Page 391 - the-iliad

to the going down of the sun if he is without food; however
much he may want to fight his strength will fail him be-
fore he knows it; hunger and thirst will find him out, and
his limbs will grow weary under him. But a man can fight
all day if he is full fed with meat and wine; his heart beats
high, and his strength will stay till he has routed all his foes;
therefore, send the people away and bid them prepare their
meal; King Agamemnon will bring out the gifts in presence
of the assembly, that all may see them and you may be sat-
isfied. Moreover let him swear an oath before the Argives
that he has never gone up into the couch of Briseis, nor been
with her after the manner of men and women; and do you,
too, show yourself of a gracious mind; let Agamemnon en-
tertain you in his tents with a feast of reconciliation, that so
you may have had your dues in full. As for you, son of Atre-
us, treat people more righteously in future; it is no disgrace
even to a king that he should make amends if he was wrong
in the first instance.’
And King Agamemnon answered, ‘Son of Laertes, your
words please me well, for throughout you have spoken wise-
ly. I will swear as you would have me do; I do so of my own
free will, neither shall I take the name of heaven in vain. Let,
then, Achilles wait, though he would fain fight at once, and
do you others wait also, till the gifts come from my tent and
we ratify the oath with sacrifice. Thus, then, do I charge you:
take some noble young Achaeans with you, and bring from
my tents the gifts that I promised yesterday to Achilles, and
bring the women also; furthermore let Talthybius find me
a boar from those that are with the host, and make it ready

0 The Iliad