But him noble Achilles interruptingly answered: “Yea, forsooth, 34 I may be called a coward and a man of no worth, if now I yield to thee in everything, whatever thou mayest say. Enjoin these things to other men; for dictate not to me, for I think that I shall no longer obey thee. But another thing will I tell thee, and do thou store it in thy mind: I will not contend with my hands, neither with thee, nor with others, on account of this maid, since ye, the donors, take her away. But of the other effects, which I have at my swift black ship, of those thou shalt not remove one, taking them away, I being unwilling. But if [thou wilt], come, make trial, that these also may know: quickly shall thy black blood flow around my lance.” Footnote 34: (return) Properly elliptical—_I have done right; for_, &c.—Crusius. Thus these twain, striving with contrary words, arose, and they broke up the assembly at the ships of the Greeks. The son of Peleus on his part repaired to his tents and well-proportioned 35 ships, with the son of Menoetius, 36 and his companions. But the son of Atreus 37 launched his swift ship into the sea, and selected and put into it twenty rowers, and embarked a hecatomb for the god. And he led the fair daughter of Chryses and placed her on board, and the very wise Ulysses embarked as conductor. They then embarking, sailed over the watery paths. But the son of Atreus ordered the armies to purify themselves; 38 and they were purified, and cast forth the ablutions into the sea. And they sacrificed to Apollo perfect hecatombs of bulls and goats, along the shore of the barren sea; and the savour involved in 39 smoke ascended to heaven. Thus were they employed in these things through the army. Nor did Agamemnon cease from the contention which at first he threatened against Achilles. But he thus addressed Talthybius and Eurybates, who were his heralds and zealous attendants: 40 Footnote 35: (return) Equal on both sides, so as to preserve a balance. But Blomfield, Obs. on Matth. Gr. § 124, prefers to render it “ships of due size,” as [δαις ειση], ver. 468, “an equalized meal.” Footnote 36: (return) Patroclus. Footnote 37: (return) So Anthon, comparing ver. 142. Footnote 38: (return) Not a mere medicinal measure, but a symbolical putting away of the guilt, which, through Agamemnon’s transgression, was brought upon the army also.—Wolf. Footnote 39: (return) Not _about_ the smoke, but _in_ the smoke; for περί denotes also the staying within the compass of an object.—Nägelsbach. Footnote 40: (return) θεράπων is a voluntary servant, as opposed to δούλος.—See Arnold. “Going to the tent of Achilles, the son of Peleus, lead away fair Brisëis, having taken her by the hand; but if he will not give her, then I myself, coming with great numbers, will take her, and this will be more grievous 41 to him.”