The lengthen’d conflict with recruited might, Case in enduring brass.—Ye all have heard Your call to battle; let none lingering stand In expectation of a farther call,280 Which if it sound, shall thunder prove to him Who lurks among the ships. No. Rush we all Together forth, for contest sharp prepared, And persevering with the host of Troy. So saying, the sons of Nestor, glorious Chief,285 He chose, with Meges Phyleus’ noble son, Thoas, Meriones, and Melanippus And Lycomedes. These, together, sought The tent of Agamemnon, King of men. They ask’d, and they received. Soon they produced290 The seven promised tripods from the tent, Twice ten bright caldrons, twelve high-mettled steeds, Seven lovely captives skill’d alike in arts Domestic, of unblemish’d beauty rare, And last, Brisëis with the blooming cheeks.295 Before them went Ulysses, bearing weigh’d Ten golden talents, whom the chosen Greeks Attended laden with the remnant gifts. Full in the midst they placed them. Then arose King Agamemnon, and Talthybius300 The herald, clear in utterance as a God, Beside him stood, holding the victim boar. Atrides, drawing forth his dagger bright, Appendant ever to his sword’s huge sheath, Sever’d the bristly forelock of the boar,305 A previous offering. Next, with lifted hands To Jove he pray’d, while, all around, the Greeks Sat listening silent to the Sovereign’s voice. He look’d to the wide heaven, and thus he pray’d. First, Jove be witness! of all Powers above310 Best and supreme; Earth next, and next the Sun! And last, who under Earth the guilt avenge Of oaths sworn falsely, let the Furies hear! For no respect of amorous desire Or other purpose, have I laid mine hand315 On fair Brisëis, but within my tent Untouch’d, immaculate she hath remain’d. And if I falsely swear, then may the Gods The many woes with which they mark the crime Of men forsworn, pour also down on me!320 So saying, he pierced the victim in his throat And, whirling him around, Talthybius, next, Cast him into the ocean, fishes’ food.[8] Then, in the centre of Achaia’s sons Uprose Achilles, and thus spake again.325 Jove! Father! dire calamities, effects Of thy appointment, fall on human-kind. Never had Agamemnon in my breast Such anger kindled, never had he seized, Blinded by wrath, and torn my prize away,330 But that the slaughter of our numerous friends Which thence ensued, thou hadst, thyself, ordained. Now go, ye Grecians, eat, and then to battle. So saying, Achilles suddenly dissolved The hasty council, and all flew dispersed335 To their own ships. Then took the Myrmidons Those splendid gifts which in the tent they lodged Of swift Achilles, and the damsels led Each to a seat, while others of his train Drove forth the steeds to pasture with his herd.340 But when Brisëis, bright as Venus, saw Patroclus lying mangled by the spear, Enfolding him around, she shriek’d and tore Her bosom, her smooth neck and beauteous cheeks. Then thus, divinely fair, with tears she said.345