Page 178 - the-iliad

myself; the others shall take my answer; stay here yourself
and sleep comfortably in your bed; at daybreak we will con-
sider whether to remain or go.’
On this she nodded quietly to Patroclus as a sign that he
was to prepare a bed for Phoenix, and that the others should
take their leave. Ajax son of Telamon then said, ‘Ulysses,
noble son of Laertes, let us be gone, for I see that our journey
is vain. We must now take our answer, unwelcome though
it be, to the Danaans who are waiting to receive it. Achilles
is savage and remorseless; he is cruel, and cares nothing for
the love his comrades lavished upon him more than on all
the others. He is implacable—and yet if a man’s brother or
son has been slain he will accept a fine by way of amends
from him that killed him, and the wrong-doer having paid
in full remains in peace among his own people; but as for
you, Achilles, the gods have put a wicked unforgiving spirit
in your heart, and this, all about one single girl, whereas we
now offer you the seven best we have, and much else into
the bargain. Be then of a more gracious mind, respect the
hospitality of your own roof. We are with you as messen-
gers from the host of the Danaans, and would fain he held
nearest and dearest to yourself of all the Achaeans.’
‘Ajax,’ replied Achilles, ‘noble son of Telamon, you have
spoken much to my liking, but my blood boils when I think
it all over, and remember how the son of Atreus treated me
with contumely as though I were some vile tramp, and that
too in the presence of the Argives. Go, then, and deliver
your message; say that I will have no concern with fight-
ing till Hector, son of noble Priam, reaches the tents of the

1