Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
fulfilled his curse. I took counsel to kill him, but some god stayed
my rashness and bade me think on men’s evil tongues and how I
should be branded as the murderer of my father: nevertheless I
could not bear to stay in my father’s house with him so bitter a
against me. My cousins and clansmen came about me, and pressed
me sorely to remain; many a sheep and many an ox did they
slaughter, and many a fat hog did they set down to roast before the
fire; many a jar, too, did they broach of my father’s wine. Nine
whole nights did they set a guard over me taking it in turns to
watch, and they kept a fire always burning, both in the cloister of
the outer court and in the inner court at the doors of the room
wherein I lay; but when the darkness of the tenth night came, I
broke through the closed doors of my room, and climbed the wall
of the outer court after passing quickly and unperceived through
the men on guard and the women servants. I then fled through
Hellas till I came to fertile Phthia, mother of sheep, and to King
Peleus, who made me welcome and treated me as a father treats an
only son who will be heir to all his wealth. He made me rich and
set me over much people, establishing me on the borders of Phthia
where I was chief ruler over the Dolopians.
“It was I, Achilles, who had the making of you; I loved you with all
my heart: for you would eat neither at home nor when you had
gone out elsewhere, till I had first set you upon my knees, cut up
the dainty morsel that you were to eat, and held the wine-cup to
your lips. Many a time have you slobbered your wine in baby
helplessness over my shirt; I had infinite trouble with you, but I
knew that heaven had vouchsafed me no offspring of my own, and
I made a son of you, Achilles, that in my hour of need you might
protect me. Now, therefore, I say battle with your pride and beat it;
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