meless as respects me. Since
they have never driven away my oxen, nor my horses either nor ever
injured my crops in fertile and populous Phthia: for very many shadowy
mountains, and the resounding sea, are between us. But thee, O most
shameless man, we follow, that thou mayest rejoice; seeking satisfaction
from the Trojans for Menelaus, and for thy pleasure, shameless one! for
which things thou hast neither respect nor care. And now thou hast
threatened that thou wilt in person wrest from me my prize, for which I
have toiled much, and which the sons of the Greeks have given me.
Whenever the Greeks sacked a well-inhabited city of the Trojans, I never
have had a prize equal to thine; although my hands perform the greater
portion of the tumultuous conflict, yet when the division [of spoil] may
come, a much greater prize is given to thee, while I come to my ships,
when I am fatigued with fighting, having one small and agreeable. But
now I will go to Phthia, for it is much better to return home with our
curved ships; for I do not think that thou shalt amass wealth and
treasures while I am dishonoured here."

[Footnote 25: See my note on Od. i. p. 2, n. 11, ed. Bohn.]

But him, the king of men, Agamemnon, then answered: "Fly, by all means,
if thy mind urges thee; nor will I entreat thee to remain on my account:
there are others with me who will honour me, but chiefly the all-wise
Jove. For to me thou art the most odious of the Jove-nourished princes,
for ever is contention agreeable to thee, and wars and battles. If thou
be very bold, why doubtless a deity has given this to thee. Going home
with thy ships and thy companions, rule over the Myrmidons; for I do not
regard thee, nor care for thee in thy wrath; but thus will I threaten
thee: Since Phoebus Apollo is depriving me of the daughter of
Chryses,[26] her indeed I will send, with my own ship, and with my own
friends; but I myself, going to thy tent, will lead away the
fair-cheeked daughter of Brises,[27] thy prize; that thou mayest well
know how much more powerful I am than thou, and that another may dread
to pronounce himself equal to me, and to liken himself openly [to me]."

[Footnote 26: Astynome. Cf. Eustath. fol. 58]

[Footnote 27: Hippodameia.]

Thus he spoke, and grief arose to the son of Peleus, and the heart
within, in his hairy breast, was pondering upon two courses; whether,
drawing his sharp sword from his thigh, he should dismiss them,[28] and
s