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272—312.
ILIAD. IX.
159

take well-inhabited Lesbos, who then excelled the race of women in beauty. These will he give thee, and among them will be her whom once he took away, the daughter of Briseïs; and he will moreover swear a mighty oath, that he never ascended her bed, nor embraced her, as is the custom, O king, both of men and women. All these shall immediately be in waiting; and if, moreover, the gods grant that we pillage the vast city of Priam, entering, thou mayest fill thy ships abundantly with gold and brass, when we, the Greeks, divide the spoils. Thou shalt also choose twenty Trojan women, who may be fairest next to Argive Helen. But if we reach Achæan Argos, the udder of the land, thou mayest become his son-in-law, and he will honor thee equally with Orestes, who is nurtured as his darling son, in great affluence. But he has three daughters in his well-built palace—Chrysothemis, Laodice, and Iphianassa. Of these thou shalt conduct the most beloved whomsoever thou mayest choose, without marriage-gifts, to the house of Peleus; but he will give very many dowries, such as no man yet gave his daughter. He will moreover give thee seven well-inhabited cities—Cardamyle, Enope, and grassy Ira, glorious Pheræ, with deep-pastured Anthea, fair Æpeia, and vine-bearing Pedasus; which are all near the sea, the last toward sandy Pylus. But in them dwell men abounding in flocks and herds, who will honor thee with gifts like a god, and under thy scepter pay rich tributes. These will he fulfill to thee ceasing from thy wrath. But if indeed the son of Atreus himself and his gifts be more hateful to thee from thine heart, at least have pity upon all the other Greeks, harassed throughout the army, who will honor thee as a god; for surely thou wilt obtain very great honor among them. For now mayest thou slay Hector, since he hath already come very near thee, possessing detructive fury; since he declares that no one of the Greeks whom the ships have conveyed hither is his equal."

But him swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed: "Most noble son of Laertes, much-scheming Ulysses, it behooves me indeed to speak my opinion without reserve, even as I think, and as will be accomplished, that ye may not, sitting beside me, keep whining[1] one after another. Hateful

  1. This word is etymologically connected with τρυγών. It properly signifies the moaning of the dove.