Then
he demands his daughter. But Achilles being angered by the threat of
Agamemnon combines a speech for the Greeks and for himself, in order to
make them more friendly disposed. For, he says, all had proceeded to
the war, not on account Of some private enmity, but to please Agamemnon
himself and his brother, and he went on to say he had done many things
himself and had received a present not from Agamemnon and Menelaus,
but from the whole body of the Greeks. Agamemnon replying to him has no
difficulty in winning the crowd. For when Achilles says he means to sail
back home, on account of the insult he has received, he does not say
"go" but "flee," changing what is said abruptly into an attack on
Achilles reputation. And his words are:--

I do not exhort you to remain; there are here who value me.

And this was agreeable to his hearers.

And afterward he introduces Nestor, whom he had previously called sweet
in speech and a shrewd orator (I. i. 249):--

Whose voice flowed from his tongue sweeter than honey.

There could be no greater praise for an orator. He starts off with an
exordium by which he tries to change the minds of the contesting chiefs,
bidding them consider by opposing one another they give occasion of joy
to their enemies. He goes on to admonish both and to exhort them to give
heed to him as their elder. And by telling one to be prudent, he says
what gratifies the other. He advises Agamemnon not to take away what has
been given to a man who has labored much; Achilles, not to strive with
the king who is his superior. And he gives suitable praise to both:
to the one as ruling over more people; to the other, as having more
prowess. In this way he seeks to moderate them.

Again, in what follows, when Agamemnon saw the dream bearing good hopes
to him from Zeus, and exhorting him to arm the Greeks, did he not use
rhetorical art speaking to the multitude, saying the contrary of what
he wishes, to try their feeling and to see if they will be disgusted
by being compelled to do battle for him. But he speaks to please them.
Another of the men able to influence them bids them stay in their
tents, as if the king really wished this. For to those he speaks to he
indicates that he desires the contrary. Odysseus taking up these words,
and making use of a convenient freedom, persuades the leaders by his
mild language; the common people he compels by threats to heed their
superiors. Stopping the mutiny and a