Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
But noble Achilles went down the beach of the sea, crying his terrible
cry, and roused the Achaian warriors. And they who before were wont to
abide in the circle of the ships, and they who were helmsmen and kept
the steerage of the ships, or were stewards there and dealt out food,
even these came then to the place of assembly, because Achilles was
come forth, after long ceasing from grievous war. Limping came two of
Ares’ company, Tydeus’ son staunch in fight and noble Odysseus, each
leaning on his spear, for their wounds were grievous still; and they
went and sate them down in the forefront of the assembly. And last came
Agamemnon king of men, with his wound upon him, for him too in the
stress of battle Kooen Antenor’s son had wounded with his bronze-tipped
spear. But when all the Achaians were gathered, then uprose
fleet-footed Achilles and spake in their midst: “Son of Atreus, was
this in any wise the better way for both thee and me, what time with
grief at our hearts we waxed fierce in soul-devouring strife for the
sake of a girl? Would that Artemis had slain her with her arrow at the
ships, on the day whereon I took her to me, when I had spoiled
Lyrnessos; so should not then so many Achaians have bitten the wide
earth beneath their enemies’ hands, by reason of my exceeding wrath. It
hath been well for Hector and the Trojans, but the Achaians I think
shall long remember the strife that was betwixt thee and me. But
bygones will we let be, for all our pain, and curb under necessity the
spirit within our breasts. I now will stay my anger: it beseems me not
implacably for ever to be wroth; but come rouse speedily to the fight
the flowing-haired Achaians, that I may go forth against the men of
Troy and put them yet again to the proof, if they be fain to couch hard
by the ships. Methinks that some among them shall be glad to rest their
knees when they are fled out of the fierceness of the battle, and from
before our spear.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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