-63):— Ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προτετύχθαι ἐάσομεν, οὔδ᾽ ἄρα πως ἦν Ἀσπερχὲς κεχολῶσθαι ἐνὶ φρεσίν· ἤτοι ἔφην γε Οὐ πρὶν μηνιθμὸν καταπαύσεμεν, ἀλλ᾽ ὁπόταν δὴ Νῆας ἐμὰς ἀφίκηται ἀϋτή τε πτόλεμός τε. I agree with the Scholiast and Heyne in interpreting ἔφην γε as equivalent to διενοήθην,—not as referring to any express antecedent declaration. Again, farther on in the same speech, “The Trojans (Achilles says) now press boldly forward upon the ships, for they no longer see the blaze of my helmet: but if Agamemnôn _were favorably disposed towards me_, they would presently run away and fill the ditches with their dead bodies” (71):— ... τάχα κεν φεύγοντες ἐναύλους Πλήσειαν νεκύων, εἴ μοι κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων Ἤπια εἰδείη· νῦν δὲ στράτον ἀμφιμάχονται. Now here again, if we take our start from the first book, omitting the ninth, the sentiment is perfectly just. But assume the ninth book, and it becomes false and misplaced; for Agamemnôn is then a prostrate and repentant man, not merely “favorably disposed” towards Achilles, but offering to pay any price for the purpose of appeasing him. 4. Again, a few lines farther, in the same speech, Achilles permits Patroclus to go forth, in consideration of the extreme peril of the fleet, but restricts him simply to avert this peril and do nothing more: “Obey my words, so that you may procure _for me honor_ and glory from _the body of Greeks_, and that they may send back to me the damsel, giving me ample presents besides: when you have driven the Trojans from the ships, come back again”:— Ὡς ἄν μοι τιμὴν μεγάλην καὶ κῦδος ἄροιο Πρὸς πάντων Δαναῶν· ἀτὰρ οἳ περικαλλέα κούρην Ἄψ ἀπονάσσωσι, προτὶ δ᾽ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα πόρωσιν· Ἐκ νηῶν ἐλάσας, ἰέναι πάλιν (84-87).