Page 179 - the-iliad

Myrmidons in his murderous course, and flings fire upon
their ships. For all his lust of battle, I take it he will be held
in check when he is at my own tent and ship.’
On this they took every man his double cup, made their
drink-offerings, and went back to the ships, Ulysses leading
the way. But Patroclus told his men and the maid-servants
to make ready a comfortable bed for Phoenix; they there-
fore did so with sheepskins, a rug, and a sheet of fine linen.
The old man then laid himself down and waited till morn-
ing came. But Achilles slept in an inner room, and beside
him the daughter of Phorbas lovely Diomede, whom he had
carried off from Lesbos. Patroclus lay on the other side of
the room, and with him fair Iphis whom Achilles had given
him when he took Scyros the city of Enyeus.
When the envoys reached the tents of the son of Atreus,
the Achaeans rose, pledged them in cups of gold, and began
to question them. King Agamemnon was the first to do so.
‘Tell me, Ulysses,’ said he, ‘will he save the ships from burn-
ing, or did be refuse, and is he still furious?’
Ulysses answered, ‘Most noble son of Atreus, king of
men, Agamemnon, Achilles will not be calmed, but is more
fiercely angry than ever, and spurns both you and your
gifts. He bids you take counsel with the Achaeans to save
the ships and host as you best may; as for himself, he said
that at daybreak he should draw his ships into the water. He
said further that he should advise every one to sail home
likewise, for that you will not reach the goal of Ilius. ‘Jove,’
he said, ‘has laid his hand over the city to protect it, and
the people have taken heart.’ This is what he said, and the

1 The Iliad