Page 390 - the-iliad

she was the bane of all. Then he whirled her round with a
twist of his hand, and flung her down from heaven so that
she fell on to the fields of mortal men; and he was ever an-
gry with her when he saw his son groaning under the cruel
labours that Eurystheus laid upon him. Even so did I grieve
when mighty Hector was killing the Argives at their ships,
and all the time I kept thinking of Folly who had so baned
me. I was blind, and Jove robbed me of my reason; I will
now make atonement, and will add much treasure by way
of amends. Go, therefore, into battle, you and your people
with you. I will give you all that Ulysses offered you yes-
terday in your tents: or if it so please you, wait, though you
would fain fight at once, and my squires shall bring the gifts
from my ship, that you may see whether what I give you is
enough.’
And Achilles answered, ‘Son of Atreus, king of men
Agamemnon, you can give such gifts as you think proper,
or you can withhold them: it is in your own hands. Let us
now set battle in array; it is not well to tarry talking about
trifles, for there is a deed which is as yet to do. Achilles shall
again be seen fighting among the foremost, and laying low
the ranks of the Trojans: bear this in mind each one of you
when he is fighting.’
Then Ulysses said, ‘Achilles, godlike and brave, send not
the Achaeans thus against Ilius to fight the Trojans fasting,
for the battle will be no brief one, when it is once begun,
and heaven has filled both sides with fury; bid them first
take food both bread and wine by the ships, for in this there
is strength and stay. No man can do battle the livelong day