On naught shalt thou, unpunish'd, lay thy hand. The chiefs arose, and broke the council up. With his own followers, and Menatius' son, Achilles to his tents and ships withdrew. 355 But Atreus' son launch'd a swift-sailing bark, With twenty rowers mann'd, and plac'd on board 360 The sacred hecatomb; then last embark'd The fair Chryseis, and in chief command The wise Ulysses, sage in counsel, plac'd. They swiftly sped along the liquid way. Next, proclamation through the camp was made 365 To purify the host; and in the sea, Obedient to the word, they purified. Then to Apollo solemn rites perform'd With faultless hecatombs of bulls and goats, Upon the margin of the watery waste; And wreath'd in smoke the savour rose to heav'n. 370 His threaten'd plan of vengeance; to his side Heralds, and faithful followers, thus he spoke : "Haste to Achilles' tent, and in your hand Back with you thence the fair Briseis bring: If he refuse to send her, I myself With a sufficient force will bear her thence, Which he may find, perchance, the worse for him.” Till to the tents and ships they came, where lay Heralds! approach in safety; not with you, 375 380 385 390 Who for the fair Briseis sends you here. 395 When he shall need my arm, from shameful rout To save his followers; blinded by his rage, He neither heeds experience of the past, 400 Nor for the future calculates, how best To guard his fleet and army from the foe." : He spoke obedient to his friend and chief, And gave her to their hands; they to the ships In bitter grief, from all the band apart, Upon the margin of the hoary sea Sat idly gazing on the dark-blue waves; And to his Goddess-mother long he pray'd, With outstretch'd hands, "Oh, mother! since thy son 405 410 I might have hop'd the Thunderer on high, Olympian Jove, with honour would have crown'd My little space; but now disgrace is mine; In the deep ocean-caves: ascending quick She gently touch'd him with her hand, and said, Speak out, that I may hear, and share thy pain.' On Thebes we march'd, Eetion's sacred town, And storm'd the walls, and hither bore the spoil. 415 420 425 430 435 Came to th' encampment of the steel-clad Greeks, And golden staff; to all he sued, but chief Phoebus Apollo heard, who lov'd him well. Against the Greeks he bent his fatal bow, A skilful seer at length the cause reveal'd The first, gave counsel to appease his wrath. And utter'd threats, which he hath now fulfill❜d. For Chryses' daughter to her native isle In a swift-sailing ship the black-ey'd Greeks 440 445 450 455 |