With strength superior, and thy birth a very goddess gave, Yet he of force is mightier, since what his own nerves have Is amplified with just command of many other. King of men, Command thou then thyself; and I with my pray’rs will obtain Grace of Achilles to subdue his fury; whose parts are Worth our entreaty, being chief check to all our ill in war.” “All this, good father,” said the king, “is comely and good right; But this man breaks all such bounds; he affects, past all men, height; All would in his pow’r hold, all make his subjects, give to all His hot will for their temp’rate law; all which he never shall Persuade at my hands. If the gods have giv’n him the great style Of ablest soldier, made they that his licence to revile Men with vile language?” Thetis’ son prevented him, and said: “Fearful and vile I might be thought, if the exactions laid By all means on me I should bear. Others command to this, Thou shalt not me; or if thou dost, far my free spirit is From serving thy command. Beside, this I affirm (afford Impression of it in thy soul): will not use my sword On thee or any for a wench, unjustly though thou tak’st The thing thou gav’st; but all things else, that in my ship thou mak’st Greedy survey of, do not touch without my leave; or do,— Add that act’s wrong to this, that these may see that outrage too,— And then comes my part; then be sure, thy blood upon my lance Shall flow in vengeance.” These high terms these two at variance Us’d to each other; left their seats; and after them arose The whole court. To his tents and ships, with friends and soldiers, goes Angry Achilles. Atreus’ son the swift ship launch’d, and put Within it twenty chosen row’rs, within it likewise shut The hecatomb t’ appease the God; then caus’d to come aboard Fair-cheek’d Chryseis; for the chief, he in whom Pallas pour’d Her store of counsels, Ithacus, aboard went last; and then The moist ways of the sea they sail’d. And now the king of men Bade all the host to sacrifice. They sacrific’d, and cast The offal of all to the deeps; the angry God they grac’d With perfect hecatombs; some bulls, some goats, along the shore Of the unfruitful sea, inflam’d. To heav’n the thick fumes bore Enwrapped savours. Thus, though all the politic king made shew Respects to heav’n, yet he himself all that time did pursue His own affections; the late jar, in which he thunder’d threats Against Achilles, still he fed, and his affections’ heats Thus vented to Talthybius, and grave Eurybates, Heralds, and ministers of trust, to all his messages. “Haste to Achilles’ tent; where take Briseis’ hand, and bring Her beauties to us. If he fail to yield her, say your king Will come himself, with multitudes that shall the horribler Make both his presence, and your charge, that so he dares defer.” This said, he sent them with a charge of hard condition. They went unwillingly, and trod the fruitless sea’s shore; soon They reach’d the navy and the tents, in which the quarter lay