defending the city and the Curetes trying to destroy it。 For Diana
of the golden throne was angry and did them hurt because Oeneus had
not offered her his harvest first…fruits。 The other gods had all
been feasted with hecatombs； but to the daughter of great Jove alone
he had made no sacrifice。 He had forgotten her； or somehow or other it
had escaped him； and this was a grievous sin。 Thereon the archer
goddess in her displeasure sent a prodigious creature against him… a
savage wild boar with great white tusks that did much harm to his
orchard lands； uprooting apple…trees in full bloom and throwing them
to the ground。 But Meleager son of Oeneus got huntsmen and hounds from
many cities and killed it… for it was so monstrous that not a few were
needed； and many a man did it stretch upon his funeral pyre。 On this
the goddess set the Curetes and the Aetolians fighting furiously about
the head and skin of the boar。
〃So long as Meleager was in the field things went badly with the
Curetes； and for all their numbers they could not hold their ground
under the city walls； but in the course of time Meleager was angered
as even a wise man will sometimes be。 He was incensed with his
mother Althaea； and therefore stayed at home with his wedded wife fair
Cleopatra； who was daughter of Marpessa daughter of Euenus； and of
Ides the man then living。 He it was who took his bow and faced King
Apollo himself for fair Marpessa's sake； her father and mother then
named her Alcyone； because her mother had mourned with the plaintive
strains of the halcyon…bird when Phoebus Apollo had carried her off。
Meleager； then； stayed at home with Cleopatra； nursing the anger which
he felt by reason of his mother's curses。 His mother； grieving for the
death of her brother； prayed the gods； and beat the earth with her
hands； calling upon Hades and on awful Proserpine； she went down
upon her knees and her bosom was wet with tears as she prayed that
they would kill her son… and Erinys that walks in darkness and knows
no ruth heard her from Erebus。
〃Then was heard the din of battle about the gates of Calydon； and
the dull thump of the battering against their walls。 Thereon the
elders of the Aetolians besought Meleager； they sent the chiefest of
their priests； and begged him to come out and help them； promising him
a great reward。 They bade him choose fifty plough…gates； the most
fertile in the plain of Calydon； the one…half vineyard and the other
open plough…land。 The old warrior Oeneus implored him； standing at the
threshold of his room and beating the doors in supplication。 His
sisters and his mother herself besought him sore； but he the more
refused them； those of his comrades who were nearest and dearest to
him also prayed him； but they could not move him till the foe was
battering at the very doors of his chamber； and the Curetes had scaled
the walls and were setting fire to the city。 Then at last his
sorrowing wife detailed the horrors that befall those whose city is
taken； she reminded him how the men are slain； and the city is given
over to the flames； while the women and children are carried into
captivity； when he heard all this； his heart was touched； and he
donned his armour to go forth。 Thus of his own inward motion he
saved the city of the Aetolians； but they now gave him nothing of
those rich rewards that they had offered earlier； and though he
saved the city he took nothing by it。 Be not then； my son； thus
minded； let not heaven lure you into any such course。 When the ships
are burning it will be a harder matter to save them。 Take the gifts；
and go； for the Achaeans will then honour you as a god； whereas if you
fight without taking them； you may beat the battle back； but you
will not be held in like honour。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃Phoenix； old friend and father； I have no
need of such honour。 I have honour from Jove himself； which will abide
with me at my ships while I have breath in my body； and my limbs are
strong。 I say further… and lay my saying to your heart… vex me no more
with this weeping and lamentation； all in the cause of the son of
Atreus。 Love him so well； and you may lose the love I bear you。 You
ought to help me rather in troubling those that trouble me； be king as
much as I am； and share like honour with myself； the others shall take
my answer； stay here yourself and sleep comfortably in your bed； at
daybreak we will consider 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
messengers 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
fighting till Hector； son of noble Priam； reaches the tents of the
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 therefore did so with
sheepskins； a rug； and a sheet of fine linen。 The old man then laid
himself down and waited till morning 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 burning； 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 others who were with me can tell
you the same story… Ajax and the two heralds； men； both of them； who
may be trusted。 The old man Phoenix stayed where he was to sleep；
for so Achilles would have it； that he might go home with him in the
morning if he so would； but he will not take him by force。〃
They all held their peace； sitting for a long time silent and
dejected； by reason of the sternness with which Achilles had refused
them； till presently Diomed said； 〃Most noble son of Atreus； king of
men； Agamemnon； you ought not to have sued the son of Peleus nor
offered him gifts。 He is proud enough as it is； and you have
encouraged him in his pride am further。 Let him stay or go as he will。
He will fight later when he is in the humour； and heaven puts it in
his mind to do so。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I say； we have
eaten and drunk our fill； let us then take our rest； for in rest there
is both strength and stay。 But when fair rosy…fingered morn appears；
forthwith bring out your host and your horsemen in front of the ships；
urging them on； and yourself fighting among the foremost。〃
Thus he spoke； and the other chieftains approved his words。 They
then made their drink…offerings and went every man to his own tent；
where they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep。
BOOK X
NOW the other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly the whole
night through； but Agamemnon son of Atreus was troubled； so that he
could get no rest。 As when fair Juno's lord flashes his lightning in
token of great