Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
But him swift-footed godlike Achilles then answered: “Most noble son of
Atreus, most avaricious of all! for how shall the magnanimous Greeks
assign thee a prize? Nor do we know of many common stores laid up
anywhere. But what we plundered 21 from the cities, these have been
divided, and it is not fitting that the troops should collect these
brought together again. But do thou now let her go to the God, and we
Greeks will compensate thee thrice, or four-fold, if haply Jove grant
to us to sack the well-fortified city of Troy.”
Footnote 21: (return) More closely: “took from the cities, when we
destroyed them.”
But him answering, king Agamemnon addressed: “Do not thus, excellent
though thou be, godlike Achilles, practise deceit in thy mind; since
thou shalt not overreach, nor yet persuade me. Dost thou wish that thou
thyself mayest have a prize, whilst I sit down idly, 22 wanting one?
And dost thou bid me to restore her? If, however, the magnanimous
Greeks will give me a prize, having suited it to my mind, so that it
shall be an equivalent, [it is well]. But if they will not give it,
then I myself coming, will seize your prize, or that of Ajax, 23 or
Ulysses, 24 and will bear it away; and he to whom I may come shall have
cause for anger. On these things, however, we will consult afterwards.
But now come, let us launch a sable ship into the boundless sea, and
let us collect into it rowers in sufficient number, and place on board
a hecatomb; and let us make the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses to
embark, and let some one noble man be commander, Ajax or Idomeneus, or
divine Ulysses; or thyself, son of Peleus, most terrible of all men,
that thou mayest appease for us the Far-darter, having offered
sacrifices.”
Footnote 22: (return) Buttmann would take αὔτως as = frustra.
Footnote 23: (return) Tecmessa.
Footnote 24: (return) Laodice, daughter of Cyenus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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