‘King over all nations hath Zeus made thee, great Agamemnon,’ he said. ‘Therefore is it thy part to listen to all the counsel that is given to thee that may aid thee to govern thy folk. Right heartily did I try to prevent thee from taking fair Briseis from the tent of Achilles on that day when thou didst anger the bravest of all warriors. Let us now try if we may not persuade him by gifts of friendship and with kindly words to come back and fight for Greece once again.’ Then answered Agamemnon: ‘Yea, truly, a fool was I in that I gave way to my wrath. But gladly will I now make amends to Achilles, the beloved of Zeus. Rich and goodly gifts will I send to him; priceless gifts of gold, horses of wondrous speed, and seven fair slaves skilled in needle-work. Fair Briseis, also, shall again be his, and if he will come to our aid and Troy is ours, the richest of all the spoils shall be the spoils of Achilles. One of my daughters shall he have for his wife, and lands and cities and a people to rule as king shall be my gift to him.’ Speedily then did they choose messengers to go with the gifts to Achilles. And the messengers were Phœnix, a warrior dear to Zeus, and giant Ajax, and Odysseus of the many Devices. Two heralds went with them that they might tell Achilles of the noble Greeks who came to seek for his aid. Along the shore of the sounding sea they went, making prayer to Zeus that he would grant them success in what they sought. When they came to the ships and huts of Achilles they found him sitting with a lyre in his hand. Of beautiful workmanship it was, with a silver cross-bar upon it, and as the hands of Achilles drew from it wondrous melody, he sang of the glorious deeds of the heroes of old. Beside him sat Patroclus, listening silently to the song of the friend that he loved. Then did Odysseus step forward, and Achilles, amazed, sprang to his feet, his lyre in his hand, and Patroclus also arose. ‘Welcome ye are,’ said Achilles; ‘truly ye are friends that are come. Even in my anger are ye the dearest of all the Greeks to me.’ Then he led them forward and made them sit on seats covered with lordly purple. To Patroclus he said: ‘Bring forth the biggest bowl and the finest of my wines, for I have no dearer friends than those who are here with me now.’ So did Achilles have a rich feast of precious wines and of dainties of all sorts made ready for those who brought him the message of Agamemnon the king. And when the feast was ended, Odysseus did tell him of the dire woes of the Greeks and of the royal gifts of Agamemnon, and of the pleadings of the Greeks and of their overlord, that their hero, Achilles, would come and fight for them once again. Then did Achilles make answer: