t the
Greeks wage war with the Trojans? Or from what necessity did the son of
Atreus, assembling an army, lead it hither? Was it not on account of
fair-haired Helen? Do the sons of Atreus alone, of articulate-speaking
men, love their wives? [Surely not], since whatever man is good and
prudent loves and cherishes his spouse; thus I too loved her from my
soul, though the captive of my spear. And now since he hath snatched my
reward from my hands, and deceived me, let him not make trial of me,
already well informed, for he will not persuade me; but let him consider
with thee, O Ulysses, and the other kings, how he may repel the hostile
fire from the ships. Assuredly he has already accomplished many labours
without me. He has already built a rampart, and drawn a trench broad
[and] large beside it; and planted in it palisades; but not even thus
can he restrain the might of man-slaughtering Hector. Whilst I indeed
fought amongst the Greeks, Hector chose not to arouse the battle at a
distance from the wall, but he came [only] as far as the Scaean gates,
and the beech-tree. There once he awaited me alone, and with difficulty
escaped my attack. But since I choose not to war with noble Hector,
to-morrow,[306] having performed sacrifices to Jove and all the gods,
[and] having well laden my ships, when I shall have drawn them down to
the sea, thou shalt behold, if thou wilt, and if such things be a care
to thee, my ships early in the morn sailing upon the fishy Hellespont,
and men within them, eager for rowing; and if glorious Neptune grant but
a prosperous voyage, on the third day I shall surely reach fertile
Phthia.[307] Now there I have very many possessions, which I left,
coming hither, to my loss.[308] And I will carry hence other gold and
ruddy brass, well-girdled women, and hoary iron, which I have obtained
by lot. But the reward which he gave, king Agamemnon, the son of Atreus,
hath himself insultingly taken from me: to whom do thou tell all things
as I charge thee, openly, that the other Greeks also may be indignant,
if he, ever clad in impudence, still hope to deceive any of the Greeks;
nor let him dare, dog-like as he is, to look in my face. I will neither
join in counsels nor in any action with him; for he hath already
deceived and offended me, nor shall he again overreach me with words. It
is enough for him [to do so once]: but in quiet[309] let him perish, for
provident Jove hath deprived him of reason. Hateful to me ar