e son of Peleus, would speak with him"--she came forth from the tent
and greeted him and bade him give her his right hand. And when the young
man was ashamed (for it was not counted a seemly thing that men should
speak with women) she said:

"But why art thou ashamed, seeing that thou art about to marry my
daughter?"

And he answered, "What sayest thou, lady? I cannot speak for wonder at
thy words."

"Often men are ashamed when they see new friends and the talk is of
marriage."

"But, lady, I never was suitor for thy daughter. Nor have the sons of
Atreus said aught to me of the matter."

But the queen was beyond measure astonished, and cried, "Now this is
shameful indeed, that I should seek a bridegroom for my daughter in such
fashion."

But when Achilles would have departed, to inquire of the king what this
thing might mean, the old man that had at the first carried the letter
came forth and bade him stay. And when he had assurance that he should
receive no harm for what he should tell them, he unfolded the whole
matter. And when the queen had heard it, she cried to Achilles, "O son
of Thetis of the sea! help me now in this strait and help this maiden
that hath been called thy bride, though this indeed be false. 'Twill be
a shame to thee if such wrong be done under thy name; for it is thy name
that hath undone us. Nor have I any altar to which I may flee, nor any
friend but thee only in this army."

Then Achilles made answer, "Lady, I learnt from Chiron, who was the most
righteous of men, to be true and honest. And if the sons of Atreus
govern according to right, I obey them; and if not, not. Know, then,
that thy daughter, seeing that she hath been given, though but in word
only, to me, shall not be slain by her father. For if she so die, then
shall my name be brought to great dishonor, seeing that through it thou
hast been persuaded to come with her to this place. This sword shall see
right soon whether any one will dare to take this maiden from me."

And now King Agamemnon came forth, saying that all things were ready for
the marriage, and that they waited for the maiden, not knowing that the
whole matter had been revealed to the queen. Then she said:

"Tell me now, dost thou purpose to slay thy daughter and mine?" And when
he was silent, not knowing, indeed, what to say, she reproached him with
many words, that she had been a loving and faithful wife to him, for
which he made her an ill recompense slaying