But let Pelides in his prize rejoice, Atchieved in arms, allowed by public voice. Nor thou, brave champion, with his power contend, Before whose throne even kings their lowered sceptres bend; The head of action he, and thou the hand, Matchless thy force, but mightier his command. Thou first, O king, release the rights of sway; Power, self-restrained, the people best obey. Sanctions of law from thee derive their source; Command thyself, whom no commands can force. The son of Thetis, rampire of our host, Is worth our care to keep, nor shall my prayers be lost. Thus Nestor said, and ceased.--Atrides broke His silence next, but pondered ere he spoke:-- Wise are thy words, and glad I would obey, But this proud man affects imperial sway, Controuling kings, and trampling on our state; His will is law, and what he wills is fate. The Gods have given him strength; but whence the style Of lawless power assumed, or licence to revile? Achilles cut him short, and thus replied:-- My worth, allowed in words, is, in effect, denied; For who but a poltroon, possessed with fear, Such haughty insolence can tamely bear? Command thy slaves; my freeborn soul disdains A tyrant's curb, and, restiff, breaks the reins. Take this along, that no dispute shall rise (Though mine the woman) for my ravished prize; But, she excepted, as unworthy strife, Dare not, I charge thee dare not, on thy life, Touch aught of mine beside, by lot my due, But stand aloof, and think profane to view; This faulchion else, not hitherto withstood, These hostile fields shall fatten with thy blood.-- He said, and rose the first; the council broke, And all their grave consults dissolved in smoke. The royal youth retired, on vengeance bent; Patroclus followed silent to his tent. Meantime, the king with gifts a vessel stores, Supplies the banks with twenty chosen oars; And next, to reconcile the shooter God, Within her hollow sides the sacrifice he stowed; Chryseis last was set on board, whose hand } Ulysses took, entrusted with command; } They plow the liquid seas, and leave the lessening land. } Atrides then, his outward zeal to boast, Bade purify the sin-polluted host. With perfect hecatombs the God they graced, Whose offered entrails in the main were cast; Black bulls and bearded goats on altars lie, And clouds of savoury stench involve the sky. These pomps the royal hypocrite designed For show, but harboured vengeance in his mind; Till holy malice, longing for a vent, At length discovered his concealed intent, Talthybius, and Eurybates the just, Heralds of arms, and ministers of trust, He called, and thus bespoke:--Haste hence your way, And from the Goddess-born demand his prey. If yielded, bring the captive; if denied,